The Sweet Spot Coffee Shop receives Capital Catalyst Revolving Loan

PRESS RELEASE

DATE:              September 8, 2023

TO:                  Local Media Outlets

FROM:             Rebecca Houseman, City Manager

RE:                   The Sweet Spot Coffee Shop receives Capital Catalyst Revolving Loan

The Economic Development Commission, on behalf of the City of Fort Atkinson, has awarded a Capital Catalyst Revolving Loan to The Sweet Spot Coffee Shop, LLC, to assist in purchasing the property located at 225 and 227 S. Main St. The Sweet Spot Coffee Shop, LLC, received an $82,000 loan through this program on Sept. 7.

Owners Jacob Gildemeister and Elena Schleusner purchased The Sweet Spot Café and Bakehouse in Whitewater in August of 2020 with two locations, 226 Whitewater St. (Café) and 1185 W. Main St. (Bakehouse) and a food truck. The Bakehouse is a coffee shop featuring a variety of pastries, a small breakfast menu and drive-through. The Bakehouse also offers custom bakery goods including wedding and birthday cakes, croissants, muffins and more. The Café is a coffee shop featuring pastries, a breakfast and lunch menu and large seating area. Gildemester and Schleusner also own Whitewater Cinemas. Now with the help of the Capital Catalyst Revolving Loan they will be purchasing the property at 225 and 227 S. Main St.

The owners plan to replicate the success of their Whitewater locations in Fort Atkinson and add a driver to their staff to transport fresh bakery items between the Bakehouse in Whitewater and Fort Atkinson. The new location in Fort Atkinson may also feature a casual cocktail lounge. The business hopes to add 19 new jobs with the company over the next three years. While the official name of the business has not been announced, the owners plan to pay homage to original construction of this building as the Langhoff Hotel in 1875.

The goal of the Capital Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund program is to encourage the startup of new businesses and the expansion of existing businesses in Fort Atkinson. The focus will be on assisting companies in industry sectors including, but not limited to advanced manufacturing, agriculture or food processing, information systems or software, medical devices, biosciences and energy. Activities assisted with program funds should address one or more of the following:

1. Encourage new private investment in the City of Fort Atkinson;
2. Support a diverse mix of employment opportunities and minimize seasonal or cyclical employment fluctuations;
3. Encourage the development and use of modern technologies that increase productivity and efficiency.
4. Support the elimination of blight and encourage urban redevelopment.

Loans of up to $100,000 are available through this Fund, made possible by a Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. The team at the Jefferson County Economic Development Consortium will work with applicants through the application and underwriting process. A Loan Review Committee will review applications and make recommendations to the Economic Development Commission for approval.

Anyone interested in more information is encouraged to review the application and loan guidelines on the City’s website at www.fortatkinsonwi.gov. Those interested in applying for the Capital Catalyst Revolving Loan Fund should contact Deb Reinbold, Executive Director of JCEDC at DReinbold@jeffersoncountywi.gov or 920-674-8710.

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