About GROW Racine

Mayor Mason’s administration has made tackling longstanding disparities and inequities a priority. The City has spent the last 2.5 years building partnerships and growing programs that will help address disparities in our residents’ educational attainment, access to careers in the trades, financial stability, homeownership, and home enhancement and repair.

 Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the City has seized a once-in-a-generation opportunity to dramatically scale these programs and catalyze these investments in our residents and our community.

 GROW Racine is the City’s way of saying directly to our residents: we believe in you, we believe you are worthy, and we believe in you and your family’s future. The GROW Racine effort is managed by the City’s Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Community Partnerships, Vicky Selkowe.

GROW Racine consists of the following major initiatives

Helping Adult City Residents Earn Their High School Degree

In the City of Racine, we want our residents to know that, whatever happened in the past does not have to prevent them from succeeding in the future. We’ve partnered with the YWCA SEW to invest in their highly successful 5.09 High School Equivalency Degree (HSED) program. And, for a limited time, we’re offering City of Racine HSED scholarships to help support City adults who enroll in and graduate from the 5.09!

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Start a Career in the Trades

The building & construction trades provide great career paths, with family-supporting jobs and upward mobility. The City of Racine wants to help ensure that our residents have access to education, training, and supportive placements to explore and launch careers in the trades. The City is proud to partner with WRTP/Big Step and the Racine Family YMCA to help our residents complete pre-apprenticeship training and education. And, for a limited time, the City is offering Pre-Apprenticeship Scholarships to  help support residents who enroll in and complete these partners’ programs.

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Become Financially Empowered

When it comes to money and finances, we all could use some coaching. That’s why the City of Racine launched the Racine Financial Empowerment Center (FEC). In partnership with Housing Resources, Inc., the Racine FEC offers all City of Racine residents professional, confidential, 1:1, financial counseling for FREE. Whether you want to improve your credit score, build up your savings, tackle your bills and debts, learn how to budget, get connected to resources to help meet your needs, or access safe & affordable banking products, the Racine FEC’s certified financial counselors can help you with any or all of that, and more!

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Become a Homeowner

Information Coming Soon

Repair & Enhance Your Home

The City of Racine believes everyone deserves a safe and habitable place to live, and we want to support homeowners in investing in their homes. We’ve created new programs to help homeowners fix up and re-invest in their homes.

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2 weeks ago

¿Usted o alguien que conoce está interesado en obtener sus credenciales de escuela secundaria? ¡Venga a Gateway este sábado para aprender todo sobre el programa e inscribirse! Si usted es residente de la ciudad de Racine, también será elegible para una beca de $ 1,500 por completar el programa. ... See MoreSee Less

¿Usted o alguien que conoce está interesado en obtener sus credenciales de escuela secundaria? ¡Venga a Gateway este sábado para aprender todo sobre el programa e inscribirse! Si usted es residente de la ciudad de Racine, también será elegible para una beca de $ 1,500 por completar el programa.
2 weeks ago

Are you or someone you know interested in getting your high school credentials? Come on down to Gateway this Saturday to learn all about the program and get enrolled! If you are a City of Racine resident, you will also be eligible for a $1,500 scholarship for completing the program!! ... See MoreSee Less

Are you or someone you know interested in getting your high school credentials? Come on down to Gateway this Saturday to learn all about the program and get enrolled! If you are a City of Racine resident, you will also be eligible for a $1,500 scholarship for completing the program!!
2 weeks ago

Bring out your kids and come enjoy the festivities! GROW Racine will be at the Dr. John Bryant Community Center talking about our resources and how they can benefit YOU!Are you in for a night of fun with the family? 🍧👨‍👧‍👧Our National Night Out is happening tomorrow from 4pm to 7pm!

The fun will be taking place at all 5 of our community centers:

- Humble Park
- Chavez Community Center
- John Bryant Community Center
- Dr ML King Community Center
-Tyler Domer Community Center
... See MoreSee Less

Bring out your kids and come enjoy the festivities! GROW Racine will be at the Dr. John Bryant Community Center talking about our resources and how they can benefit YOU!
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