NEWS FROM THE VALLEY
Green Project at ‘Tent City’ Site Finalized (Urban Milwaukee)
The city has landed on a final design for the first phase of a green infrastructure project underneath Interstate 794. The City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW), in partnership with the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), are redeveloping a swath of land under interstate overpasses to catch and treat stormwater.
Efforts foster more women in manufacturing (BizTimes)
Menomonee Valley Partners’ Young Women in STEM program draws students from several schools to bring together an all-girls group to tours companies and learn about various industries and career paths.
Milwaukee endorses $3.4M for Reed Street Yards, possibly to support Rite-Hite move (Milwaukee Business Journal)
Plans to open Reed Street Yards' remaining acres for future redevelopment, potentially by manufacturer Rite-Hite Holding Corp., advanced with approvals from a Milwaukee committee.
City Lights Brewing prepares for 30% growth, in talks to buy its buildings (Milwaukee Business Journal)
As City Lights Brewing Co. in the Menomonee Valley prepares for its third anniversary in February, it is also on pace for another successful year including the potential purchase of its two leased buildings, co-owner and brewmaster Jimmy Gohsman said.
Reed Street Yards in Milwaukee seeks $3.4M for sewer move to set stage for future projects (Milwaukee Business Journal)
Developers of the Reed Street Yards business park are seeking approvals for $3.4 million in city money to move a sewer line to set the stage for more eventual development there.
Students learn about jobs in manufacturing and the trades
This past week, over 50 students from Milwaukee high schools visited Valley companies and learned how their interests connect to meaningful careers in the Valley!
Menomonee Valley Partners is working with local schools to help students understand how their interests—from math to art to fixing things—translate into jobs in growing fields in the Menomonee River Valley. In November, more than 50 students from Milwaukee high schools visited Valley companies through Career Discovery Initiative programs: Manufacturing Career Day, Young Women in the Trades, and Young Women in STEM-Manufacturing.
On Wednesday, November 6, more than 20 students from Tenor High School spoke with professionals from Ingeteam and Charter Wire about what their day-to-day jobs look like, as well as pathways to those careers. At this Manufacturing Career Day, Employees explained the training and skills necessary for jobs in high-demand professions like manufacturing and gave students a tour of the factory floor to see what modern manufacturing looks like, often different than the dirty and dark environments that historically come to mind. Afterwards, students asked questions about how their current interests can lead to a good-paying career in the nearby Menomonee River Valley.
On Friday, November 8, JM Brennan partnered with Menomonee Valley Partners to host Young Women in the Trades, which brought more than 30 students from St. Joan Antida High School to the mechanical contractor to learn from women currently practicing in fields in which they have traditionally been underrepresented—including plumbing, engineering, and the skilled trades. Students met with professionals to hear about the challenges, opportunities, and potential of careers in the trades.
On Tuesday, November 12, the Young Women in STEM - Manufacturing event hosted 15 students from Tenor High School and Veritas. Mentors from Cargill, Zimmerman, Rexnord, Harley-Davidson Museum, We Energies, JM Brennan, and Ingeteam spoke with students at Rexnord Industries. The close-knit setting allowed for deep dialogue and students left saying it was the best field trip they had ever been on.
The majority of students don’t feel like school has helped them to decide on a career—54% according to a national survey conducted by YouthTruth. 32% of students won’t attend college (US Bureau of Labor Statistics), which means that many young people will be making a decision about their future careers without feeling prepared. Menomonee Valley Partners is working with local schools to help students understand how their interests—from math to art to fixing things—translate into jobs in growing fields nearby. With hundreds of job openings in the Menomonee River Valley every day, students can make connections and learn about pathways to careers through the Career Discovery Initiative.
In the last year, the Career Discovery Initiative has served over 300 students with 36 Menomonee River Valley companies participating. The initiative is currently funded by the generous support of Bader Philanthropies and BMO Harris Bank.
Potawatomi tests Lyft program to solve employee transportation issues (Milwaukee Business Journal)
Employees at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, like those for many of its neighboring businesses, face difficulties in transportation to and from the Menomonee River Valley. That difficulty prompted Potawatomi to launch a new pilot program with Lyft, which will begin Nov. 18.
