MILWAUKEE DOWNTOWN INC

Economic development and community projects: the organization promotes downtown as the top destination for businesses to locate and/or expand through a wide variety of strategies and programs. Strategies include: co-leading the connecting mke downtown plan 2040, creating collateral and communication pieces such as the downtown area investment map, the hop streetcar investment opportunities guide, mke blueprint magazine, real results newsletter, skywalk map, and regular business spotlights to tell the downtown development story. Milwaukee downtown is a go-to resource for accurate market data that is used by developers, investors, businesses and the brokerage community. Through the ceo call program and ongoing outreach, staff gathers data from business executives about the positives and challenges of doing business in downtown milwaukee, which ultimately provides a point of direction on new and existing initiatives. In addition to working with city of milwaukee staff on incentive programs such as facade, white box, and signage grants, staff has successfully implemented its own incentive program to attract business downtown that was created in partnership with bank five nine named the milwaukee downtown business development loan pool. Staff also promotes the use of the downtown pace loan pool, better buildings challenge, and opportunity zones. Milwaukee downtown is a trustee of the kiva zip loan program and an active member of the state's connect communities program.milwaukee downtown is a strong advocate for economic development projects and programs that are consistent with the organization's strategic plan and other new programs that are consistent with the organization's mission. Milwaukee downtown staff also is placing added emphasis on supporting the nighttime economy and hospitality industries through public art, branding, and connectivity projects. Staff also maintains lists of property available for lease/sale, and proves to be a go-to resource for downtown economic development information. Staff also is leading several quality of life initiatives that aim to make milwaukee a destination to live, attracting talent that in turns, attracts businesses in search of talent. These initiatives include downtown's first dog park, aesthetic under freeway lighting & murals, and improvements to downtown's open spaces and parks.public art implementations - led the coordination and fundraising efforts for various murals to beautify the public realm with art.activation - initiated new projects to enliven downtown's sidewalks, alleys, and other public spaces to boost pedestrian traffic and customers to brick-and-mortar businesses.reimagine red arrow park - a multi-year, public-private partnership to enhance this centralized public space, and to foster civic life in in the heart of the community, 365 days a year. Programming included downtown ice cape-ade in february, big truck day in may, and heart(beats) of the city powered by mgic, lunchtime concerts and food truck series targeting the returning downtown workforce, and jack-o-lantern jubilee in october. Downtown dog park - a collaborative effort between multiple public sectors, including the wisconsin department of transportation, the city of milwaukee, and historic third ward bid #2, to transform an empty parcel of land underneath the i-794 overpass, between the milwaukee river and plankinton avenue, into downtown's first dog park.

Key to change - directs funds to benefit programs to help assist homeless individuals within the community. Donations are used tofurther the mission of milwaukee county housing division's housing first project, an initiative that recognizes housing as the first step toward stabilization. Stable living conditions are then complemented by wraparound services, which range from rehabilitation and counseling to job training and placement. Replicated in other cities, data for housing first programs overwhelmingly shows that this model dramatically reduces public service costs, as well as improves the quality of life for the consumer and the surrounding community.