News

Boscobel, WI (January 2025)– Community First Bank is proud to announce that two local small businesses, Advanced Contracting Solutions/Bailey Barry, and Redstone’s North End Tavern/Jeff & Tracy Rastocan were each awarded a $15,000 grant. They received the grants through their partnership with Community First Bank on behalf of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLBank Chicago) through its Community First^® Accelerate Grants for Small Business.

Community First Bank recognizes the importance that our small businesses have in our local communities and the sacrifices those small businesses make. We are proud to call owners Bailey Barry and Jeff & Stacy Rastocan valued customers of Community First Bank and we thank them for their hard work and support of the Reedsburg and Richland Center, WI communities.

Small businesses are facing challenges with growing or enhancing their operations due to surging borrowing costs in a high-interest rate environment. In response to this need, FHLBank Chicago awards Accelerate Grants for a variety of purposes, including purchase or improvement of property, machinery and equipment, workforce development, and technology. Now in its third and largest year yet, FHLBank Chicago awarded over $10 million through its Accelerate Grants program for small businesses in 2024.

“We are proud to help small businesses within our communities grow and achieve success. Small businesses play an integral role in local communities, from creating jobs to fostering community development,” said Katie Naftzger, Senior Vice President, Community Investment Officer, FHLBank Chicago. “As a leader in the housing and community development space, FHLBank Chicago is committed to ensuring our members’ communities have what they need to thrive, including economic opportunities for the residents and small businesses who call them home.”

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago

FHLBank Chicago is a regional bank in the Federal Home Loan Bank System. FHLBanks are government-sponsored enterprises created by Congress to ensure access to low-cost funding for their member financial institutions, with a focus on providing solutions that support the housing and community development needs of members’ customers. FHLBank Chicago is a self-capitalizing cooperative, owned by its Illinois and Wisconsin members, including commercial banks, credit unions, insurance companies, savings institutions, and community development financial institutions. To learn more about FHLBank Chicago, please visit fhlbc.com.

About Community First Bank – WI
Community First Bank offers full-service banking from 10 branch locations in Southwest WI. CFB is proud to have been in business for more than 150 years. The Bank serves individuals, families, businesses, and farms with a variety of top-notch banking products, services, and good-sense financial advice. CFB’s longevity and success is duly credited to its employees and to local ownership’s unwavering commitment to the success of its customers and communities. This commitment to service excellence is accentuated in the tagline, first for you!