We couldn’t be prouder of the legacy we’re building. Proud of our longstanding commitment to our communities. Proud that our expertise has put us at the top of our class. Proud to be a workplace of choice for our dedicated associates. And most of all, proud to represent a family whose deep roots in Wisconsin have allowed us to build relationships with so many people and businesses in the state we love.
If you’re looking for a trustworthy partner who is truly invested in your long-term success, visit our team in Milwaukee and the surrounding areas or JohnsonFinancialGroup.com to learn more.
We’re proud to partner with our communities to help provide the skills and access needed to build inclusive pathways to 21st century careers.
As Milwaukee’s Managing Partner, I am committed to ensuring Foley continues its tradition of vigorous involvement in our business, civic, and charitable communities, as well as our duty to make Milwaukee an even more diverse and vibrant place to live, work, and play.”
Founded in Milwaukee 180 years ago, Foley has grown to become an ‘AmLaw 50’ firm with 1,100 attorneys in 25 offices around the world. The firm’s largest office, Milwaukee offers comprehensive legal services to a broad range of clients, including relationships that date back more than a century.
Our deep commitment to service extends to the community where we live, and our 300+ attorneys and business professionals in Milwaukee support dozens of organizations through pro bono and volunteer work.
For more information about Foley, please contact: Andy Wronski | Managing Partner | awronski@foley.com
FOLEY.COM
Fiserv is a global technology leader enabling money movement for financial institutions, businesses and consumers. Our people serve clients in more than 100 countries, and Fiserv solutions reach nearly 100% of U.S. households. We’re proud to call Milwaukee home and to be active participants in this great community. We are partners in possibility.
For example, the ROC consortium reported 12.3% growth in Black and Brown employment, significantly outpacing the 1.7% growth reported by all companies in the metropolitan area with more than 50 employees. The 12.3% growth rate is also within striking distance of ROC’s 15% goal for 2025.
U nderstanding that diversity must be embraced to create a true, welcoming culture of inclusion in workplaces and communities, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) began the Region of Choice (ROC) initiative in 2019. As part of that initiative, more than 125 MMAC members have collectively committed to increasing Black and Brown talent in overall employment by 15% and increasing Black and Brown talent in management by 25% in five years (see page 10 for a list of participating employers).
Region of Choice companies share their employment data each year, which is aggregated and benchmarked against the baseline year of 2018. Region of Choice companies have collectively reported employment numbers that are on pace or have already met these goals.
ROC companies have already met the second goal - increasing the percentage of Black and Brown talent in management by 25%. The 26% increase achieved by participating companies compares to 6% growth in Black and Brown management talent for all metro employers reporting EEOC data for the same period through 2020.
MMAC continues to convene representatives from the ROC companies and the community to share and discuss strategies aimed at attracting, retaining and advancing diverse talent. Participants meet both online and in person to help each other learn from peers and subject matter experts. For more information or additional resources, please visit www.regionofchoicemke.org
Greater Milwaukee is rebounding to levels near our pre-pandemic highs. Employment prospects are bolstered by the work of the Milwaukee 7 facilitating corporate expansion and attraction projects throughout the region, such as Fiserv in downtown Milwaukee, Milwaukee Tool in West Bend, Niche Coco in Franklin and Grand Craft in Walworth.
An MMAC-led coalition of 125-plus employers continues to work to make Milwaukee a Region of Choice for all, with progress on pace to reach their goals of diverse hiring and advancement. Our support of an expanded convention center and partnership with VISIT Milwaukee helped make the 2024 Republican National Convention a reality, once again putting us in an international spotlight.
Despite the e昀ects of in昀ation, rising interest rates and lingering labor shortages, MMAC remains focused on what we can control to improve the region’s competitiveness.
There is more work to be done. We must 昀nd new revenue solutions to help the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County continue to provide essential services. Our employers need resources to address talent issues. And our K-12 education system needs more high-quality seats for students. We are committed to help solve these issues.
The vital behind-the-scenes work that keeps our region’s economy on track never stops. We’re here to help you solve challenges, provide insights to anticipate what’s coming next, and serve as your advocate in City Hall, Madison and Washington.
When you join MMAC, you become part of an organization that has served Metro Milwaukee’s business community since 1861. And what was true back then remains true today: None of the work we do could happen without your support. To our MMAC members and M7 investors, thank you. And if you’re not currently involved, please reach out to our team. We need you on board, because the future competitiveness of our region
MMAC President
As we sail into 2023, even with strong headwinds, metro Milwaukee’s momentum is real.
Nothing sells the Milwaukee Region as an ideal place to live, work and play than word-of-mouth advertising. The success and experiences of the tens of thousands of businesses that make southeastern Wisconsin home serve as a beacon to employers looking for a great place to start or expand a business. But because the region has so much to offer, many opportunities and resources get overlooked – both by businesses looking to locate here and companies that already call the region home.
Navigate Business MKE is a comprehensive resource that provides those details, while highlighting the many initiatives of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC). Share it with colleagues you know that are looking to relocate or expand.
A companion publication – Discover Milwaukee Relocation Guide – provides a wealth of information about the region’s communities, schools, and things to do. It is a perfect resource for your human resource professionals to use to recruit top-flight talent.
For copies of either publication, contact the MMAC.
ow more than ever, Milwaukee is becoming a region of choice. In a postpandemic world that has significantly altered the way people live and work, the city and surrounding region are wellpositioned for decades to come.
While everyone faced significant challenges during the pandemic, the Milwaukee Region fared relatively well during the crisis –ranking among the Top 10 U.S. cities for population growth by LinkedIn, and 13th in a list of top growth cities by U-Haul. In addition, National Geographic just named it one of the world’s top 25 global destinations – just one of five U.S. cities to receive the honor.
And in a world where water scarcity and more intense natural disasters are becoming more common, Milwaukee’s location on Lake Michigan and relatively low risk of natural disasters will make it even more attractive for prospective businesses and residents.
Why is life in the Milwaukee Region such an attractive proposition? Because its residents believe in working hard, having fun and living a good life – both in high-energy urban settings and the tranquility of the region’s natural beauty. Its relatively low cost of living allows more people to experience these amenities. It is also because it has leaders who are committed
to making the region accessible, affordable and affirming for all of its residents.
The Milwaukee Region has always been a great place to be. It has been a trading center for hundreds – perhaps thousands –of years thanks to its ideal location on the banks of Lake Michigan and the confluence of the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers.
The region became an ethnic melting pot in the 1800s and 1900s as immigrants streamed in from around the world to forge a better life. That cultural diversity is still celebrated today with the many ethnic festivals the city hosts – German Fest, Irish Fest, Festa Italiana, Polish Fest and Mexican Fiesta, to name a few. There are so many celebrations, in fact, that Milwaukee is known as the “City of Festivals.”
During the industrial revolution of the late 1800s and early 1900s, Milwaukee became known for engineering and manufacturing, eventually drawing thousands of disadvantaged workers, including a strong influx of African-American families who were moving north to seek a better life. Milwaukee gave them opportunities.
Unfortunately, Milwaukee’s geography also presented a natural barrier – the Menomonee Valley – that cut the city in half and was one of many factors that made it
one of the most segregated cities in the nation. Challenges escalated during the 1980s when a major recession eliminated tens of thousands of manufacturing jobs that many had relied on to sustain their quality of life. As was true for many cities, Milwaukee’s transition to a service economy left many people behind – especially those who did not have an opportunity to pursue higher education. This helped to create a racial disparity in prosperity.
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC)
forefront of revitalizing the region’s social, physical and economic infrastructure to leverage its full potential and make the transition to this new economy. MMAC advocates for transformational projects that enhance the region’s livability, while seeking common-sense public policy solutions to ensure that funding and tax challenges do not derail its long-term future. The Milwaukee Development Corporation (MDC) not-for-pro involved in some of the city’s most significant projects.
MMAC is also the driving force behind the Region of Choice Initiative at collectively increasing the number of African American and Hispanic/Latino employees and managers in the region. More than 125 companies have committed to publicly report data measuring their progress, to share best practices and to meet CEO to CEO to discuss their e
The initiative has already had an impact. At Region of Choice companies:
● African American and Hispanic/Latino employment increased 6.2% even as employment overall declined 1%
● At the same time, the number of African American and Hispanic/Latino managers rose almost four times faster – 23% vs. 6% – than the overall increase in managers
MMAC also provides logistical support for three independent partner organizations: the African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee (AALAM)
building a network dedicated to developing, supporting and positioning Milwaukee’s pool of talented Black employees; Business Council
growth of ethnically diverse businesses; and the Hispanic Collaborative, which is directed at improving the prosperity of the region’s Hispanic/Latino community.
populations. It has been a leading and persistent advocate for empowering parents to generate innovation and create education options for low-income students. It helped to initiate and shape the policies of a school choice program that now serves more than 35,000 low-income students. MMAC publishes a digital school report card
With the goal of making Milwaukee a Region of Choice, the following companies have pledged to collectively over 昀ve years increase the percentage of:
• African-American and Hispanic/Latino employees by 15%
• African-American and Hispanic/Latino managers by 25%
ABAXENT
Addison-Clifton
Advocate Aurora Health
American Family Insurance Group
American Roller & Plasma Coatings
Ascend Talent Strategies .
Associated Bank
Astronautics Corp. of America
Athena Communications
ATI Forged Products
- Cudahy Operations
Badger Meter
The Bartolotta Restaurants
Beer Capitol Distributing Co.
Bell & Wright Financial Group
BMO Harris Bank
BOLDT
Borgman Capital
Briggs & Stratton
C2
Carthage College
Centers for Independence
CG Schmidt
Charter Manufacturing Co.
Children’s Wisconsin
Circa
City of Milwaukee
City of Wauwatosa
Colorful Connections
Columbus McKinnon Corp.
Connect Business Consulting
Cross Management Services
Dedicated Computing
Deloitte
Diamond Discs International Educational Credential Evaluators
Ernst & Young
FIS
Foley & Lardner
Froedtert Health
GE Healthcare
Generation Growth Capital
GenMet
Gilbane Building Co.
Go Riteway
Transportation Group
Godfrey & Kahn
Good Karma Brands
Goodwill Industries of SE WI & Metro Chicago Grant Thornton
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Greendale School District
HARIBO of America
Harley-Davidson
Haywood Group
Herzing University
Husch Blackwell
Husco International Independence First
JB Entreprises
Law & Strategy
Johnson Controls
Johnson Financial Group
JP Cullen
JWS Classics
Kane Communications Group
Kohl’s
Komatsu Mining Corp.
KPMG
LifeWorks Coaching & Training
Lowe Group
Lubar & Co.
Magellan Promotions
ManpowerGroup
The Marcus Corp.
Marcus Performing Arts Center
The Master Lock Company
Medical College of WI
Metal-Era
Metro Milwaukee Society for Human Resource Managers (MMSHRM)
MGIC
Michael Best & Friedrich
Milwaukee Area
Technical College
Milwaukee Brewers
Baseball Club
Milwaukee Bucks & Fiserv Forum
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee Tool
MMAC
Molson Coors Beverage Co.
Mortenson
MRA - The Management Assoc.
Mueller Communications
Northwestern Mutual
Northwestern Mutual - North Shore
Old National Bank
PAX Holdings
Payne + Dolan | A Walbec Group Company
PNC Bank
PricewaterhouseCooper (PwC)
Prism Technical Management
& Marketing Services
Professional Dimensions
PS Capital Partners
QPS Employment Group
Quad
Quarles & Brady
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
Rivera & Associates Marketing
Robert W. Baird & Co.
Rockwell Automation
Rogers Behavioral Health
Selzer-Ornst Company
Sikich
SPEARity
Superior Support Resources
TEMPO
Town Bank
Trans International
Trefoil Group
University of WI - Milwaukee
University of WI - Parkside
UW Credit Union
Versiti Wisconsin
VISIT Milwaukee
von Briesen & Roper
Waukesha Metal Products
WEC Energy Group
Wellpoint Care Network
Wells Concrete
Wenthe-Davidson
Engineering Co.
Willis Towers Watson
YMCA of Metropolitan MKE
Zurn Elkay Water Solutions
At ManpowerGroup, we believe meaningful, sustainable employment has the power to change the world.
We are proud to advance the work of the MMAC to make Milwaukee a region of choice, championing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in our workplaces so that all people can unleash their potential and thrive. manpowergroup.com
Continued from page 9
hundreds of students to career pathways they never knew existed.
MMAC regularly convenes human resource officers to assess trends, discuss policies and share insights. In addition, it is investing in proprietary workforce analytics to provide its members with detailed, real-time information on the regional labor market. MMAC is working with Microsoft and the Argosy Foundation to implement computer science courses in high schools that didn’t have them, and has partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the state’s Department of Workforce Development on a diverse internship program.
Business executives and philanthropists are rallying behind a fundraising effort to expand Dr. Howard Fuller Collegiate Academy, a tuition-free, public charter high school founded. The $25 million capital campaign will fund a new facility for the high school – increasing the number of students it serves from 325 to 500 – and will repurpose the existing facility as a middle school. Similar philanthropic funding efforts are underway at other area schools.
metamorphosed from an abandoned highway spur into an exciting destination featuring restaurants, apartments and cultural attractions. Development continues with plans for a new 10-story commercial building and a 205-room hotel.
A little farther north from the Deer District is Bronzeville, which is undergoing its own transformation, including the Bronzeville Center for the Arts, which will be housed in a renovated, 50,000-square-foot building, and the Bronzeville Creative Arts and Technology Hub, a $20 million mixed-use development that will feature affordable apartments and production space for filmmakers, musicians and other creatives. Bronzeville is also the new home to the Dohmen Company Foundation and two of its affiliates – Food for Health, a nonprofit that seeks to prevent and reverse diabetes, heart disease, obesity and other chronic conditions; and Food Benefit Co., a forprofit company that provides healthy food and wellness services to employees.
In the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown, a former shopping mall is becoming a residential, office and retail center. It’s home to several prominent employers including the MMAC, Graef, Good Karma Brands and Herzing University. In addition to being a corporate office center, The Avenue features a Market Hall featuring 24 food vendors plus venues for recreation, entertainment and the arts.