Valley Businesses Join in Supporting Housing First Effort
Businesses in the Menomonee River Valley, led by We Energies, are donating to the Housing First program, to help those who are facing homelessness move to safe, stable housing. We Energies Foundation is donating $25,000 to Milwaukee County’s Housing First Program, which provides housing to those most in need, without precondition.
With a lead gift from We Energies, Valley businesses are contributing to provide housing to the homeless
MILWAUKEE – Businesses in the Menomonee River Valley, led by We Energies, are donating to the Housing First program, to help those who are facing homelessness move to safe, stable housing. We Energies Foundation is donating $25,000 to Milwaukee County’s Housing First Program, which provides housing to those most in need, without precondition.
Housing First is a national model for addressing homelessness that provides housing first, followed by wraparound services including counseling, mental health treatment, and job training. Since its launch in September 2015 by the Milwaukee County Housing Division, Housing First has placed more than 1,500 homeless individuals into permanent supportive housing, and has helped reduce overall homelessness in Milwaukee County by 45%.
“There is deep compassion in this community,” said Corey Zetts, executive director of Menomonee Valley Partners, “and we are working to channel that compassion into funding for programs like Housing First that have been successful in moving individuals and families from homelessness to safe, stable housing.”
Menomonee Valley Partners is hoping to leverage We Energies’ lead gift to encourage others to support Housing First’s work assisting some of the most vulnerable in our community. Already $25,000 has been raised from other Menomonee River Valley businesses, ranging from corporate donations from Valley companies like Derse, Inc., Third Space Brewing’s Give 20 fundraising effort, and funds pooled from Valley companies through the Menomonee Valley Business Improvement District to support the hiring of a Downtown Homeless Outreach Coordinator.
“Currently, the most critical need for the Housing First initiative is funding for rental application fees, security deposits, and start-up items for apartments,” said James Mathy, housing administrator for Milwaukee County Housing Division. “Donations like this can be put to use immediately, where they are needed the most, especially as we work to secure safe, secure housing options for people who are outside as the weather turns.”
To learn more about Housing First and to donate, please visit housingfirstmilwaukee.com.
About Menomonee Valley Partners
Menomonee Valley Partners is a nonprofit organization formed in 1999 with a mission to revitalize and sustain the Menomonee River Valley as a thriving urban district that advances economical, ecological, and social equity for the benefit of the greater Milwaukee community. Since then, more than 50 companies have moved to or expanded in the Valley, more than 5,200 jobs have been created, 60 acres of parks and trails have been established, and 10 million people visit the Valley’s recreation and entertainment destinations each year.
###
Potawatomi is giving away five Menomonee Valley sculptures (OnMilwaukee)
The sculpture garden just east of Potawatomi Hotel & Casino has five sculptures that The Forest County Potawatomi Community – which now owns the site – is looking to give away to a good home.
Guardians of Milwaukee Art (Shepherd Express)
Menomonee River Valley warehouse becomes a holding place and gallery for visual art
BBC Lighting to expand showroom into Bachman Furniture’s new Menomonee Valley store (BizTimes)
The design showroom experience is expanding on W St. Paul Ave. Shoppers can now browse more than just chairs, couches and bed frames at Bachman Furniture‘s new store, which opened this week in the Menomonee River Valley. BBC Lighting is expanding their showroom into Bachman’s space. Just down the street, House of Stone is renovating their showroom and adding a Designer’s Locker Room.
John Shannon's love for art transforms to business success (Milwaukee Business Journal)
John Shannon has always loved art and even met his wife that way. After successfully growing a manufacturing company, he sold his shares and molded his passion for art into his next business endeavor as the owner of Guardian Fine Arts Service, Wisconsin’s only fine art storage facility.
Family-owned businesses partner to build St. Paul Avenue Design District
Bachman Furniture and BBC Lighting, neighbors and family-owned businesses in the Menomonee River Valley, are partnering to enhance the growing St. Paul Avenue Design District to create a one stop shop for furnishings and design.
Bachman Furniture closed its former location and has reopened a 60,000-square-foot showroom at 1741 W. St. Paul Avenue to be near complementary design showroom businesses. As Joe Bachman, owner of Bachman Furniture, and David Albert, co-owner of neighboring BBC Lighting, got to know each other during the renovation process, the idea hatched to work together. Bachman is dropping all previous lighting from his offerings and BBC Lighting is expanding their gallery and offerings into Bachman’s showroom.
