MADISON —Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Executive Director and CEO Joaquín Altoro has accepted a position in the Biden Administration. This week Altoro was sworn in as the Administrator of Rural Housing Service within the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.
“We are appreciative of Joaquín Altoro’s strategic vision and leadership to help WHEDA advance affordable housing in our rural and urban communities,” said Kim Plache, WHEDA Deputy Executive Director. “And we celebrate his new role at the federal level where he will continue to be an advocate for greater equity in housing and economic opportunity.”
Until a new WHEDA CEO is appointed by the Evers Administration, Plache will work with an internal transition team to ensure continuity of operations. This transition team is intimately involved with WHEDA’s day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives. With its financial strength and strong leadership, WHEDA’s work to increase access to affordable housing will continue to make a significant difference in communities all across Wisconsin.
Gov. Evers appointed Altoro as WHEDA’s CEO and Executive Director on June 3, 2019. Under the leadership of the Evers Administration, WHEDA has invested more than $2.8 billion in Wisconsin through its single family mortgages, multifamily loans, housing tax credits, housing grant program, small business guarantees and participation lending. This investment has advanced 16,886 housing units throughout the state and helped 39 businesses and farms expand their operations.
ABOUT WHEDA
For more than 48 years, WHEDA has worked to provide low-cost financing for housing and small business development in Wisconsin. Since 1972, WHEDA has financed more than 78,000 affordable rental units, helped more than 135,000 families purchase a home, and provided more than 29,000 small business and agricultural loan guarantees. WHEDA is a self-supporting public corporation that receives no tax dollars for its operations. For more information on WHEDA programs call 800-334-6873.