The business community’s commitment to building an equitable and sustainable economy has produced results. Between 2018 and 2021, out-of-state investment in Wisconsin’s commercial real estate increased seven-fold – from $175 million to $1.3 billion.
Several major developments are transforming the downtown:
The Deer District became a national landmark when the Milwaukee Bucks won the National Basketball Association championship in 2021. Television broadcasts showcased the tens of thousands of fans surrounding Fiserv Forum, promoting an area that has
The Avenue is part of a larger transformation in the area. Just across the street, the Milwaukee Symphony renovated an ornate, 1930s movie theater to create its new home – the Bradley Symphony Center. Adjacent to The Avenue, the HUB640 building will soon be home to a new headquarters for Fiserv, the world’s leading payments and financial services technology company, which will have approximately 800 corporate employees. It will also be home to a new Kohl’s department store – the first large-scale traditional store to move into the area in more than a decade.
Nearby, Milwaukee Tool is expanding its corporate operations to accommodate the company’s rapid growth. The company is redeveloping a vacant building that will eventually house 1,200 employees. In addition to its investment in Milwaukee, Milwaukee Tool is developing a $100 million, 216-acre manufacturing and research campus in suburban West Bend
Near Marquette University on the west end of downtown, an estimated $160 million is slated to be invested in the Iron District, which will include affordable apartments, a 140-room hotel, a performance venue for up to 3,500 people and an 8,000-seat soccer stadium that will host professional soccer and will be the home field for Marquette’s soccer and lacrosse teams. Nearby on campus, Marquette is also set to open a $60 million, 100,000-square-foot College of Business Administration facility in 2023 and is planning a new student wellness and recreation center, among other projects.
South of downtown, Komatsu Mining Corp. is moving into its new $285 million headquarters and manufacturing plant in Milwaukee’s Harbor District. The new campus includes 170,000 square feet of office space, a 20,000-square-foot museum and training building and 410,000 square feet of manufacturing space. River1, a $100 million development, includes office buildings, apartments, retail space and a hotel. It is also the home of the new corporate headquarters for Michels Corporation, one of the nation’s premier energy and infrastructure construction companies.
In addition to the investments occurring in specific areas, several significant developments are occurring throughout the city. For example, work has been completed on the 25-story, 259-unit Ascent apartment tower, the world’s tallest timber-structured building, which has catapulted Milwaukee to the forefront of this new building technology.
Other major additions to Milwaukee’s economy include:
● A $456 million expansion of the Wisconsin Center convention facility,
which will significantly expand its size, allowing it to host two major events simultaneously.
● The 44-story Couture at the Milwaukee lakefront, which will feature 322 luxury apartments and retail space when it opens in 2024.
● The $400 million renovation and expansion of Children’s Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin’s research facility at the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center.
● A new $118 million chemistry building on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee that will serve as a gateway to the university’s STEM offerings.
In addition, businesses are making significant investments in other areas of the Milwaukee Region:
● Waukesha-based energy firm Generac is investing $53 million in its Wisconsin facilities, creating more than 700 jobs.
● HARIBO, a German-based confectionary firm known for its gummi bears, is about to begin production at its first manufacturing facility in the United States. The $242 million development is expected to ultimately create more than 400 full-time jobs.
● Grand Craft Boats is moving its headquarters and production operations from Holland, Michigan to Genoa City in Walworth County.
● Sweden-based ABB Inc. is building a new manufacturing facility, research and development labs, a training center and offices for the company’s U.S. motions business in suburban New Berlin.
● Amazon continues to expand in Kenosha County with its fourth building in the area. When completed, Amazon’s presence will include 3.3 million square feet and 3,400 employees.
● Snap-on Inc. has begun a 26,000square-foot expansion of its tool plant on Milwaukee’s far northwest side to accommodate growth in the company’s hand-tool business.
● The $120 million, 25-acre Poplar Creek Town Center in Goerke’s Corners will include hotel, retail, office, residential and recreational areas when completed
As the pandemic confirmed, things change and they can change fast. Milwaukee’s common-sense approach to work, quality of life and sustainable economic growth helped it weather the recent global crisis better than many urban areas. The commitment of its leaders to build on that foundation with initiatives that will benefit all of its residents will make it a destination for years to come. To that end, the MMAC will continue to advocate for sustainable tax, legislative and regulatory policies that will enhance the region’s livability, turbocharge its vibrancy and make it even more accessible and affordable. It is currently working with legislators from both sides of the political aisle to find a solution that will allow more of the revenue collected from taxes to remain at the local level and under local control to preserve quality-oflife services in the Milwaukee Region.
DeWitt attorneys see things differently while creating solutions to meet client needs. At DeWitt, we utilize our creativity to offer proactive and effective legal advice in more than 30 areas of law while serving publicly and privately held companies, individual clients, family-owned businesses, municipalities and more. With attorneys practicing in Wisconsin and Minnesota, our firm handles matters for clients nationwide.
When you need a trusted, full-service law firm, please visit our website at dewittllp.com or email info@dewittllp.com for more information.
“A great thought begins by seeing something differently, with a shift of the mind’s eye.”
–ALBERT EINSTEIN
At Baird we do things differently from many financial firms, and we do it because of you. Being privately held frees us to think long-term and plan with your best interests in mind. That’s why for more than 100 years we’ve consistently reinvested in our expertise, capabilities and technology to best serve you and your evolving needs. It’s why we believe being a great workplace is important, because it helps us attract and retain top talent to ensure the quality and continuity of the advice you receive. And it’s why we are employee-owned, so you can trust we all share a personal interest in your success.
BairdDi erence.com
2,000300,00023 years
MMAC member businesses employees represented average length of membership
MMAC VISION: A globally competitive region that fosters high-value employment to sustain a vibrant quality of life for all
The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) is a private, not-for-pro昀t organization that proudly serves as the region’s leading advocate for business. Our mission is to improve the Milwaukee Region as a place to invest capital, grow business and create jobs. We accomplish this through an ever-expanding range of programs, events and initiatives.
MMAC also represents the business community at all levels of government, engages with our education systems and works to preserve and promote our civic assets.
The business leaders who came before us over the past 150-plus years had the vision to set a course toward the prosperity we enjoy
membership did you know that? 80% of MMAC members have 1-100 employees.
today. We owe it to those who come after us to leave the Region an even better place than the one we inherited. And we can’t do that without our members, whose dues investment makes a difference in our region’s success every day.
Learn more at www.mmac.org/membership.html
Get the most out of your MMAC membership by engaging in
• The President's Huddle, hosted by MMAC President Tim Sheehy, gives members the "inside scoop" on local business and regional issues.
• Learn how you can support diverse talent in your workplace through MMAC's Region of Choice program.
• International exporters, importers, and suppliers shouldn't miss our World Trade Association events and peer exchange forums
• Dedicated to attracting and retaining world-class diverse talent, FUEL Milwaukee's 7,000+ group of young professionals will engage your employees in the community — making it more likely for them to stay.
The Leadership Council is the place to make exclusive connections, discuss ideas, and be recognized for your leadership. It provides a platform to convene and create the strategies that will ensure the Milwaukee Region's future prosperity. Your perspective is critical.
Participation is reserved for our most engaged stakeholders – those who care about building stronger ties within our business community while helping address the future of our regional economy. www.mmac.org/LC.html
Our Executive Roundtable program is two hours each month with 10 of your peers
Small business CEOs, CFOs and senior executives are placed into peer groups from non-competing industries. www.mmac.org/roundtables.html
• Hear diverse perspectives for problem solving
• Drive accountability to reach your goals
• Build valuable relationships
More resources to recruit more candidates
Share perspectives, learn about trends & cross-dress solutions
The Recruiters Roundtable provides recruiters with quarterly drop-in discussions focused on speci昀c challenges. 40+ talent acquisition specialists attended our last session. No cost to MMAC members to attend.
Finding candidates requires multi-faceted strategies. Where to begin?
Our timely Talent 101 updates provide an overview of the Milwaukee Region’s talent market, while also highlighting programs and resources to support your company’s talent pipeline strategy.
Discovermilwaukee.com and the Discover Milwaukee Relocation Guide
Integrate these materials into your recruiting toolkit to attract and assist new employees. Filled with everything your new talent will need to move, live, play and work in MKE, printed copies are available for FREE for members.
Coaching to take high-performing employees to the next level
Twice a year MMAC co-hosts the Emerging Leaders program for highperforming individuals who have not yet moved into a formal leadership role. Attendees will learn how to effectively interact with and influence others through six core workshops and small-group coaching.
The annual Professional Development Bootcamp series explores a variety of topics over the span of three days. Individuals can attend our virtual series of workshops on leadership, management and individual career growth. FREE to MMAC & FUEL Milwaukee members.
MMAC can help your business attract, advance and retain your talent by sharing data, hosting dialogues with experts and showcasing proven workforce models.
Our initiatives are driven by real-time labor market stats and workforce analytics from Lightcast, a proprietary workforce intelligence data tool.
Hear what market leaders are doing to adapt to disruption
22% of workers say they are very or somewhat likely to look for a new job in the next six months*
MMAC regularly reports out emerging HR trends and best practices from the region's largest companies with national footprints through our CHRO Roundtable.
Gain insights from 1,200 local management professionals to improve
work
The Region of Choice Culture Survey measures experiences of inclusivity and belonging within companies and the greater Milwaukee community from Black, Latino/Hispanic and white managers.
Our new program for small and mid-size manufacturers and educational institutions will build stackable credentials & skill certi昀cations, thanks to a grant from the Bucyrus Foundation.
Save time finding answers to your talent challenges.
MMAC's Talent Solutions series features dialogue with experts
Previous topics have included:
• Weathering the “Great Resignation”
• Growing Your Own Talent Pipeline Through Internships
• The New Rules of Employee Engagement
• 4 Steps to Becoming A Talent Magnet
Find the talent services that fit your needs
Access a full suite of providers through our Talent Solutions Directory on pg. 78 or MMAC.org
More than 50 members are sorted by categories to support your needs,
contract positions to helping you create an employer brand and managing compliance and legal issues.
Looking for more ways to grow your workforce?
www.mmac.org.html
Creating a robust innovation ecosystem is one of the core strategies of the Milwaukee 7 M7 Partnership for regional economic development. It focuses on continuing the economic growth of seven southeastern Wisconsin counties – Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine, Kenosha and Walworth. To date, it has achieved more than 120 project wins, defined as successful efforts to help companies expand or relocate here. These include Milwaukee Tool’s new downtown Milwaukee and Menomonee Falls corporate office buildings; German-based HARIBO’s first production facility in North America, which will be one of the largest confectionery manufacturing plants in the nation; Komatsu Mining Corp.’s new U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility; and Fiserv’s new corporate headquarters in downtown Milwaukee. These represent just some of the dozens of corporate attraction and expansion projects that are revitalizing the region, thanks to M7’s aggressive
did you know that?
advocacy to improve the business climate and its focused effort to market the region to prospective investors.
Launched in 2005 and co-chaired by the leadership of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, the Greater Milwaukee Committee and the City of Milwaukee, the seven-county regional partnership is funded by more than 100 private- and public-sector investors. The Milwaukee 7 has played a significant role in more than 100 expansion or relocation projects that have resulted in more than 26,000 jobs, $1.6 billion in annual payroll and $3.8 billion in capital investment.
M7 has leveraged millions of dollars in federal funds, state assistance and
Milwaukee 7 is a seven-county regional partnership funded by more than 100 private and public-sector investors.
Thank you to our investors to date for supporting our work in the Milwaukee Region.
A. O. Smith
Alpha Investment Consulting Group
Amazon Corporation
Associated Bank
ATI Forged
BMO Harris Bank
Bucyrus Foundation
Catholic Financial Life
CG Schmidt, Inc.
Charter Manufacturing
Children’s Wisconsin
City of Milwaukee – Dept. of City Development
Deloitte
Direct Supply
Ernst & Young
Foley & Lardner
Frank Beverage/Beer Capitol
Froedtert Health
Gateway Technical College
Gilbane Building Company
Godfrey & Kahn S.C.
GRAEF
Hammes Company
HARIBO of America
Husco Ingeteam, Inc.
Inland Companies
dba Colliers International
Johnson Financial
Ted Kellner
Komatsu
KPMG
Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems
Lubar & Co
ManpowerGroup
Mawicke & Goisman
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee Metro Sewerage District
Milwaukee Tool
Molson Coors
National Exchange Bank & Trust
Nexus Pharmaceutical
Northwestern Mutual
Old National Bank Palermo Villa
PAX Holdings
Payne & Dolan
PNC Bank
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
PS Capital Partners
QPS Employment Group
Quarles & Brady
Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
Robert W. Baird & Co., Inc.
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
Shorewest Realtors
Strang, Inc.
Strattec Security Corp.
Town Bank
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Von Briesen & Roper
Waukesha County
WEC Energy Group
Wells Fargo
Wenthe-Davidson Engineering
Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
municipal investments for business projects that make the Milwaukee Region stronger. The M7 staff and their counterparts in the region’s local economic development organizations regularly visit companies to discuss challenges and expansion opportunities. M7 then connects companies to resources, including:
● Talent sourcing ● Financing
● Business incentives ● Market expansion
● Location optimization
The Milwaukee Region is a recognized center of innovation and advanced manufacturing. Several industry segments stand out due to their number of firms and the concentration of talent. M7 supports these clusters and their network organizations:
● FaB Wisconsin, a statewide network for food, beverage, ingredient, equipment and packaging makers fabwisconsin.com
● The Water Council, a global hub driving innovation in freshwater technology and advancing water stewardship thewatercouncil.com
● The Next Generation Manufacturing Council, which addresses issues related to workforce, exports, supply chains and productivity
M7 markets the region to companies looking to expand operations or relocate –from across the state line to around the globe. It provides tools and project management to guide companies from their first visit through the opening of their new plant or office. M7 has closed deals and attracted foreign investment from companies in Taiwan, China, India, Great Britain, Spain, Italy and Germany
The M7 Talent Partnership aligns talent resources with high-growth industry clusters to develop a stronger, more agile workforce. It helps companies expanding or relocating to the area navigate the
agencies, staffing companies and college connections best suited to their businesses. The Talent Partnership also partners with businesses to share best practices and provides next-level labor market data to inform employer talent strategies.
