M7: Driving the Milwaukee Region's economic momentum

By Chris Jenkins Communications Director, MMAC

The Milwaukee Region is experiencing a wave of economic momentum. Businesses already located in the region are expanding, and new companies are entering the market – many on a significant scale.

Pick a project, and there’s a good chance that the Milwaukee 7 Economic Development Partnership played a part in making it happen.

Launched in 2005 as a partnership between the MMAC, City of Milwaukee and Greater Milwaukee Committee, M7 is a collaboration among seven southeastern Wisconsin counties: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha. Together, these seven counties can make a strong pitch to companies looking to expand operations or relocate – from across the state line to around the globe.

M7 helps build our regional economy by supporting businesses that export goods and services outside southeastern Wisconsin. These businesses bring new revenue into the region and tend to pay higher than average wages. Every job they create has a multiplier effect that leads to more indirect and induced jobs.

These efforts begin with our assets:

• A motivated and educated workforce

• A robust system of universities & technical colleges

• Industry accelerator clusters

• Reliable access to fresh water

• A business-friendly economic environment

The region’s momentum was confirmed on a national scale when Milwaukee successfully bid to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention. With an estimated 50,000 visitors and $200 million in economic impact, having the convention in Milwaukee represents a significant boost for businesses around the region.

The convention will be hosted at Fiserv Forum, which has received rave national reviews in its first season hosting the Milwaukee Bucks, Marquette men’s basketball, high-profile concerts and community events. With several dining and entertainment venues opening nearby, Fiserv Forum is providing yet another downtown destination.

But that’s just one of several projects that are redefining the region.

Milwaukee Tool is expanding again in Waukesha County, adding a $32 million research and development facility to their Brookfield campus — a project expected to create 350 new jobs.

Foxconn announced that construction of its Gen6 advanced manufacturing facility in Racine County will begin by Summer 2019 and the facility will begin production in the fourth quarter of 2020.

Leonardo DRS is building a new manufacturing facility and offices in Menomonee Falls to accommodate its growing Naval Power Systems line of business — a project expected to create up to 220 jobs in southeast Wisconsin.

Komatsu mining plans a $285 million headquarters and manufacturing campus in Milwaukee's Harbor District, and Michels Corp. has announced a $100 million development nearby. Once complete, these projects will completely transform the harbor.

Amazon is building a state-of-the-art warehouse and distribution center in Oak Creek that will employ 1,500 people. The $200 million development includes a four-story, 2.6 million-square-foot fulfillment facility.

Haribo, the German-based confectionery company known for its Gold-Bear gummy candies, has selected Kenosha County as the site of its first manufacturing facility in North America. The $242 million plant in Pleasant Prairie is expected to begin operations in 2020 and employ 400 workers.

A $450 million, 32-story lakefront office tower for Northwestern Mutual opened in 2018 and is now a fixture in the city skyline.

A new streetcar system launched in 2019, connecting Milwaukee’s office, entertainment and transportation hubs.

We know that for the Milwaukee Region to continue growing, everyone needs to be involved. That means growing Milwaukee as a region of choice for diverse talent, helping current workers learn new skills, bringing people on the sidelines into the workforce and drawing in talented workers from other regions to live here. MMAC and M7 have been involved in significant talent development initiatives to date, and are engaging with local companies and educators to do even more in 2019 and beyond.

Together, we can make sure Southeastern Wisconsin’s growth is sustainable and continues far into the future.