On Wednesday January 21, 2026, a local news outlet reported that Couleecap would now be run by another organization, CAP Services. This was an inaccurate report. Couleecap has been serving the community for 60 years and will continue to provide housing, food, energy, transportation, education, and other programs designed to promote economic mobility and community prosperity.
Couleecap recently announced it is transitioning only its business development programming to CAP Services, which serves low-to-moderate income small businesses and entrepreneurs. CAP Services will now provide small business counseling and technical assistance, as well as business lending services, to Coulee Region businesses.
A copy of the press release with more details can be found below.
Media Contacts:
Mandy Bowe, Vice President of Lending, CAP Services
mbowe@capmail.org
715-343-7141
Hetti Brown, Executive Director, Couleecap
hetti.brown@couleecap.org
608-632-3754
Couleecap Transfers Business Development to CAP Services to Expand Program Opportunities
Couleecap, Inc., a community action agency serving Crawford, La Crosse, Monroe, and Vernon Counties, announced it is transitioning its business development programming to CAP Services. CAP Services, a central Wisconsin organization with a shared mission, will expand their business coaching and lending services to ensure continued support for entrepreneurs in the Coulee Region.
For over two decades, Couleecap has supported small businesses and low-income entrepreneurs through innovative programs such as collaborative learning cohorts, affordable coworking spaces, the region’s first Pop-Up Shop program, and a small business incubator. These efforts included free and personalized counseling and technical assistance to help entrepreneurs start or grow their businesses. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Couleecap provided critical grants that helped sustain local businesses during unprecedented challenges.
“We are proud of this work and remain committed to supporting business development in our region,” says
Hetti Brown, Executive Director of Couleecap. “This is why we couldn’t be happier to hand the reigns to CAP Services, an experienced organization with a great reputation for building the small business economy. We didn’t want to step away without first finding a partner to meet the needs for the population we were serving.”
CAP Services provides help to plan, launch, fund, and grow businesses through technical assistance and lending. 
The organization provides free services to individuals with low-income starting a business or to businesses committed to creating jobs that will be filled by low-income individuals. CAP Services business development coordinators help individuals develop their business plan and assemble a financing package. The partnership with CAP Services will now provide clients with the ability to apply for a business loan during the process of planning their new or expanding business.
“We are excited to expand our business development programming and build on the strong foundation established by Couleecap,” said Nicole Harrison, president and CEO of CAP Services. “Small businesses are essential to the vitality of our communities, and we look forward to supporting entrepreneurs throughout both regions.”
Clients currently working with Couleecap will be automatically eligible to receive services from CAP Services. Couleecap is working closely with CAP Services to ensure a smooth transition for the community.
“CAP Services and Couleecap have been partners for many years,” says Brown. “This is a new way to use collaboration to maintain and expand services in our community.”
For more information about CAP Services business and lending programs, contact Mandy Bowe, Vice President of Lending at mbowe@capmail.org or 715-343-7141.
About Couleecap, Inc.
Couleecap is a nonprofit Community Action Program serving people and communities in need. Through housing, food security, employment, transportation, and community development initiatives, Couleecap fights poverty and helps people build better futures.
About CAP Services
CAP Services, Inc. is a private, nonprofit community action agency that has been advancing social and economic justice for people and communities in Outagamie, Portage, Waupaca, Marquette, and Waushara counties since 1966. More information is available at www.capservices.org.