M7 connects new and growing companies
to the resources they need to take their businesses to the next level, including the M7 Venture Fund, which provides grants, loans and equity to emerging companies and high-growth startups. M7 is a regional partner for the Start in Wisconsin online entrepreneurship platform, developed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to provide a directory of resources, events and programming that powers connections for area entrepreneurs and start-ups. startinwi.com
Ideally located in the heart of the Upper Midwest, southeastern Wisconsin has been an economic engine since the Potawatomi settled along the shore of Lake Michigan and the Menomonee River hundreds of years ago. Thanks to visionary leaders and entrepreneurs, what was once known as the “Beer Capital of the World” and the “Toolbox of America” in the 1900s is now a recognized global center for advanced manufacturing, electronic commerce, financial services, food and beverage producers, printing and green technologies.
The seven-county Milwaukee Region flourishes with more than 48,600 businesses and a gross economic product of more than $128 billion. It is fueled by a healthy balance of long-time manufacturing icons and next-generation companies. The metro region is home to 14 Fortune 1000 companies, which is high for a region its size. Working with inventors, entrepreneurs, established businesses and civic leaders, the Metropolitan Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce (MMAC) continues to strengthen a region already well known for its global manufacturers, forward-focused technology firms, innovative service businesses, medical research and strong financial institutions.
More than 60 percent of the region’s residents 25 years of age or older have attended college, and 43 percent have earned an associate, bachelor’s or advanced degree, which is above the national average.
Approximately 87,500 students currently attend one of the more than a dozen four-year colleges and universities in the region, including the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of WisconsinParkside, Marquette University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering, Alverno College and Carroll University.
Wisconsin has a long history of educational innovation. It pioneered vocational schools in the United States, and its technical college system continues to focus on developing the skills the
48,600 businesses call the Milwaukee Region home IN THIS SECTION
MILWAUKEE ON THE MOVE
● Major Manufacturers
● Major Service Firms
● Major Law Firms
● Corporate Headquarters
● Retail, Office and Industrial Sites
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
● MMAC World Trade Association
● Export Assistance
● Foreign Trade Zone
● Foreign Investment Zone
● Global Export Initiative
THE BUSINESS OF HEALTH
● Market Overview
● Health & Wellness
● Medical Plans
● Health Systems
800 students transferred to four-year universities in 2019-20
marketplace will need today – and tomorrow. Businesses are also partnering with area colleges and universities to create forward-thinking programs that will attract and train top-level talent.
MMAC understands that yesterday’s solutions won’t meet tomorrow’s demands. That is why it is involved in several
initiatives to build a sustainable and effective talent pipeline that makes education accessible to everyone –especially minority and underserved populations:
● Milwaukee 7 Talent Partnership, which brings together manufacturers, workforce development providers and
educators to develop short- and longterm solutions to fill the talent pipeline
● Lightcast, a proprietary workforce intelligence data tool that provides realtime labor market data and workforce analytics to identify the upskilling, reskilling and career pathways with the most opportunities.
● FUEL Milwaukee, which helps more than 7,000 young professionals and new Milwaukee residents network and become engaged in the community
● MMAC’s ongoing education initiatives, which represent a 25-year commitment to ensure K-12 students have the tools, schools, skills and teachers they need to graduate and pursue their career goals
MMAC also offers a variety of resources and networking opportunities to help human resource professionals develop their talent pipelines, including a Talent Solutions Directory, the Talent Solutions 101 webinar series, the Recruiters Roundtable, its Emerging Leaders program and its Professional Development Bootcamp.
There are many reasons why so many multinational companies call the Milwaukee Region home, why entrepreneurs choose Milwaukee to set up shop, and why Forbes magazine has ranked Milwaukee one of the top 10 communities for young professionals.
Milwaukee is a big city that’s easy to get around. It has one of the lowest commute times of major urban areas and is considered one of the more walkable cities in the country. The Hop streetcar system shuttles people around the downtown’s business and entertainment districts, while Bublr provides an easy way to get around on rental bicycles.
The region’s comparatively easy lifestyle, including top-tier amenities, low living costs and relatively easy access to leaders and influencers help to attract young professionals and keep them in the area.
Few other cities can boast such a wide range of events. Every weekend, the curtain rises on a diverse playbill of performing arts, sporting events, festivals or other cultural activities. There’s plenty to do for the physically active. Milwaukee County has one of the largest park systems in the country. There are dozens of public golf courses, tennis courts, hiking and biking trails, and
GROWTH: MILWAUKEE ON THE MOVEsoccer fields; miles of public beachfront access; and a state park that provides panoramic views of both the Milwaukee skyline and majestic Lake Michigan.
Milwaukee is also a caring community with a Midwestern sensibility that makes people feel at home. Its residents are generous with their time and money, helping to fund a robust arts community and making sure that social service organizations have the resources they need to serve the less advantaged. Southeastern Wisconsin is home to companies that continually care for and invest in their employees. That’s one of the primary reasons Milwaukee has one of the nation’s highest concentrations of best companies to work for per capita, according to the Great Places to Work Institute.
MMAC actively protects and enhances the region’s assets. It advocates for transportation projects that keep goods and people moving smoothly, promotes the development of land into thriving commercial and industrial areas, and leads strategic planning efforts to ensure that the region’s distinctive qualities will remain viable for generations to come.
MMAC understands that diversity is Milwaukee’s strength. That is why it began its Region of Choice initiative, which seeks to increase the number of minority executives and talent employed at area companies. To date, more than 120 area employers have committed to increasing the number of Black and Hispanic managers by 25 percent and the number of Black and Hispanic employees by 15 percent.
Other initiatives seek to increase funding for minority businesses and entrepreneurs. The Hispanic Collaborative is securing up to $10 million in funding to support Hispanic developers seeking to build housing in Hispanic neighborhoods. Milwaukee-based Northwestern Mutual has dedicated $20 million in venture capital funding to Blackfounded startups and is partnering with gener8tor, a Milwaukee-based startup accelerator firm, to launch the Northwestern Mutual Black Founder Accelerator
BMO Harris has launched a Black and Latinx Small Business Program that offers up to $50,000 in lines of credit, while the Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers and Green Bay Packers have formed the Equity League, a networking initiative designed to increase investment in minority businesses.
Diversity is important for the local economy as well. Although many people equate Milwaukee with beer, its breweries today employ less than 1 percent of Milwaukee’s workforce. In fact, no segment of the area’s manufacturing industry employs more than 5 percent of the metropolitan labor force.
In addition to the many legacy manufacturers that call Milwaukee home, the region is home to hundreds of smaller manufacturers that provide quality products for customers around the world.
Manufacturing remains an important engine for the region’s economy. Approximately 15 percent of the workforce is employed by manufacturers, which is well above the 9-percent national average. The region is a national leader in the production of industrial controls, steel foundry parts, engines and mining machinery. It also is a leader in the production of medical diagnostic equipment, thanks to
GE Healthcare, which has several Wisconsin facilities located in Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Waukesha and Madison.
In addition to GE Healthcare, the region is home to several other well-known manufacturers, including Rockwell Automation, a Fortune 500 firm and an international leader in industrial controls and Internet of Things solutions. Five other industrial companies in the region have
revenues greater than $3 billion: HarleyDavidson (Milwaukee), Milwaukee Tool (Milwaukee), Quad (Sussex), SC Johnson (Racine) and Snap-On (Kenosha).
The region is also home to Johnson Controls, a global leader in building control systems; Enerpac, which manufactures hydraulic, electromechanical and electronic motioncontrol systems; A. O. Smith, a global
water technology company manufacturing residential and commercial water heaters, boilers and water purification equipment; Briggs & Stratton, a leading small-engine manufacturer; MolsonCoors, a leading brewer; Modine Manufacturing, a global leader in thermal management; and Zurn Elkay Water Solutions, a global provider of advanced water system solutions.
World’s largest producer of engines for outdoor power equipment, and leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of lithium-ion battery, standby generator, energy storage system,
Southeastern Wisconsin participates in the federal government’s Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership, which recognizes the Milwaukee area’s strength as a leading manufacturing center. In addition, Milwaukee 7’s Next Generation Manufacturing Council supports manufacturers and paves the way for tomorrow’s technology by developing long-term manufacturing strategies, prioritizing and promoting best practices, and integrating key economic levers, including workforce, exports, supply chains and productivity initiatives.
The region continues to attract cuttingedge businesses. Boston-based Formlabs recently selected Milwaukee for its second major U.S. 3-D printing hub because of its advanced manufacturing heritage and technology-oriented educational institutions.
riding and fashion apparel
1,790 Creating intelligent buildings, efficient energy solutions and integrated infrastructure
Ranked as an up-and-coming tech city by Forbes magazine, Milwaukee features a solid, high-tech base. With leadership from area manufacturers, universities, research institutions and policy makers, southeastern Wisconsin is also on the forward edge of research into the development of the Internet of Things, battery technology for electric cars and advanced medical imaging.
ciders and flavored malt beverages
7,000 Global marketing experience company that helps brands reimagine their marketing to be more streamlined, impactful, flexible, and frictionless
Southeastern Wisconsin is a base for several leading medical technology firms, including GE Healthcare. Other firms include Vesta, which manufactures medical devices; Mortara Instrument, which is now part of Welch Allyn Cardiology; Criticare Technologies, which manufactures medical monitoring equipment; Alcami Corp., which develops and manufactures pharmaceuticals and pharma intermediates; and Bradshaw Medical, a manufacturer of orthopedic and spinal surgery instruments.
Two of the world’s largest data processing firms have significant technology
Milwaukee-area law firms with more than 35 local attorneys/ MMAC Members in Bold
labor/employment, intellectual property, insurance disputes, environmental, succession planning
Business law, transactional and securities, finance and financial institutions, litigation, intellectual property, employee benefits, labor/employment, estates and trusts, tax, real estate, environmental regulation and energy
Corporate, mergers and acquisitions, banking, securities, litigation, real estate, health care, estate planning, intellectual property, bankruptcy, environmental/ energy, tax, labor and employment, and technology
operations in southeastern Wisconsin. Brookfield-based Fiserv is a leading data processing provider for financial institutions serving more than 10,000 financial institutions in more than 90 countries. FIS, the world’s largest technology solution provider, employs more than 3,000 people in the region. U.S. Bancorp Fund Services and JPMorgan Chase also have significant data processing operations in the region.
N. Broadway, Suite 1100 Milwaukee / huschblackwell.com
A business and litigation law firm that delivers solutions across major industries, including energy and natural resources; financial services and capital markets; food and agribusiness; health care; life sciences and education; real estate; development and construction; and technology, manufacturing and transportation
Several large software firms specializing in logistics have locations here, including Dematic Corporation, a supply-chain technology company that designs and builds warehouse automation systems. The region is also home to other specialty technology firms, including Astronautics Corp. of America, an international provider of flight-critical software and instruments; Penta Technologies, developer of enterprise solutions software; Connecture, Inc., a health insurance software provider; and Zywave, a leading developer of software for financial planners and insurance brokers.
N. Water St., Suite 2500 Milwaukee / michaelbest.com
Litigation; business law; mergers & acquisitions; banking, receivership & creditors’ rights; tax advice, planning & controversy; estate & business succession planning; labor & employment; inheritance litigation & will contests; family law; real estate & construction
In 2019, Northwestern Mutual, Kohl’s Corp., Rockwell Automation, Johnson Controls International, Advocate Aurora Health and Accenture launched the Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition to strengthen Milwaukee’s tech industry. The coalition is designed to aid Milwaukee programs and initiatives that support tech workers and tech startup companies and double the number of tech workers by 2025.
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1848 Banking and financial services; construction law; corporate and transactional; energy law; environmental and natural resources; government relations, political law and public policy; health care; intellectual property; labor and employment relations; litigation; privacy and cybersecurity; real estate; regulatory; tax; and wealth planning 174 Quarles & Brady LLP 411 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 2400 Milwaukee / quarles.com
Significant practice areas include business law, mergers and acquisitions, securities, commercial litigation, energy law, intellectual property, real estate and land use, labor and employment, health law, trusts and estates, public finance, product liability, environmental law, tax, franchise, employee benefits, immigration, bankruptcy, and data privacy and security
201 Business and corporate, mergers and acquisitions, litigation, real estate, health care, tax, banking, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor and employment, trusts and estate planning, international, commercial and competition, bankruptcy, consumer finance, government relations, tax-exempt organizations, food and beverage, regulatory, cybersecurity, immigration law
Banking, business and corporate, construction, health, employee benefits, finance, government, intellectual property, litigation, manufacturing, labor and employment, mergers and acquisitions, nonprofit, real estate, school, tax, trusts and estates
The coalition, which now includes more than 60 firms, offers a 10-week incubator used to strengthen Milwaukee’s tech supply chain of talent, startup companies and idea generation. It also has partnered with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development to build a technology apprenticeship system.
Other support services include:
● The Technology Innovation Center, one of the largest high-tech incubators in the country
● Wisconsin’s Center for Technology Commercialization, which provides one-on-one assistance to early-stage, emerging-technology businesses
Wisconsin is home to nearly 19,000 food and beverage industry businesses that employ more than 366,000 people,
generating $104 billion in economic activity. The state’s concentration of food and beverage manufacturing talent ranks Wisconsin fourth in the nation.
Lauded as America’s Dairyland and well known for its beer, brats and cheese, Wisconsin’s producers, manufacturers, distributors, and retailers span from local to global, big to small, start-up to legacy, nutrient-dense to decadent, and from farm to factory to fork. These businesses are strengthened and leveraged through FaB Wisconsin, a food and beverage business network that includes food, beverage, ingredients, packaging, and equipment manufacturers.
Wisconsin offers a rich operating environment for legacy brands, such as Bel Gioioso, Brownberry, Jack Links, Johnsonville, Gardetto’s, Gehl Foods, Palermo’s, Sargento, Sartori, Leinenkugel’s, MillerCoors, Nueske’s, and Usinger’s.
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With nearly 150 member companies, FaB Wisconsin (FaBWisconsin.com) works to make Wisconsin a networked place to grow a food and beverage business and industry career. Members benefit from focus on industry leadership and outreach, talent attraction and retention, food safety, business growth, supply chain maximization, and industry marketing.
