Growth Milwaukee on the Move

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.

Nurturing Talent

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