“We’re looking forward to expanding our popular showroom into Bachman Furniture’s showroom where customers will be able to see the products in a real life setting alongside Bachman’s customizable furniture offerings,” said David Albert of BBC Lighting. “Our two longtime trusted companies can address customers’ needs together.”
“I wanted to work collaboratively with my neighbors, instead of in competition with them,” said Joe Bachman. “This only enhances the customer experience by giving them greater selection and ease of shopping. Seeing product in actual furniture displays helps take the guesswork out of design.”
Just a few doors down, House of Stone has been providing stone fabrication services, from kitchen countertops to custom pieces, for over 20 years. Embracing the design showroom vision for the street, House of Stone recently expanded their product line to include European cabinets and is currently undergoing a major showroom renovation expected to be complete by the end of the year. The new showroom will feature six full size kitchens with design ideas to inspire home or commercial renovations. The company is also investing in a Designer’s Locker Room, a dedicated conference room that designers can use free of charge to meet with their clients. Designers can reserve lockers to store their samples and materials.
“We’re excited about the momentum of the district and that our new cabinet line is part of its growth,” said Korkut Colakoglu, owner of House of Stone. “We’re also investing in the country’s first robotic arm for precision stone cutting. The proximity of our companies’ specialties and will provide a better offering for designers and homeowners.”
“We want the Design District to be the place people think of when redesigning a living space,” said Joe Bachman, president of Bachman Furniture. “The family-owned design businesses on the street are creatively working together to provide a comprehensive, one stop retail shopping experience, with a convenient location and free parking. As we continue to grow, we’d love to welcome another design showroom business into the space available between Bachman’s and House of Stone.”
In 2014, the City of Milwaukee and Menomonee Valley Partners, the organization leading the Valley’s redevelopment, engaged in an intensive planning process to shape a vision for the Valley’s future, Valley 2.0. One of the plan’s priorities was to foster the St Paul Ave Design/Décor Showroom District and build on the emerging cluster of design and décor businesses.
Other design and decor businesses on the street include Brass Light Gallery, Guardian Fine Art Services, ProStar Surfaces, and Riverview Antique Market. There are currently two historic buildings for sale on the street. Business owners welcome complementary businesses to be part of this growing community. Gaps in current offerings include kitchen and bath fixtures, tile, flooring, and appliances. More information on the St. Paul Avenue Design District can be found here.
Menomonee River Valley raises its flag
New flags and streetpole banners portray the vibrancy of the Menomonee River Valley neighborhood
From the roof of Guardian Fine Art Studios
(Photo: Laura Sims Peck)
Guardian Fine Arts Services raised the first ever Menomonee River Valley flag from their roof - and it’s quite a large flag! The 96 square foot flag matches street pole banners that were recently installed throughout the Menomonee River Valley. The new flag and banners feature bright colors and a relief of the 6th Street Bridge, representing the vibrant Valley neighborhood and its iconic bridges connecting it to the city, as well as the Valley’s metaphorical connections to a proud industrial history, modern manufacturing, and nature in the heart of the city.
The Valley stretches from the Harley-Davidson Museum to Miller Park. Twenty years ago, the Valley was a very different place, with hundreds of acres of shuttered factories, vacant land, and a nearly forgotten river. The new signage in the Menomonee River Valley identifies today’s energized neighborhood filled with good-paying jobs, award-winning parks and trails, and top tourist attractions.
“The new banners and flags help celebrate 20 years of transformation of the Menomonee River Valley,” said Corey Zetts, executive director of Menomonee Valley Partners. “We are excited to unveil it during Valley Week, which raises awareness of all the opportunities within the Valley.”
If you’re a Valley company and would like to fly the Valley flag, please fill out the form below or call Ben at 414-221-5509.
Potawatomi gears up to tear down Cargill plants near Milwaukee hotel and casino (Milwaukee Business Journal)
Potawatomi Hotel & Casino plans to demolish former Cargill Meat Solutions Corp. buildings to clear nearly 10 acres around its Menomonee River Valley campus.