Wisconsin’s industry knowhow, garnered across the state over the past 200 years, is reflected in FaB’s member companies and in the thousands of those who bring the world Wisconsin’s food and drink. Their secret sauce is the workforce with passion and purpose to feed and quench the world.
Godfrey & Kahn provides proactive solutions and strategic legal advice to many of Wisconsin’s most vibrant and innovative businesses.OFFICES IN MILWAUKEE, MADISON, GREEN BAY, APPLETON AND EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN AND WASHINGTON, D.C.
Wisconsin business leaders trust their important legal matters to Godfrey & Kahn.
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AT&T Wisconsin
N. Broadway Milwaukee / att.com
DESCRIPTION
4,800 Communication and entertainment services, including local and long-distance telephone service, data transport, high-speed Internet access, video, data transmission capabilities and paging
based in the region include Birds Eye, Bimbo Bakeries, Campbell’s, Cargill, CocaCola, ConAgra, General Mills, Hormel, Nestlé, Pepsi, Saputo, Smucker’s, Smithfield and Tyson.
Foreign direct investment includes Agropur, Chr. Hansen, Galactic, Kerry, Kikkoman, Lallemand, Lesaffre/Red Star Yeast, Malteurop, Mondelez, Nature’s Path, Purato’s, and the recent attraction of HARIBO, along with packaging and equipment makers Krones, KHS, Seda and Sudpack
The service sector has been the fastestgrowing segment of the regional economy. Service-providing jobs account for more than 80 percent of all nonfarm jobs in southeastern Wisconsin. Health care and social assistance, professional and business services, retail trade, hospitality and food services, and finance/insurance are among the largest service-sector segments in the region.
Regional, not-for-profit health care system and academic medical center serving eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois Froedtert Health 9200 W. Wisconsin Ave. Milwaukee / froedtert.com
Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago
Corp. N56 W17000 Ridgewood Dr. Menomonee Falls / kohls.com
8,060
A diverse non-profit providing job training, employment placement services and community-based support programs by operating social enterprises, including selling donated clothing and household items in stores and across e-commerce platforms, serving Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago
Omnichannel retailer offering national and proprietary brands in apparel, footwear, accessories, beauty and home
A lodging and entertainment industries company, with company-owned real estate assets; operating through movie theater and hotel/resort segments in the U.S.
medical school, research institution and multispecialty medical, pharmacy and graduate school of biomedical
Five Milwaukee-area service companies are ranked as Fortune 500 companies: ManpowerGroup, Northwestern Mutual, and WEC Energy Group (Milwaukee); Kohl’s Corp. (Menomonee Falls); and Fiserv (Brookfield).
ManpowerGroup is the third-largest staffing firm in the world, serving more than 400,000 clients in 75 countries worldwide. Northwestern Mutual is the nation’s leading provider of individual life insurance and a financial services firm that manages $309 billion in assets. Kohl’s is among the nation’s leading retailers with nearly 1,200 stores in 49 states.
Northwestern
Milwaukee
/ northwesternmutual.com
Group
W. Michigan St.
Navigate Business MKE 34
Fiserv is one of the nation’s largest data processing firms, serving more than 10,000 financial institutions and 6 million merchant locations in more than 100 countries.
The Milwaukee Region is also home to the Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp. (MGIC), which is the nation’s leading provider of private mortgage insurance; and West Bend Mutual, a leading property and casualty insurer.
Several national banks have a major presence in the Milwaukee Region, including Bank of America, BMO Harris, JPMorgan Chase, Old National, US Bank and Wells Fargo.
The region is home to significant operations for several large state and regional financial institutions, including Associated Bank, The Equitable Bank, First Citizens, Johnson Financial Group, Landmark Credit Union, Old National, PNC Bank, Summit Credit Union, Town Bank, Tri City National Bank and UW Credit Union.
Health care is a major service employer.
Southeastern Wisconsin is home to major operations for two of the nation’s largest integrated health care systems – Advocate Aurora Health and Ascension Wisconsin
The region’s other major health care providers are Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin, which operates several area hospitals in conjunction with an academic medical center, and ProHealth Care, which operates hospitals and clinics in Waukesha County.
Southeastern Wisconsin is also a leader in health care quality and research. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has consistently ranked Wisconsin among the top states for the quality of medical care delivered.
Southeastern Wisconsin is a nationally recognized hub for green technologies that are focused on improving water quality, reducing auto emissions and lowering energy consumption.
Built on more than a century of water innovation, The Water Council has coalesced one of the most concentrated water technology clusters in the world and has solidified its leadership in solving critical water challenges by driving innovation in freshwater technology and advancing water stewardship.
Building a bright, sustainable future We’re investing in solar, wind and battery storage to provide the affordable, reliable and clean energy you depend on.
By strengthening the infrastructure needed to increase research into the world’s freshwater challenges and potential solutions, as well as supporting the region’s many water technology companies and serving as the regional partner for the Alliance for Water Stewardship in North America, it helped to build the business case for water stewardship and create the world’s first credentialing program for water professionals.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Great Lakes Water Institute is the largest research center of its kind on the Great Lakes. The university also operates the graduate-level School of Freshwater Sciences, the first of its kind in the United States, and the Center for By-Products Utilization, which focuses on using technology to find environmentally and economically effective uses for industrial byproducts and consumer waste.
For 140 years, Milwaukee-based Johnson Controls has been focused on energy efficiency. In 1883, it patented the first
electric room thermostat. It is now the global leader in building technology, software and services designed to make buildings more energy efficient, healthy and sustainable. Over the years, its researchers have come up with other green solutions as well. Clarios, formerly known as Johnson Controls Power Solutions and now an
independent company, is a global leader in advanced battery technologies that power one in three vehicles worldwide.
Rockwell Automation is actively involved in the development of the Internet of Things, which will increase efficiency and reduce energy consumption by improving communication between equipment and companies. Ingeteam, a Spanish-based manufacturer of alternative energy equipment, has a major facility in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Marquette University, the Milwaukee School of Engineering and several of the region’s private-sector employers are working together to develop microgrid technologies to store renewable energy. Modine is an international pioneer in thermal management technologies.
Actuant has entered the market for power inverters, which are key to using the power generated by wind turbines and solar panels. Eaton Power Systems Division, which produces integrated, smart-grid technologies, recently expanded its South Milwaukee facility to meet the demand for the technology.
The Water Council connects, convenes and showcases its nearly 150 members from around the globe, providing a full range of business development services and networking opportunities and the potential to collaborate with some of the world’s most prominent water innovators. thewatercouncil.com
● Economic Development: Offers services that grease the wheels of the water technology sector by supporting global water innovators through its Pilot Program, Tech Challenge and BREW 2.0 Post-Accelerator. Its matchmaking services connect startups, Fortune 500 companies and everything in between with a goal of addressing the world’s most pressing challenges involving water quality and quantity.
● Water Stewardship: Fosters improved performance by helping water users at all points in their stewardship journey identify and mitigate water-related risks and address shared challenges and opportunities. The WAVE: Water Stewardship Verified program helps companies improve water stewardship performance, public reporting and disclosure to key stakeholders. It also provides customized advisory services to companies of all types, from data centers to dairies, that address specific water-related needs or goals. A global leader in water stewardship training, it also offers comprehensive and tailored training and capacity-building services.
Research is critical to innovation, and southeastern Wisconsin is fortunate to have major educational and research institutions. It is home to the University of WisconsinMilwaukee, a Tier 1 research center and the second-largest campus in the University of Wisconsin system with more than 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students. Milwaukee also is home to Marquette University and the Milwaukee School of Engineering, which provide critical research and prototyping services to businesses.
Medical College of Wisconsin scientists lead biomedical and population health advancements through laboratory research, clinical trials and community-engaged research. Its faculty researchers conduct more than 3,100 studies annually with more than $1.5 billion in external support for research, teaching and training.
The Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin and its affiliate, the Blood Research Institute, play major roles in research regarding immunobiology, transfusion medicine and stem cell biology. A new research building on the Milwaukee Regional Center Campus will allow Versiti to add more than 10 new investigators to study blood disorders.
Connecting people to jobs and products is essential for a thriving region. Fortunately, the Milwaukee Region is well situated to leverage all of the major modes of transportation – road, rail, air and water. Three interstates – I-94, I-43 and I-41 intersect the region. Several major railroads, including Amtrak, provide freight and passenger service to southeastern Wisconsin. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and Port Milwaukee connect the region to the world by air and water, respectively.
MMAC plays a pivotal role in making sure the region’s transportation infrastructure serves the needs of businesses. Over the past decade, more than $2 billion has been spent to improve the interstate system in the region. This included the rebuilding of the state’s three busiest interchanges – the Marquette, Mitchell and Zoo interchanges. It also included expansion and improvements to I-94, which serves as a critical link to both Chicago and Madison.
These projects have increased development opportunities by adding entrance/exit ramps to new economic corridors. The improvements facilitated the location of a new IKEA regional store, the region’s third Amazon distribution warehouse, the Foxconn campus south of Milwaukee and numerous distribution and industrial facilities.
MMAC is currently advocating for the renovation and expansion of the I-94 expressway west of downtown Milwaukee, which is one of the last remaining chokepoints on the freeway system in the region.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
(MKE) is the largest and busiest airport in the state. Located just south of Milwaukee, it serves passengers from throughout Wisconsin and northern Illinois. MKE currently offers nonstop flights to more than 30 destinations coast-to-coast, and more than 200 international destinations are available with one connection. MKE is the only airport in Wisconsin served by all major airlines: Air Canada, Alaska, American, Apple Vacations/Funjet Vacations, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United.
MKE was named the winner of a 2021 ASQ Best Airport – North America award for providing an outstanding customer experience. flymke.com
Milwaukee is served by two major Amtrak routes, providing convenient passenger service to Chicago, a major Amtrak hub, as well as to Minneapolis-St. Paul and the West. Amtrak’s Hiawatha Service is the busiest route on the Amtrak Midwest network, serving as many as 860,000 passengers annually. Several daily passenger trains connect Milwaukee with Amtrak’s national network in Chicago, where passengers can board trains to destinations throughout the country.
Milwaukee is also served by Amtrak’s Empire Builder, which provides service to Wisconsin Dells, La Crosse, Minneapolis/St. Paul and Glacier National Park on its way to Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington. The city’s Amtrak station is located at the Milwaukee Intermodal Station in downtown Milwaukee. The Hiawatha Service makes a second stop, both inbound and outbound, at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. In addition, Amtrak Thruway buses connect other travelers to the intermodal station, including routes to Green Bay and the Fox Cities. Amtrak.com
The Lake Express is the nation’s first highspeed auto and passenger ferry. It traverses
Lake Michigan, connecting Milwaukee with Muskegon in southwestern Michigan. The ferry’s schedule includes two roundtrips daily in the spring and fall with additional sailings in the summer. The ferry does not operate in the winter or severe weather. lake-express.com
The Hop is a modern, fixed-transit network that connects the Milwaukee Intermodal Station (Amtrak passenger rail and intercity bus service) with the Historic Third Ward, the East Town business district and the Lower East Side. Proposed route extensions will link to the lakefront, Westown (including the Wisconsin Center, Fiserv Forum and Deer District), Bronzeville and Walker’s Point. All rides are free, with trains running from 5 a.m. to midnight Mondays through Fridays, 7 a.m. to midnight Saturdays, and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. thehopmke.com
Connecting Milwaukee with suburban communities is also critical. Next summer, the Milwaukee County Transit System is slated to begin the East-West Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Service that will connect downtown Milwaukee with Wauwatosa and the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center with electric buses that will use designated trafiic lanes to provide faster passenger service.
The Milwaukee Region has a legacy of international trade and investment. It was one of the main melting pots of American immigrants and used its European connections to forge global commerce. The region’s central location in the United States, as well as its access to Port Milwaukee, a major water port that connects to the St. Lawrence Seaway, and two major airports –Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport and Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport – continue to make the region a magnet for trade and investment. Foreign-owned firms
employ 30,000 workers in the metropolitan area. MMAC, Milwaukee 7 and the World Trade Association (WTA) continue to promote the region. Recruiting efforts led to several companies locating their U.S. operations in southeastern Wisconsin, including Foxconn (Taiwan); HARIBO, Thomas Magnete and PTF Pfuller (Germany); Ingeteam, Inesa and Sic Lazaro (Spain); and Seda International Packaging (Italy). The Milwaukee 7 team has also recruited businesses located in Dubai, Turkey, Brazil and China.
The Great Lakes play an important role in international trade, providing global access through Lake Michigan, the St. Lawrence Seaway and the inland river system. Milwaukee is one of the few Great Lakes’ ports open to navigation year-round and is at the center of two initiatives to increase the movement of goods and growth of international trade in the region. The stretch of water between Port Milwaukee and the Port of Muskegon in Michigan has been designated Lake Michigan’s first federal maritime highway, a federal designation intended to increase the shipment of goods by water. This initiative will provide lower-cost alternatives for
The MMAC’s World Trade Association (WTA) is the most experienced network of international exporters, importers, suppliers and service providers. It links companies and individuals interested in expanding their global business experience.
WTA offers an extensive array of forums covering:
l Logistics
l Legal and Taxation Issues
l International Finance
l Distributors, Agents & Joint Ventures
l Emerging Markets
l Import/Export Regulations
l Global Compliance
NETWORKING EVENTS
From company tours to wine tastings and golf outings, WTA sponsors several informal networking events throughout the year.
For more than 55 years, WTA has presented the annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference – the largest of its kind in the state. Since 2020, the WTA has presented the Global Business Insight Series, a virtual, indepth, seven-week series on international business challenges and opportunities.
WTA membership includes a complimentary export assessment designed to help both new and experienced exporters identify and implement available trade resources and programs.
For more information about WTA membership and its benefits, please visit: mmac.org/wta.html
In partnership with the DeLong Company and through the support of federal, state, public and private funds, Port Milwaukee is constructing a new $35 million Agricultural Marine Export Facility. Dried distilled grains with soluables (DDGs), grain, soybean, corn and other Wisconsin-grown agricultural products will be exported via the St. Lawrence Seaway to markets around the world through this new terminal.
