Milestones

In 1977 Renewal Unlimited began as a grassroots organization.
Since 1977 Renewal Unlimited has helped over 500 dropouts complete their high school equivalency diploma.
By the end of 1992 Renewal Unlimited had given over 2,000 children and their families a Head Start on success in school and later in life.
Between 1986 and 1992, 150 families completed the Parenting Enrichment Program, decreasing the risks of child abuse and neglect for local children.
By July 1, 1992, agency professional staff positions reached 95 per year, with an additional 78 paid trainee positions per year.
By July 1, 1992, over 200 unemployed people had received job training from Renewal Unlimited; over 80% of whom found unsubsidized jobs shortly after completing training.
In 1993, Renewal Unlimited secured funding from a variety of sources to open the Family Resource Center in Columbia County to provide education and resources to build and strengthen healthy families.
In the fall of 1995 Renewal Unlimited was selected to develop an Early Head Start Program, one of only 68 agencies in the nation to be funded. 75 pregnant mothers, infants and toddlers began receiving services.
The administrative offices of Renewal Unlimited, Inc. moved to their new location in Portage in July of 1998. There were over 125 professional staff.
In October of 1998, Renewal Unlimited received Head Start Expansion Grant funding. The expansion targeted family day care providers who served Head Start children. In addition, the expansion grant targeted a collaborative child care center based program.
In May of 1999, Renewal Unlimited received funding from the Ronald McDonald Charities for a Family Fun Night for families residing in Columbia County to promote family focused activities.
The Columbia County Family Resource Center moved to its new building in July of 1999.
In 1999, Renewal obtained a grant to operate the Wisconsin Fresh Start Program in Columbia County. Ten at-risk youth were served and they completed the construction of their first home in 2000.
In the fall of 2003, the construction of the Renewal Youth Start Building was completed. It housed a Portage Head Start class, a 4K Head Start classroom in collaboration with the Portage Public Schools as well as the Wisconsin Fresh Start youth and staff.
Construction began in 2004 for the new Reedsburg Learning Center that housed two Head Start classrooms, a Family Resource Center, and additional space for a possible After School Program or childcare program. The facility also featured a large playground designed especially for children. The nearby Madison Area Technical College leased 2 classrooms in the evening for nursing students.
Construction plans were initiated for a similar, new building in Baraboo in September of 2006.
Renewal Unlimited opened a new building in the City of Baraboo in March of 2007. The new structure housed the Sauk County Family Resource Center, two Head Start classrooms, and the Youth Services Program. Featured is a greenhouse for the Renewal Youth Garden and a naturalistic playground for the children in the Head Start program and the Family Resource Center. The new building location is at 1531 Lake Street in Baraboo.
In 2007 Renewal proudly celebrated 30 years of service to children, individuals, youth and families in the counties of Adams, Columbia, Dodge, Juneau and Sauk.
In August of 2007 Renewal opened a new Head Start Center at 201 Oak Street in Mauston for the 2007-2008 program year.
In December of 2007, Renewal Unlimited, Inc. expanded its Wisconsin Fresh Start Program to include the YouthBuild Program. Another Teacher and Technical Supervisor were hired with plans of adding an additional ten at-risk youth.
By the end of 2007 Renewal Unlimited, Inc. had approximately 180 employees over the five county service area.
YouthBuild completed its first constructed home in 2008. Wisconsin Fresh and Youth Build completed a total of 10 homes.
Housing assistance to clients increased by approximately 25% during 2008 for low-income families and individuals served by Renewal Unlimited, Inc. during the current strained economy.
In 2009, Renewal received an Early Head Start Expansion Grant to serve an additional 70 pregnant mothers, infants and toddlers under President Obama’s Stimulus Plan.
In 2009, Renewal Unlimited served as the lead grantee for the Homeless Prevention Rapid Re-Housing Grant and partnered with Central Wisconsin Community Action Council and Hope House to help individuals and families who were facing eviction and those who were homeless to find safe, stable, affordable housing.
In 2009, Renewal Unlimited was awarded the Nieghborhood Stabilization Program Grant and partnered with Central Wisconsin Community Action Council to purchase foreclosed homes in Columbia and Dodge County, rehabilitate them, and sell them to low- to moderate-income families.
In 2011, the Early Head Start Expansion Grant became part of the on-going Early Head Start Program and a total of 145 pregnant mothers, infants and toddlers are now receiving services.
In April 2012, Renewal Unlimited reached 35 years of service to the community.
By July 1, 2012, Renewal Unlimited employed 169 agency professional staff positions.
In 2013, Renewal was awarded the Promise Neighborhood Grant for Adams County. Adams County was one of the ten communities awarded the grant to create targeted plans for combating poverty in the local community.
In May 2014, Renewal Unlimited partnered with St. Vincent de Paul of Wisconsin Dells to open Stepping Stone supportive housing for families to work towards the purchase of their own home.
In March, 2015 Renewal Unlimited was awarded the Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) grant, expanding the housing services program and producing housing opportunities for households that earn not more than 80% of County Median Income.