Port Milwaukee handles more than 2 million metric tons of cargo annually with a lifting capacity in excess of 300 tons direct from vessel to rail, truck or barge. Port Milwaukee is served by two major railroads (Canadian Pacific and Union Pacific) and offers interstate highway access, as well as direct shipping access to international ports via the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway (GLSLS) system. Port Milwaukee is also grantee of Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) No. 41, which encourages international trade by controlling costs on imported goods for local companies to remain competitive in the global marketplace. For more information about Port Milwaukee’s multimodal transportation offerings, as well as FTZ No. 41 and those port tenants handling freight for export and import, visit portmilwaukee.com or email port@milwaukee.gov
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the state. It also is a major freight hub, handling nearly 85,000 tons of freight. The airport is served by all principal commercial airlines: Air Canada, Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit, Sun Country and United
Exports account for approximately $15 billion of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) and have been the fastestgrowing segment of the regional GDP over the past decade. Wisconsin companies exported $24.8 billion in goods and services in 2021. The state’s top export categories are industrial machinery ($5.7 billion), electrical machinery ($2.1 billion), and medical and scientific instruments ($2.2 billion). Canada is Wisconsin’s largest
trading partner, accounting for almost onethird of total exports. Other major trade destinations include Mexico, China, Germany and Brazil
Several international companies have their global headquarters in the region, including Fiserv, Johnson Controls, ManpowerGroup, Rockwell Automation and SC Johnson. The
region also is home to the North American headquarters for other international firms, including ABB, BRP, Chr. Hansen, CNH Global (Fiat), GE Healthcare, Krones AG, Metso Minerals, Nestlé Siemens Water Technologies and Wacker Neuson Corp.
Milwaukee was one of 28 communities that participated in the Global Cities Initiative, a Brookings Institution project to promote
Regional, national and international logisticians count on Port Milwaukee for a turnkey approach to solve their transportation and supply chain needs. Strategically located in the industrial center of the U.S., Port Milwaukee provides premier access to domestic and world markets.
global trade and foreign direct investment. The Milwaukee 7, in partnership with MMAC, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and The Water Council, joined 10 other metro regions for a multiyear project to develop a strategic approach that was designed to help metropolitan leaders make international decisions based on their regional economic agendas.
Because navigating the many trade resources and programs can be overwhelming, the WTA provides its members with a complementary export assessment to help companies take advantage of export programs that are available at the local, state and federal levels. For programs that require
professional advice, the WTA provides recommendations to law firms, consultants, accounting firms, banks and other institutions as needed. In addition, the WTA sponsors educational forums and networking opportunities.
MMAC worked with the federal government to establish a foreign investment development center that includes southeastern Wisconsin. The Immigrant Investor Visa Program offers green cards to foreign investors and their families who invest a minimum of $1.8 million ($900,000 in targeted employment areas) to create at least 10 full-time jobs. For more information, visit: choosemilwaukee.com/ investmentzone.html
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EssCert is a user friendly tool that replaces the paper-based process for stamping and signing of trade documents into a streamlined electronic system.
MMAC.org/esscert.html
Foreign Trade Zones promote international trade and help companies manage costs by deferring, reducing or eliminating duty payments on imported goods. The yielded cost savings enable local companies to remain competitive in the global marketplace. Subzones can be formed at a company’s place of operations. Port Milwaukee is grantee and administrator of FTZ #41 for the 12 counties in Southeastern Wisconsin. For more information, visit portmilwaukee.com or email port@milwaukee.gov
Access to MMAC’s essCert service allows companies to process certificates of origin from a desktop or laptop computer. It replaces the paper-based process for stamping and signing trade documents with a streamlined electronic system that saves time and money while increasing compliance and productivity. For more information about essCert, contact Katie Henry, executive director of the MMAC’s World Trade Association. 414/287-4123
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) helps increase the global reach of Wisconsin companies. Businesses new to exporting, accidental exporters and experienced exporters can acquire important expertise and market information through WEDC’s in-country trade representatives or by joining WEDC on trade ventures. WEDC programs include:
ExporTech™: A partnership with WMEP Manufacturing Solutions, ExporTech offers financial and technical assistance to participating companies through a 12-week accelerator program that provides access to experts, individualized coaching and consulting support.
Global Business Development Program: Provides grant funding to support a company’s export strategy.
WEDC Global Network: WEDC’s market development directors work with in-country trade representatives covering 97 countries.
Global Trade Ventures: WEDC organizes inperson and virtual delegation visits to make connections in markets strategically important to Wisconsin exporters.
For more information: wedc.org/export
Southeastern Wisconsin residents benefit from a health care market that is nationally known for quality, competition, efficiency and collaboration, and a business community committed to employee wellness. State agencies, trade organizations, health care systems and purchasers work collaboratively to develop innovative solutions that deliver high quality, cost-efficient health care services. The state is a leader in integrated health care, which brings physicians, hospitals and ancillary services together to provide more efficient care and minimize the duplication of services. It is also home to several provider-owned health plans, which offer employers an integrated solution that provides both health care delivery and health insurance.
The health care community seeks to continually improve efficiency and quality by working on several statewide projects, including the Wisconsin Health Information Organization (WHIO), which manages an all-payer claims database to help identify variations in the way health care services are delivered; and the Wisconsin Collaborative on Healthcare Quality (WCHQ), which gathers clinical data from health systems and hospitals to improve the quality of care. As a result of these initiatives, Wisconsin consistently ranks
among the top states in the nation for the quality of health care services delivered to patients.
The Milwaukee Region is a leader in medical research and education. The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), which has locations in the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center, Green Bay and Central Wisconsin, is a private medical school and major national research center that offers graduate degrees in medical, pharmacy and biomedical sciences. More than 1,600 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 2.8 million patients annually.
With a history dating back to 1893, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies annually, including clinical trials. In the last ten years, faculty received more than $1.5 billion in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. Its Office of Technology Development oversees patenting, marketing and licensing of new medical technologies, and its Clinical and
MMAC and UnitedHealthcare have teamed up to provide companies with between 5 and 99 employees with flexible plan options that allow them to share in health plan savings while protecting them from catastrophic claims. The All Savers Alternative Funding plans include:
● A wide selection of flexible plan options, including medical, dental, vision, life, supplemental life, shortterm disability, long-term disability, critical illness, accident protection and hospital indemnity protection (HIPP)
● The UnitedHealthcare Motion® program, which features a wearable activity tracker that can be used to reward employees for meeting goals
● No-additional-cost virtual visits through HealthiestYou for all plan participants and their dependents
● No-additional-cost second-opinion service with leading experts
● Real Appeal® virtual weight-loss program
For more information: mmac.org/health-insurance-plan.html
Translational Science Institute is a collaboration with the Milwaukee School of Engineering and other schools to solve medical engineering challenges.
The Medical College also collaborates with Marquette University to provide education and research in biomedical engineering, orthopedic rehabilitation and stroke rehabilitation. Marquette also serves as the region’s dental school.
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) plays a crucial role in making the Milwaukee region a leader in medical research and education. UWM’s Partners for Health is an interdisciplinary collaboration between its nursing, public health, health sciences and social welfare programs. It conducts research in multiple areas, including biosciences and aging, and seeks innovative ways to improve the lives of people with physical and mental health issues. UWM has the state’s largest nursing program; graduate programs in public health, health care administration and informatics; and is the state’s only nationally accredited school of public health.
The Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin and its affiliate, the Blood Research Institute, play major roles in research regarding immunobiology, transfusion medicine and stem-cell biology. The institute’s Glycomics Center focuses on defining the structures and functions of complex carbohydrates. The Blood Research Institute also played an integral role in the creation of the National Marrow Donor Program.
Several area schools offer undergraduate and advanced degrees in nursing, including Alverno College, Columbia College of Nursing, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
For 115 years, Rogers Behavioral Health has been fulfilling its not-for-profit mission of changing lives with gold standard mental health and addiction care. At Rogers, patients have access to one of the largest teams of nationally recognized psychiatric experts who will help find their path to recovery.
If you know someone struggling with mental health or addiction, reach out to the leader in effective treatment and compassionate care. Reach out to Rogers Behavioral Health.
At the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network, people are the driving force behind everything we do. We know that breakthroughs aren’t just for medical journals, they’re to help people live longer and live better. That’s what gets us going every day. Because we’re more than doctors and nurses, researchers and clinicians. We’re people helping people. And we never lose sight of that.
What Is Possible
Financial Wellness for Employees by Summit is designed so that with a single program, each of your employees can learn to take the best next step to financial success. And then keep going.
It’s a holistic approach that not only improves their financial wellness, but their entire lives!
There’s no cost to this financial wellness program. Bring us your questions and let’s talk about the short- and long-term benefits you can offer your employees through our program. Join our nearly 70 partners in workplace wellness!
Wisconsin businesses and organizations have been innovators in wellness, recognizing the link between medical costs and the health status of an employer group. Most Milwaukee-area employers with more than 20 employees have established wellness programs, which often include health-risk assessments, educational offerings, and subsidies for health and fitness clubs.
This focus on wellness is due in large measure to the efforts of the Wellness Council of Wisconsin, which is dedicated to helping employers design resultsoriented wellness programs that maximize the health and productivity of their employees. Founded in 1985 by the Wisconsin business community, the association has 500 employer members representing more than 450,000 employees. Its Well Workplace University helps participants develop a practical framework for building effective worksite wellness programs by securing seniorlevel support and using data to drive health efforts.
As a result of the business community’s commitment to wellness, southeastern Wisconsin is the only region in the country to have two cities that have achieved Well City designation – Milwaukee, which received its designations in 2010 and 2015, and Racine, which received its designation in 2012. In order to achieve the designation, a significant number of businesses have to offer formal wellness programs that include biometric screenings, health-risk assessments and other requirements.
Wisconsin has one of the most competitive health insurance markets in
Now, more than ever, employers in Wisconsin are looking for a local health plan they can count on. One that will be by their side for the long haul.
That’s why we are expanding options to meet employer needs by:
Offering a level-funded solution to deliver predictable monthly premiums and protection against large claims.
Simplifying the underwriting process.
Providing the dual option of Anthem’s affordable Well Priority network alongside a broader, more robust network.
Updating employer tools to make health plans simpler.
We’re also supporting employee whole-person health by:
Providing programs for holistic care.
Integrating virtual care with digital support through SydneySM Health app.
Simplifying communication among care providers.
Expanding behavioral health network access and resources.
If we know one thing — it’s that nothing is more important than the health of the businesses we serve. This is the essence of who we are and what we can deliver.
the country, which gives employers both large and small a range of options from which to choose. UnitedHealthcare is the region’s largest provider of private-sector health insurance, followed by Anthem Network Health is a provider-owned health plan that is jointly owned by Froedtert Health and Ascension Wisconsin. It provides health insurance throughout southeastern and northeastern Wisconsin.
Southeast Wisconsin is served by five multi-hospital health systems that integrate physician services and outpatient clinics with inpatient services to provide coordinated medical care. Integrated care can improve quality and efficiency through better patient engagement, electronic record sharing and the elimination of duplicate diagnostic tests.
Advocate Aurora Health is the region’s largest integrated health system, serving eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois. One of the largest health systems in the nation, it is the result of the merger of Milwaukee-based Aurora Health Care and Chicago-based Advocate Health Care. In 2022, Advocate Aurora merged with Atrium Health, which has hospitals in North Carolina, South Carolina. Alabama and Georgia, to become the nation’s fifthlargest health system.
The second-largest integrated system in the region is Ascension Wisconsin, which includes the former Columbia St. Mary’s health system and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Ascension Wisconsin is part of St. Louis-based Ascension Healthcare. Ascension also includes the former Ministry health system, which provides care in northern Wisconsin, and the former Affinity Healthcare, which provides health care in northeastern Wisconsin. Ascension Wisconsin is one of the largest divisions of Ascension Health, which is the secondlargest health system in the country.
The region’s other integrated health systems are Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin, which combines an academic medical center with several community hospitals, a tertiary care hospital and the region’s only Level I trauma center; ProHealth Care, which serves the greater Waukesha area with three hospitals and more than a dozen medical clinics in Waukesha County;
Children’s Wisconsin, which has pediatric hospitals and clinics in southeastern and northeastern Wisconsin, as well as northern Illinois.
Advocate Aurora Health
Advocate Aurora Health is the largest fully integrated health system in Wisconsin and serves eastern Wisconsin through 17 hospitals and more than 150 clinic sites. It employs 39,000 team members, including 1,800 physicians throughout eastern Wisconsin. Aurora received the top performance award in a six-year quality demonstration project conducted by Medicare. The health system operates 12 medical centers throughout southeastern Wisconsin, including St. Luke’s Medical Center, its flagship, tertiary-care hospital. aurorahealthcare.org
Ascension Wisconsin
Ascension Wisconsin includes the former Columbia St. Mary’s Health System and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare Services. The system includes 11 hospitals, more than 75 community clinics, the Columbia College of Nursing, physician medical groups and several urgent/express care centers in southeastern Wisconsin. Columbia St. Mary’s Regional Burn Center is the only one of its kind in the eastern half of the state. ascension.org
Children’s Wisconsin
Children's Wisconsin is one of the nation's top pediatric facilities with hospitals located in Milwaukee and Neenah. It offers outpatient care in more than 70 medical specialties and has an academic affiliation with the Medical College of Wisconsin. It is ranked in nine specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2019-2020 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children’s provides primary, specialty, urgent and emergency care, as well as community health services, foster and adoption services, child and family counseling, child advocacy services, and family resource centers. chw.org
The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin supporting a shared mission of patient care, innovation, medical research and education. Our health network operates eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center and adult Level I Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, an internationally
recognized training and research center engaged in thousands of clinical trials and studies. The Froedtert & MCW health network includes 10 hospital locations and more than 45 health centers and clinics, draws patients from throughout the Midwest and the nation.Workforce Health, the employer services arm of the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network, provides health care services to businesses throughout the region. froedtert.com/workforce-health
ProHealth Care is an integrated health care system serving Waukesha County and surrounding communities. It offers a network of more than 800 physicians that provide cancer, heart and vascular care, orthopedics, neurosciences and other specialty services. It has four hospitals, 15 clinics, urgent care centers, surgery centers, hospice care and other services. It also offers online scheduling and virtual health services. prohealthcare.org
We are committed to partnering with families and communities to help nurture kids’ physical, mental and social health.
Here are a few of the ways we’re caring for kids:
• Our school-based mental health program helps kids across the state to access counseling right down the hall from their classrooms.
• Pediatricians at our primary care locations care for kids and families in the neighborhoods where they live, work and play.
• Our school nursing program brings full-time nurses to Milwaukee Public Schools, helping keep kids healthy so they can learn.
• Through advocacy, we support local, state and federal legislation that improves health and well-being for kids and families.
• We provide the kids of our community the highest quality care available anywhere in the world — right here in Wisconsin.
Supporting the kids in our community, at every age and stage
Southeastern Wisconsin is a place where you will be hard-pressed to find a weekend when there is nothing to do. College and professional sports teams play year-round. Theater, dance and opera companies keep the stages filled with action. Dozens of small clubs offer a variety of blues, jazz, swing, classical, country and rock ’n’ roll. Nationally acclaimed chefs oversee the creation of culinary treats in a city dubbed one of the “most dynamic” food cities in the United States while ethnic restaurants keep alive the heritage and recipes of the Old World. Dozens of museums cater to our interest in history, art, technology and the child in all of us. Botanical gardens and zoos bring nature close to home while hiking and biking paths, ski hills and cross-country trails expand the outdoors. Milwaukee is at the epicenter of a region that extends from the natural beauty of Wisconsin’s North Woods two hours to the north to the world-class city of Chicago, 90 minutes to the south.
Not surprisingly, Milwaukee has become an increasingly popular destination. Forbes magazine called it one of the best cities for young professionals. The New York Times labeled it a “must place to visit.” And National Geographic named it among the top destinations of the world, one of only five U.S. places to receive the designation.
Bordered on the east by the deep-blue waters of Lake Michigan and encircled by the pristine, glacial hills of the Kettle Moraine, Milwaukee has become a
popular port of call for the rapidly growing Great Lakes cruise industry. More than 10,000 passengers on close to three dozen cruise ships were expected to set anchor in Milwaukee in 2022. It’s a place where you can have fun, feel at home and enjoy urban energy without big-city stress.
It's also a city that continually reinvents itself. The Milwaukee Art Museum redefined the lakefront with the iconic, Calatrava-designed entrance hall that has served as a backdrop for numerous commercials and movies, including Transformers 3. The Milwaukee Public Museum, already a nationally ranked institution for natural history, is building a new $350 million museum near the Deer District and will be renamed the Wisconsin Museum of Nature and Culture. The Milwaukee Repertory Theater, which draws more than 300,000 people to its three venues – the Quadracci Powerhouse, Stiemke Theater and the Stackner Cabaret – is investing $75 million in a new theater complex to replace its current facility.
Milwaukee is a cultural center offering a wealth of opportunities to attend plays, operas, symphonies and chamber music thanks to an arts community that is well supported by metro-area residents. Among large metropolitan areas, only Nashville, Orlando, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Chicago have more performing arts groups per 100,000 people. And no city in the country, except Los Angeles, raises more private money to support the arts community. The Milwaukee
Milwaukee is one of the “coolest”
- Travel Channel
Symphony recently moved into its new home, a refurbished movie palace from the 1930s in the heart of the downtown. The city is also home to the Milwaukee Ballet and the Florentine Opera as well as numerous smaller experimental theaters.
The region offers a variety of musical venues ranging from small settings like the Back Room@Colectivo and Turner Hall to medium-size locations like the Pabst, the Riverside and Miller High Life theaters to major arenas like Fiserv Forum and the American Family Amphitheater.
There is plenty of nightlife throughout Milwaukee, whether it be somewhere in the city’s popular Third Ward or Fifth Ward, or in one of many fun destinations, including the Deer District near the Fiserv Forum, Brady Street, Water Street, Old World Third Street, North Avenue or Jefferson Street. Those looking for Las Vegasstyle gambling head down to the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino west of downtown.
Milwaukee holds more festivals than any other city in the United States.
Many of the city’s major ethnic festivals are held near the lakefront, including Festa Italiana, Irish Fest, German Fest and Polish Fest. The summer season is also filled with many church and community festivals as well, including the Cinco de Mayo Festival held at Mitchell Park on Milwaukee’s near south side, Cedarburg’s annual Strawberry Festival and Fish Days in Port Washington. Milwaukee is probably best known for Summerfest, a celebration of music and
food considered to be one of the most diverse and affordable of the world’s major music festivals. Heralded as “The World’s Largest Music Festival,” the 55-year-old festival features hundreds of acts on 12 permanent stages with a lineup of “the music industry’s hottest stars, emerging talent and local favorites.”
There are many excellent museums in the Milwaukee area, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, which has a permanent collection of more than 20,000 works; West Bend’s Museum of Wisconsin Art, which highlights regional crafts and artifacts; Discovery World Science + Technology Center, an interactive science and technology museum located on Milwaukee’s lakefront; the Harley-Davidson Museum, which showcases the evolution of the famous motorcycle made in Milwaukee; Milwaukee Public Museum, which is considered one of the six best natural history museums in the country; Betty Brinn Children’s Museum, featuring many hands-on exhibits dedicated to children through age 10; and America’s Black Holocaust Museum, which documents one of the darkest chapters in America’s history.
Milwaukee is a sports-loving city offering a variety of professional and college sports . It is home to the Milwaukee Bucks, which won the National Basketball Association national championship in 2021;
LIVABILITY: CULTURE OF COOL
the Milwaukee Brewers professional baseball team, which won the National League Central Division in 2021; as well as the legendary Marquette Golden Eagles and UW-Milwaukee Panthers NCAA basketball teams. Just a little more than an hour away in Madison, Bucky Badger hosts the Wisconsin Badgers football team as well as a host of other exciting collegiate teams, including men’s hockey and women’s volleyball. And just a few hours to the north is the legendary Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers.
Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
3.6 million
Milwaukee Brewers
2.4 million
Milwaukee County Zoo
1.1 million
Milwaukee Bucks
1.4 million
Wisconsin State Fair
1.0 million
Summerfest
450,000
Juneteenth Polish Fest
PrideFest MilwaukeeBastille Days
Festa Italiana German Fest
PetFest Port Fish Day
Fresh Coast Jazz FestivalGreek Fest
Oktoberfest Milwaukee Film Festival
Mexican FiestaJazz in the Park
Holiday Folk FairMilwaukee Brew Fest
Strawberry FestivalPolar Bear Plunge
Lakefront Festival of ArtIrish Fest
Black Arts Fest MKE
Wisconsin also has become known nationally as a golf destination thanks to its hosting of major golf championships in recent years, including a U.S. Open, two U.S. Women’s Opens, three PGA Championships, a U.S. Senior Open, a U.S. Amateur and The Ryder Cup. The U.S. Senior Open will return in 2023 and the U.S. Women’s Open comes back in 2025. According to Golf Digest, seven of the nation’s top 100 golf courses are located in Wisconsin, including three in the Milwaukee area: Washington County’s Erin Hills, which hosted the 2017 U.S. Open; the Milwaukee Country Club in River Hills; and the Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa. Whistling Straits, in nearby Kohler, has hosted the PGA Championship three times and hosted The Ryder Cup in 2021.
There’s a reason Milwaukee made Eater’s list of “The Most Dynamic Food Cities in the World”! From global cuisine and fusion dishes, to tapas and farm-to-table comfort food, to classic fare and iconic fish fries, Milwaukee serves up a full spectrum of epicurean delights. Chef Dane Baldwin was named the best chef in the Midwest by the prestigious James Beard Foundation for The Diplomat, his shareable plates restaurant. Four other Milwaukee chefs were named semifinalists: Karen Bell of Bavette La Boucherie; Dan
of EsterEv; and Gregory León of Amilinda
and
The region’s restaurants serve up a smorgasbord of ethnic delicacies. Among the more popular cuisines are Mexican, German, French, Italian, Chinese, Greek, Middle Eastern, Thai, Polish, Russian and Serbian. A variety of upscale restaurants offer epicurean delights, including Ardent, Bacchus, Carnevore, Casablanca, Five O’Clock Steakhouse, Harbor House, Lake Park Bistro, Mader’s, Rare and Tre Rivali in Milwaukee; Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar in Brookfield; Mr. B’s in Brookfield and Mequon; Eddie Martini’s and Ristorante Bartolotta in Wauwatosa; and The Union House in Genesee Depot.
The metropolitan region has plenty to offer the weekend athlete and outdoor enthusiast. Milwaukee County’s extensive park system is one of the largest public areas in the country, boasting dozens of tennis courts; miles of jogging, hiking and biking trails; sandy beaches; and more than a dozen public golf courses. Milwaukee is one of only a handful of urban areas that has a state park bordering its downtown, offering both impressive views of the city’s skyline and the majestic expanse of Lake Michigan. All told, the greater Milwaukee area features 17,700 acres of county parkland, more than 60 public and private golf courses and more than 240 miles of bikeways and hiking paths. Sparkling lakes, quiet woodland areas and prairie vistas can be found throughout Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington counties of suburban Milwaukee. Boating and fishing are major activities on both Lake Michigan and the many beautiful inland lakes.
Jacobs Dan Van Rite Potawatomi Hotel & Casino PrideFest Marquette University Men’s Basketball Café Benelux
87,000 students attend one of the dozen four-year colleges & universities in the region.
Wisconsin has always viewed education as a top priority, and its residents have insisted that it be rooted in real-world practicality. As a result, state and local communities have fostered strong links between private-sector businesses and educational institutions.
● The region’s technical colleges –Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC), Waukesha County Technical College (WCTC), Gateway Technical College and Moraine Park Technical College – actively partner with employers and four-year universities to create the career pathways necessary for the next-generation economy
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● Area schools continue to pioneer programs focused on the future, including UWMilwaukee’s Connected Systems Institute, UW-Whitewater’s Institute for Water Business, and the Milwaukee School of Engineering’s new academic center focused on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing and robotics
● Collaborative efforts bring schools together to solve educational challenges. Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin offer a joint program in biomedical engineering.
The quality of the region’s K-12 school system greatly impacts the flow and quality of talent in the metro Milwaukee economy. MMAC is committed to ensuring that all children receive a strong educational foundation and have the opportunities to learn about and access the many job opportunities the region provides.
It has helped to increase high-quality options for students and promotes initiatives that are
Because a skilled and educated workforce is key to a vibrant economy, MMAC is involved in several initiatives to ensure the talent pipeline continues to meet the region’s needs.Alverno College Milwaukee School of Engineering
committed to realizing the full potential of the region’s workforce, including:
● The Higher Education Regional Alliance (HERA) is a collaboration of 18 southeastern Wisconsin public and private two- and four-year colleges and universities, and a network of partner organizations dedicated to closing achievement gaps
● All-In Milwaukee is a coordinated collaboration of students, families, pathway partners, universities, advisors, and donor partners committed to providing comprehensive support, including maximized financial aid, customized advising, and career readiness to ensure limited-income students complete college and matriculate into the Milwaukee workforce
The state’s occupational education system continues to be a national leader in providing students with the skills they need to succeed in the workplace. Established in the early 1900s, Wisconsin’s technical college system was the first of its kind in the
nation and was used as a model by other states. Today, the system serves students at 16 colleges throughout the state. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas and certificates in a variety of fields, including information technology, health care, business, public safety and the skilled trades. Strong ties to employers, education partners, economic development experts and community-based organizations ensure skills that are needed. More than 90 percent of students who complete the state’s technical college programs are employed within six months of their graduation.
New initiatives are expanding access to the education needed for family-sustaining career opportunities. The M3 (M-Cubed)
initiative, a partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) and UW-Milwaukee, provides a supportive, educational bridge from K-12th grades to a college degree. The Dual-Enrollment Academies offered at technical colleges enable students to earn college credits while they are still attending high school.
Gateway Technical College: Offers more than 70 diploma, certificate and associate degree programs. Campuses are located in the Racine, Kenosha, Elkhorn, Burlington, Pleasant Prairie and Sturtevant areas. Enrollment: 18,213. gtc.edu
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC): Offering 170+ associate degree, technical diploma and certificate programs. Partners with more than 40 four-year colleges and universities for affordable paths to bachelor’s degrees and apprenticeships. Campuses are located in Downtown Milwaukee, Mequon, Oak Creek and West Allis. Online options. Enrollment: 21,163. matc.edu
Moraine Park Technical College: Offers more than 60 associate degrees and diploma programs in the West Bend area. The college also offers a variety of online and blended education options. Enrollment: 4,061. morainepark.edu
WCTC offers innovative choices to keep your team on the cutting edge, with thousands of training courses in more than 150 areas of study.
Learn on the latest technology in our state-of-the-art training labs.
Invest in hands-on training taught by experts with decades of industry experience.
Gain real-world skills you can put to work immediately. Partner
Applied Technology Center (ATC)
Transfers technology from the laboratory to the marketplace to solve problems confronting businesses, strengthen economic development, protect the environment and benefit human life. Milwaukee School of Engineering. 414/277-7416. msoe.edu/atc
A regional biomedical collaboration of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee School of Engineering and others that fosters reduced barriers between disciplines and institutions to solve medical engineering problems. ctsi.mcw.edu
Dedicated to testing products for structural integrity and failure points, helping to determine marketability and safety. The lab has multiple computerized data acquisition capabilities and transducers for measuring force, displacement and strain. Milwaukee School of Engineering. 414/277-7301. msoe.edu
The Midwest Energy Research Consortium (M-WERC) meets our members’ talent needs and supports the research program through the Training and Development HUB, an advanced energy-testing lab to prepare the next generation of electrical assembly workers and testers. The facility at M-WERC’s Energy Innovation Center is a partnership with M-WERC member companies and universities that offer advanced manufacturing training programs. m-werc.org
Fluid Power Institute (FPI)
Conducts a variety of performance, endurance and environmental evaluations of hydraulic components and systems, fluid analysis and tribology measurements; and performs modeling and simulation, system integration and prototyping. Milwaukee School of Engineering. 414/277-7143. msoe.edu/fpi
Oversees the college’s technology transfer process, including patenting, marketing and licensing of new technologies. Medical College of Wisconsin. 414/955-4362.
mcw.edu/departments/technologydevelopment
An industry and academic partnership between Northwestern Mutual, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Marquette University, the Institute was formed to inspire and cultivate passion for data science in the Milwaukee region. Leveraging the strengths of the three institutions, the groundbreaking partnership is helping to build a technology ecosystem and advance southeastern Wisconsin as a national hub for technology, research, business and talent development, while also creating an organic pipeline of tech talent in the area. https://innovation.northwesternmutual.com/ northwestern-mutual-data-science-institute/
Located at an extremely low-vibration site, the center performs experiments on sensitive optical projects. Recent projects include LED performance/endurance and evaluation of computerized virtual 3D images for motion detection. Milwaukee School of Engineering. 414/277-7416. msoe.edu/atc
A consortium of more than 65 clientmembers working to reduce product development cycle time through 3D scanning technology, rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing. Multiple machines use leading types of rapid prototyping techniques, including stereolithography apparatus, selective laser sintering, fused deposition modeling (FDM), digital light synthesis (DLS), and color jet printing (CJP).
Milwaukee School of Engineering. 414/277-7189. msoe.edu/rpc
Builds on the research of UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences, the UW System’s Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin, and networks and partnerships with top scholars, scientists and policy institutions around the world.
uwm.edu/centerforwaterpolicy
The CSI at UWM develops manufacturing domain specialists through education, state-of-the-art lab facilities and collaborative research opportunities. CSI facilitates research collaboration between industry and academia to support the development of advanced manufacturing processes. This includes working with tools that support domain-specific research and education on the industrial Internet of Things (IoT), factory automation and the implementation of Industry 4.0 solutions.
https://uwm.edu/csi
Local universities help companies transform concepts into reality through research, prototyping and testing.
(WCTC): Offers 170+ associate degree, technical diploma, apprenticeship and certificate programs. WCTC has numerous partnerships and transfer agreements in place with several area four-year colleges and universities. WCTC also offers customized training for employers. Campuses are located in Pewaukee and Waukesha. Enrollment: 11,700. wctc.edu
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) is one of three four-year campuses in the University of Wisconsin System that calls southeastern Wisconsin home. UWM’s ambitious mission is unique among those schools: Serve as both a top-tier, public research university and an access institution that strives to provide students with equitable opportunities to earn a college degree. As the state’s second-largest university, UWM educates a diverse student body of more than 24,000 students in multiple locations across southeast Wisconsin. It has earned the highest rating for research – R1 – in the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Two of its major colleges are the Sheldon B. Lubar College of Business and the College of Engineering & Applied Science. uwm.edu
Two other four-year University of Wisconsin schools are located in the Milwaukee Region. More than 12,000 students attend the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in Walworth County southwest of Milwaukee. Slightly more than 4,000 students attend the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, which is located between Racine and Kenosha in the southeastern part of the region.
Southeastern Wisconsin is served by several private colleges and universities, many of
Milwaukee School of Engineering is at the forefront of A.I. and machine learning education and applying these technologies to solve real-world business problems in real time. You and your businesses can:
• Leverage MSOE’s super computing infrastructure while collaborating with students, faculty and staff
• Make previously unreachable ideas a reality
• Solve problems that were once deemed impossible with solutions hidden in data
For professionals in computer science, computer or software engineering, or software development, MSOE offers:
• Graduate Certificate in Applied Machine Learning
• Graduate Certificate in Machine Learning Engineering
• Master of Science in Machine Learning
To learn more, contact Kim Schultz, director of corporate and foundation relations, at schultz@msoe.edu or (414) 277-7270.
Milwaukee School of Engineering 1025 N. Broadway, Milwaukee, WI msoe.edu
which have earned a national reputation. Marquette University is the largest private school in the region. A Catholic, Jesuit university, Marquette offers more than 80 majors and pre-professional programs. It offers more than 70 doctoral and master’s degree programs, 12 certificate programs, and is home to the state’s only dental school and the region’s only law school. Nearly 3,000 students attend the Milwaukee School of Engineering, a private college with strong ties to the region’s business community. It offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in a setting that features a 13:1 student-toteacher ratio.
There are more than a dozen other four-year universities or colleges in the region. Among them are Alverno College and Mount Mary University in Milwaukee, both of which serve women at the undergraduate level (Alverno College offers co-ed master’s programs in business administration); Carroll University, Wisconsin’s oldest fouryear institution of higher education, which is located in Waukesha; Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon; Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee; and Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee.
In addition, the Milwaukee Region is home to several specialty schools, including the Medical College of Wisconsin, which provides physician, pharmacy, masters and graduate education to more than 1,500 students, and the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. which is ranked among the best 10 schools in the Midwest for its
illustration and communication design programs.
Following is a listing of colleges offering undergraduate and/or graduate business or engineering programs in the southeastern Wisconsin area.
Alverno College: Weekday bachelor’s programs for women. Co-ed MBA program. Enrollment: 1,822. alverno.edu
Bryant & Stratton College: Diploma, associate and bachelor’s degrees. Enrollment: Not provided. bryantstratton.edu
Cardinal Stritch University: Bachelor’s and graduate degrees. Accelerated evening programs for working adults. Enrollment: 1,365. stritch.edu
Carroll University: Bachelor’s degrees. MBA, plus six graduate certificate programs.
Enrollment: 3,416. carrollu.edu
Carthage College: Bachelor’s degrees for traditional, adult, and transfer students. Graduate programs are also available. Enrollment: 2,748. carthage.edu
Concordia University Wisconsin: Bachelor’s degrees. Classroom and e-learning for MBA or OLA graduate leadership program. DBA program. Enrollment: 5,777. cuw.edu
Herzing University: Bachelor’s degrees. Online MBA. Dual concentration option. Enrollment: 4,626. herzing.edu
Lakeland University - Milwaukee: Bachelor’s degrees. Enrollment: 2,511. lakeland.edu
Marian University: 100% online bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Enrollment: 1,819. marianuniversity.edu/online
Marquette University: Bachelor’s in business administration; MBA program.
Enrollment: 11,819. marquette.edu/business
Medical College of Wisconsin: Master’s degrees. Enrollment: 1,400. mcw.edu
Milwaukee School of Engineering: Offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering, business, nursing, computer science, actuarial science and UX, plus continuing education and graduate certificates. Enrollment: 2,747. msoe.edu
Mount Mary University: Bachelor’s degrees. Flexible, stackable, inclusive MBA and certificate programs. Enrollment: 1,200. mtmary.edu
Ottawa University: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Enrollment: NA.
https://www.ottawa.edu/online-andevening/brookfield-wi?campus=brookfield-wi
University of Phoenix: Bachelor’s degrees. Three locations in the Milwaukee area. Enrollment: NA. phoenix.edu/milwaukee
Upper Iowa University-Milwaukee, Elkhorn and Racine Locations: Associate’s, bachelor’s and MBA degrees. Three Milwaukee-area centers. Enrollment: NA. uiu.edu
Wisconsin Lutheran College: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, with specific areas. Enrollment: 1,200. wlc.edu
FEDERAL
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) sba.gov
STATE
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) wedc.org
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) wheda.com
MILWAUKEE COUNTY
Milwaukee Department of City Development (DCD) city.milwaukee.gov/dcd
Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. (MEDC) medconline.com
Wauwatosa Economic Development Department wauwatosa.net
West Allis Department of Development westalliswi.gov
OZAUKEE COUNTY
Ozaukee County Economic Development ozaukeebusiness.org
RACINE COUNTY
Racine County Economic Development Corp. rcedc.org
WALWORTH COUNTY
Walworth County Economic Development Alliance walworthbusiness.com
Milwaukee’s strong financial sector makes it easier for small, medium-size and large businesses in Southeast Wisconsin to secure the loans they need to expand, improve productivity and increase their market share. Several financial institutions have major operations in the region, including Associated Bank, BMO Harris, Chase, The Equitable Bank, First Citizens, Johnson Bank, Landmark Credit Union, Old National, PNC, Summit Credit Union, Tri City, US Bank, UW Credit Union and Wells Fargo. Federal, state and local government agencies also have programs to help businesses expand.
Private equity funds usually take an ownership stake in a company in exchange for their investment, then give the entrepreneur an opportunity to buy back their ownership stake at a later date. Private equity funds obtain money from a variety of sources. Some, such as those operated by bank holding companies, are internally funded. Other equity funds are funded by corporate or individual shareholders. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) makes venture capital available through its Small Business Investment Companies (SBICs), which operate much like venture capital funds.
WASHINGTON COUNTY Economic Development Washington County edwc.org
Hartford Area Economic Development hadc.org
WAUKESHA COUNTY
Waukesha County Business Alliance waukesha.org
KENOSHA COUNTY
Kenosha Area Business Alliance (KABA) kaba.org
Dozens of banks in the metro area have experience with the SBA loan program. The most active and expert lenders qualify for the SBA’s streamlined programs – the Preferred Lender Program (*) and the SBA Express Program (**), which offer expedited approvals. Following are preferred and express lenders participating in the SBA’s loan guarantee program as of June 2021. MMAC Members in Bold
Brueggeman
The Tech Council Innovation Network is a community-based economic development organization dedicated to fostering innovation. The network is operated by the Wisconsin Technology Council, an independent statewide board with representatives from technology companies, venture capital firms, educational and research institutions and government.
wisconsintechnologycouncil.com
Most businesses finance their operations and expansions through business loans and lines of credit. Revolving lines of credit can range from $5,000 to $1 million and typically feature a variable interest rate that is tied to the prime rate. They are often collateralized with real estate, accounts receivable, inventory or fixed assets. Larger and riskier loans can be secured with loan guarantees from a government agency. The loan guarantee allows lending institutions to take on additional risk, because the government agrees to repay the lender if the business defaults. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) guarantees between 30 and 40 percent of all long-term business loans nationwide.
NOTE: SBA Coronavirus relief programs can be found at sba.gov/relief.
SBA does not make direct loans to small businesses. When a business applies for an SBA loan, it is actually applying for a commercial loan, structured according to SBA requirements with an SBA guaranty. SBA-guaranteed loans may not be made to a small business if the borrower has access to other reasonable financing. There are around 200 banks, credit unions, Certified Development Companies (CDCs) and other lenders making SBA-guaranteed loans in Wisconsin. See the sidebar on the left for more information about participating lenders.
Guarantees 85 percent of loan amounts up to $150,000 and 75 percent of loan amounts greater than $150,000. Export loan guarantees are set at 90 percent. Loans can be used for working capital, land, building, machinery and equipment purchases, and export projects. The SBA 7(a) Express Program provides a 50 percent guarantee for loans up to $500,000. Veterans and their spouses are eligible for a waiver of the upfront guaranty fee on SBA Express loans.
Under the program, the SBA makes longterm, fixed-rate financing available to small businesses through a CDC that provides financing by issuing SBAguaranteed debentures sold to private investors. The borrower typically must invest 10 percent in the project, the bank provides 50 percent of the financing and the CDC offers up to 40 percent. The maximum debenture is $5 million ($5.5 million for manufacturers and some loans related to energy consumption or renewable energy). Two SBA 504 lenders operate statewide: WBD (wbd.org) and Business Lending Partners (blp504.org).
Micro loans are designed for individuals seeking a loan for a new or growing small business. The maximum loan amount is $50,000 with a maximum repayment term of seven years at a fixed interest rate. Loan proceeds can be used for supplies, furniture, fixtures, inventory, machinery, equipment or working capital.
First American Capital Corp., Subsidiary of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin: 10710 W. Scharles Ave., Hales Corners. Telephone: 414/604-2044. Fax: 414/604-2070. faccloans.com
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC): Assists individuals interested in starting, strengthening or expanding businesses by providing direct lending, quality business and financial capability education and one-on-one technical business assistance. Services are open to anyone, but primarily women, minorities, veterans and people of lower wealth. 1533 N. Rivercenter Drive, Milwaukee. 414/263-5450. wwbic.com
The Small Business Innovation Research Program is a non-equity funding source for innovative technologies that are considered high-risk, high-payoff initiatives. Companies can receive up to $225,000 for feasibility studies, which typically last six to nine months; and $1.5 million for prototype development, which lasts up to 24 months. Applicants must secure private-sector financing, licensing or strategic partnerships to commercialize the technology.
Small Business Innovation Research Program: More than $2.5 billion in funding is available through Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These non-equity funding sources are for small businesses with innovative technologies that are considered high-risk, high-payoff initiatives. sbir.gov
The Center for Technology Commercialization
– SBIR/STTR Program Assistance: The Center for Technology Commercialization (CTC) is housed within University of WisconsinExtension’s Division for Business and Entrepreneurship. CTC provides a range of SBIR/STTR assistance programs including informal and formal reviews, training sessions and follow-on match funding for successful SBIR/STTR awards. The center has helped Wisconsin companies secure more than $170 million in federal SBIR/STTR and other funding since 2005. 608/263-0398. wisconsinctc.org and wisconsinbir.org
The SBA’s Surety Bond Guarantee Program helps small business contractors who cannot obtain surety bonds through regular commercial channels. SBA can guarantee bonds for contracts up to $5 million and up to $10 million on federal contracts.
SBA’s Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) Program is a public-private
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investment partnership created to help fill the gap between the availability of growth capital and the needs of small businesses. The SBA does not invest directly in small businesses, relying instead on the expertise of qualified private investment funds. The SBA licenses these funds as SBICs and supplements the capital they raise from their private investors with access to low-cost, governmentguaranteed debt.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) leads economic development efforts for the state. It provides resources, operational support and financial assistance to companies, partners and communities in Wisconsin. wedc.org and InWisconsin.com
Regional economic development directors assist businesses by coordinating state resources to promote business startup, retention, expansion and attraction. Companies can find the regional economic development director serving their area at: wedc.org/inside-wedc/contact-us/ #regional
WEDC provides business development loans, tax credits, workforce training grants, entrepreneurial micro-grants, SBIR/STTR matching grants and technology development loans. wedc.org
Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) programs are flexible commercial loan guarantees designed to help rural and urban small businesses create and/or retain jobs. 800/334-6873. wheda.com
Small Business Guarantee: Owners eligible for WHEDA loan guarantees can purchase or improve land and buildings, including mixeduse properties; purchase inventory or machinery; and/or have access to permanent or revolving working capital.
Neighborhood Business Revitalization Guarantee: Assists developers who are developing or rehabilitating commercial real estate, including mixed-use properties.
Agribusiness Guarantee: Assists small businesses that develop new products or expand the production of existing products using Wisconsin’s raw commodities.
Contractor’s Loan Guarantee Program: Provides new loans or lines of credit to a business entering into a government or other business-related contract.
The Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) provides gap financing to area businesses in partnership with participating lenders. 414/269-1440. medconline.com
Second Mortgage Program: Provides gap financing to businesses in the Milwaukee 7 area, with a focus on Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. Eligible uses include building purchase, construction, renovation, equipment purchases and installation costs. MEDC can finance 25 to 40 percent of the total cost with at least 50 percent financed by a participating lender and a minimum 10-percent equity injection from the borrower.
Capital Access Program: The Capital Access Program helps lenders fund projects considered too risky for conventional banking. The lender has sole responsibility for structuring the financing. Participating lenders, along with their borrowers and the MEDC, set aside funds to offset any losses in the program. Businesses throughout Wisconsin are eligible for the program.
Milwaukee 7 Capital Catalyst Program: The M7 Capital Catalyst Program provides flexible financing in collaboration with accredited investors in a non-dilutive manner. The funding is intended to increase the ability of emerging companies to access capital.
In addition to the state and federal programs listed above, each of the counties in the seven-county metropolitan area and several of the larger municipalities have their own economic development programs. For more information, please see the listing of websites for local programs on page 57.
Milwaukee County
Milwaukee Department of City Development: Provides financial and technical assistance to businesses seeking to expand or relocate to or within the city of Milwaukee. 414/286-5800. milwaukee.gov/businesstoolbox
West Allis’ Economic Development Program: Provides technical and financial assistance to new and existing businesses. Its Micro-Enterprise Development Program provides special financing and technical training for startup and expanding small businesses. 414/302-8468. westalliswi.gov and fire-nmtc.com
Waukesha County
Menomonee Falls: Low-interest loans for fixedasset purchases, building and site renovations, and working capital. Special economic assistance
loans and grants for redevelopment, renovations, exterior improvements and working capital for businesses located in the historic downtown Village Center. Provides access to industrial revenue bonds and assistance with state and federal programs. 262/532-4277. menomonee-falls.org
Waukesha County Center for Growth: Assists existing and prospective businesses with site and building searches, accessing funding, navigating local and county permitting, identifying needed labor force and no-cost business consulting. Companies are eligible for low-interest loans ranging from $25,000 to $250,000. The loan program partners with lenders to help fund projects that add capacity and jobs in Waukesha County. 262/409-2643. waukeshagrowth.org
Washington County
Hartford Area Development Corporation: Markets the 681-acre Dodge Industrial Park and helps companies with funding and resourcing assistance; provides interest-free financing for land purchases in Hartford industrial parks; provides access to city and county revolving fund loans, SBA loans, state economic development funding, conventional financing and communitysponsored industrial revenue bonds. 262/673-7009. hadc.org
Economic Development Washington County (EDWC): An independent economic development organization focused on existing business development consulting, driver-industry business attraction and startup enterprise support. 262/335-5769. edwc.org
Ozaukee County
EDGE Inc.: Promotes economic and business development through the Facade & Sign Improvement Program and Revolving Loan Fund to spur growth and entrepreneurship throughout
the Grafton area. 262/377-1650. grafton-wi.org/EDGE
Ozaukee Economic Development: Offers programs and services that meet Ozaukee County’s targeted economic development needs, serves as an information clearinghouse on government programs and provides educational seminars. 262/238-7730. Email: oed@co.ozaukee.wi.us. ozaukeebusiness.org
Racine County
Racine County Economic Development Corp.: An SBA-certified, countywide economic development corporation established in 1983 to support and enhance new business development and increase job opportunities in Racine County. Resources include low-interest loans, workforce training grants, state income tax credits and municipal incentives. 262/898-7444. rcedc.org
Walworth County
Walworth County Economic Development Alliance (WCEDA): A public/private partnership that fosters business investment by matching business resources with existing companies or businesses looking to locate in the county. WCEDA promotes workforce development, assists with access to capital, and provides resources for business development. WCEDA is a central point of contact for economic development matters in the county and has strong relationships with local, state, and regional agencies. 262/741-8527. walworthbusiness.com
Kenosha County
Kenosha Area Business Alliance: Provides a range of economic development and business services, manages a portfolio of economic development low-interest revolving loan funds for new and existing businesses, and serves as a clearinghouse for site selection and economic information. 262/605-1100. kaba.org
Many of the firms in the seven-county region are small companies with fewer than 300 employees. The people who run these businesses are often looking for advice, networking possibilities and revenuegenerating opportunities.
MMAC offers a variety of small business services, including programming specifically tailored to the needs of small businesses, networking opportunities to help expand and strengthen contacts within the business community, and a legislative voice for companies that don’t necessarily have the resources to advocate on their own behalf. MMAC also helps minority and historically disadvantaged businesses through its affiliation with The Business Council, The African American Leadership Alliance Milwaukee and the Hispanic Collaborative
For companies seeking more in-depth engagement with their peers, MMAC’s Executive Roundtable Program provides confidential peer advisory boards for CEOs, CFOs and other senior executives to share best practices and resolve business challenges.
The Leadership Council, reserved for MMAC’s most engaged stakeholders, offers opportunities to make strategic connections and participate in discussions that will benefit both their companies and the community. mmac.org/leadershipcouncil
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is a state agency charged with delivering effective and inclusive services
to meet Wisconsin’s diverse workforce needs, and advocates for the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers. DWD’s primary responsibilities include providing job services, training and employment assistance to people looking for work, while simultaneously working with employers to find the necessary workers to fill current job openings. It delivers services through publicprivate partnerships, a statewide network of Job Centers, and online at JobCenterofWisconsin.com and dwd.wisconsin.gov
A wealth of technical assistance is available to startups and growing businesses throughout the Milwaukee Region. Some even offer customized coaching to help business owners address specific needs. Following is a listing of some of the programs that offer technical assistance.
WEDC: Coordinates and directs state resources to promote business startup, retention, expansion and attraction, including financial and technical assistance programs. wedc.org
BizStarts: A one-stop resource center that brings entrepreneurs together from all backgrounds, ethnicities and beliefs to create a collaborative learning environment. bizstarts.com
CEOs of Growing Businesses (CGB): Brings together entrepreneurs who operate businesses with consistent growth and annual revenues in excess of $3 million; provides monthly roundtables, educational forums and networking opportunities. mmac.org/roundtables-for-high-growthcompanies.html
Cybersecurity Center for Business: The Cybersecurity Center for Business at UW-Whitewater
The MMAC is committed to fostering a culture that promotes startups and entrepreneurs. It has created a dashboard to track regional startup and investment activity, as well as a dedicated website (MKEstartup.news) and “storyteller” to highlight success stories.
The region benefits from a strong entrepreneurial ecosystem with organizations devoted to helping startups, including BizStarts; MiKE; gener8tor; Scale Up Milwaukee, which recently launched SPARC, a growth-training program designed for businesses with revenue between $100,000 and $1 million; and Start in Wisconsin (startinwi.com), an online resource tool developed by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Several incubators and shared officespace solutions have opened throughout the area. These efforts – combined with the city’s entrepreneurial spirit and networking organizations – have placed Milwaukee among the nation’s top 30 cities as a hub for startups.
is an online center that offers no-cost training to reduce or eliminate cyber risk. uww.edu/cobe/business-resources
Fiscal and Economic Research Center (FERC): Helps area businesses, local governmental agencies and not-for-profit organizations with economic research. uww.edu/cobe/businessresources
Marquette Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic: Offers free legal services to startup businesses and entrepreneurs, with a focus on clients who cannot afford qualified legal counsel. law.marquette.edu/community/marquette-lawand-entrepreneurship-clinic
Department of Neighborhood ServicesPermit & Development Center: Provides a primary point of contact for developers, contractors, businesses and homeowners undertaking development or construction projects within the city as well as a wealth of technical assistance to startups and growing businesses. Offers customized coaching to help business owners address specific needs; resources to design professionals, new business owners, developers and homeowners regarding the city approvals that may be required for business operations and/or construction goals; services, including preliminary plan reviews, zoning evaluations as well as plan review and permitting for occupancy permits, Board of Zoning Appeals referrals and all constructionrelated projects on private property. DPW-related permit processing for work within the Public R.O.W. also offered by DNS Tech Team. Phone: 414/286-8210. Email: developmentcenterinfo@milwaukee.com. https://city.milwaukee.gov/DNS/permits
SCORE Southeast Wisconsin: Volunteer business executives provide free and confidential small business advising, as well as classes on a wide variety of business-related topics. sewisconsin.score.org
707 Hub: Marquette University’s innovation space encourages a cross-disciplinary approach to solving problems. It also houses the Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship and the Social Innovation Initiative, which runs a free Boost program to help local social enterprises and businesses in the Near West Side of Milwaukee. marquette.edu/707-hub
Small Business Development Center (SBDC): The Wisconsin SBDC at UW-Whitewater is part of a statewide network supporting entrepreneurs and business owners through no-cost, confidential consulting and targeted educational programs. uww.edu/cobe/business-resources
Small Business Development Center: The Center, in UWM’s School of Continuing Education, is a go-to resource for entrepreneurs and business owners. Helps to build strong frameworks for growing and improving small- and mid-sized companies while also helping launch successful new ventures. Provides free online training as well as no-cost, confidential consulting and education programs. https://uwm.edu/sce/program_area/ small-business-development-center/
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA): Offers loan programs and technical assistance to businesses. sba.gov/wi
Waukesha County Technical College Small Business Center: Free one-on-one counseling, networking, classes, technical assistance and referrals for financial assistance. wctc.edu/smallbusiness
Wisconsin Innovation Service Center: Helps entrepreneurs research product feasibility, competitive intelligence, licensing/strategic partnering and distributor assessments. uww.edu/cobe/business-resources
WMEP Manufacturing Solutions: A non-profit, professional services firm that helps companies become more profitable and valuable. Experts work side-by-side with manufacturers to help
them develop and implement solutions to their challenges in operational excellence, automation and technology, growth and strategy, human capital, certifications and standards, and sustainability initiatives. 608/240-1740. wmep.org
Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC): Assists individuals interested in starting, strengthening or expanding businesses by providing lending, business and financial wellness training, and one-on-one technical assistance. Services open to anyone, but primarily women, minorities, veterans and people of lower wealth. 414/263-5450. wwbic.com
MMAC advocates for effective tax policies, fiscal discipline, reliable energy and a responsive infrastructure to support the risk-takers who drive growth.
Recent legislative wins driven or supported by MMAC advocacy include:
● Secured $3 million in funding for the Wisconsin Reading Corps literacy program, which provides one-on-one tutoring
● Secured an $85 million increase in funding for special education
● Reduced individual income tax rates that resulted in a $2.4 billion tax cut for Wisconsin residents
● Defeated a proposal to remove tax credits that would have increased taxes on manufacturers and farmers by $478 million
● Blocked a proposal to increase capital gains taxes
● $100 million in financing authority for Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) to build a containment facility to dredge the Milwaukee River estuary
● $40 million in state funding for a new public museum, the Wisconsin Museum of Nature and Culture, which will replace the Milwaukee Public Museum
● $40 million to begin reconstruction of the I-94 East-West corridor
MMAC PUBLICATIONS
MMAC offers several publications on the political process and its impact on business. In addition to its quarterly Commerce publication, MMAC publishes a Legislative Agenda and Legislative Scorecard.
MAC-PAC
The MAC-PAC is a political action committee that pools members’ financial contributions for political donations to state and local candidates, committees and political parties.
LEGISLATOR MEETINGS
MMAC offers opportunities for members to meet and talk with local, state and federal elected officials through its Madison Night in Milwaukee and its Milwaukee Night in Washington, D.C.
MMAC CONDUIT
The MMAC Conduit serves as a political donation “checking account” for individual members. Members’ contributions are delivered as a check, recorded as an individual contribution, but also acknowledged as part of MMAC’s effort to support economic vitality and job growth in metropolitan Milwaukee.
MMAC advocates for your business at the local, state & federal levels.
Milwaukee’s cost of living is slightly below the U.S. city average and ranks significantly lower than many major metropolitan areas, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and Minneapolis/St. Paul. According to the ACCRA cost-of-living index, $100,000 in living costs in Milwaukee would equal:
● $155,000 in Boston
● $117,000 in Denver
● $138,000 in Portland
● $127,000 in Chicago
● $109,000 in Minneapolis/St. Paul
● $200,000 in San Francisco
Milwaukee is ideally located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, 90 miles north of Chicago, the third-largest urban area in the nation. The region is served by three major interstate highways, an international airport and an extensive rail network that includes both freight and passenger trains.
Median Home Sales Price: $291,300
Median Gross Monthly Rent: $914
Average Commute (One-Way): 24 minutes
Income Tax Rates: 3.54%-7.65%
Sales Tax: 5%- 5.5%
CLIMATE
4 distinct seasons
78o Fahrenheit: average summer temp
7 days of 90o+ Fahrenheit
31o Fahrenheit: average winter temp
313 days above freezing (32o Fahrenheit)
WORKFORCE BY SECTOR
● Manufacturing
● Trade, Transportation & Utilities
● Information
● Financial
● Professional & Business Services
FEDERAL
U.S. Senators
Ron Johnson (Republican) ronjohnson.senate.gov
Tammy Baldwin (Democrat) baldwin.senate.gov
U.S. Representatives
Bryan Steil (District 1 - Republican) steil.house.gov
Gwendolynne Moore (District 4 - Democrat) gwenmoore.house.gov
Scott Fitzgerald (District 5 - Republican) fitzgerald.house.gov
STATE Governor
Tony Evers (Democrat) evers.wi.gov
Lt. Governor
Mandela Barnes (Democrat) barnes.wi.gov
Attorney General
Josh Kaul (Democrat) doj.state.wi.us
● Education & Health Services
● Leisure & Hospitality
● Other
● Government
● Construction, Mining and Natural Resources
CITIES (>70,000 Population)
Milwaukee
Cavalier Johnson city.milwaukee.gov/mayor
Waukesha
Shawn Reilly waukesha-wi.gov
Racine
Cory Mason cityofracine.org/mayor
Kenosha
John Antaramian kenosha.org
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