Grant will fund River Loop Area Assessment and Planning Project

The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) was awarded $20,000 by the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program for the River Loop Assessment and Planning Project. This project will evaluate trail conditions, determine regulatory requirements, and explore alternative designs for the River Loop area on the south bank of the Menomonee River.

From the application:

The project consists of an assessment and planning effort to obtain a comprehensive understanding and record of existing conditions, regulatory requirements, design alternatives, and construction cost opinions, to address the flooding challenges and damage to the River Loop area, which includes the river’s edge and adjoining near shore area along the south bank of the Menomonee River between 13th Street and 25th Street in Milwaukee, WI.  The area includes a section of multi-purpose paved trail constructed approximately 20 years ago, which is part of the Hank Aaron State Trail system.  The 20-year old trail has deteriorated due to several reasons including the high water levels of the river, invasive plant growth within the asphalt, and erosion due to the failing dock wall.  The section of trail that is the subject of this grant application has been underwater on and off for much of the last year due to record high water levels. Water undermining the trail has also led to several trail failures over the years, which have progressively worsened.

Manufacturing Workforce Strategies Building an Inclusive Future

How community-embedded workforce organizations center racial equity, credentialing, and training to create stronger neighborhoods

In 2020, The Century Foundation (TCF) and the Urban Manufacturing Alliance (UMA) convened a national cohort of eight organizations to share best practices and strategies to expand workforce models that connect diverse communities to careers in manufacturing while also identifying policies to scale these efforts.

The cohort members (including Menomonee Valley Partners) determined that with the right models in place, un-employed and under-employed adults of all ages are able obtain the necessary skills to gain employment in a rewarding career in manufacturing. More thoughtful investment creates further opportunities for skills advancement and wage progression.

After a year of webinars, learning sessions, and collaborative discussions about the current state and future of workforce development, this report strives to answer the question: How do community-embedded workforce organizations center racial equity, credentialing, and training to create a stronger neighborhoods? The report features a collection of technical descriptions of each of the cohort member organizations and personal profiles of local stakeholders - from educators and trainees, to staff and service providers. Along with these snapshots are reflections on the commonalities among the organizations despite working in different cities, with different audiences, and engaging different manufacturing ecosystems.

You can view Menomonee Valley Partners’ profile below or access the entire report here.

New high school internship seeks to increase inclusion in engineering (PRESS RELEASE)

New High School Internship Seeks to Increase Inclusion in Engineering

Youth in the City of Milwaukee with an interest in engineering and architecture can learn from experts in the field and earn a summer wage

MILWAUKEE - The Rotational Engineering Internship is a new six-week, paid opportunity for high school students and recent graduates living in the City of Milwaukee to expand their familiarity and confidence on careers in architecture and engineering.

This internship is offered through a partnership between the City of Milwaukee Earn & Learn program, Menomonee Valley Partners, and Valley businesses, including Benesh, Christopher Kidd & Associates, EMCS, The Sigma Group, and Zimmerman Architectural Studios. 

In this unique opportunity, interns will rotate between companies in the Menomonee River Valley where they will be exposed to a broad range of mentors and careers during job shadowing experiences. Each week one intern will be paired with a company for up to 20 hours, Monday – Thursday. On Friday, interns will participate in work study programming including employability skills, financial literacy, or enrichment activities. Interns will also complete a project documenting their experience. 

“The Rotational Engineering Internship is one more way that Menomonee Valley Partners is connecting residents in nearby neighborhoods to careers in the Menomonee River Valley,” said Catrina Crane, Director of Workforce Development and Business Solutions for Menomonee Valley Partners. “MVP worked with small- to medium-sized Valley businesses to create this unique program to help address racial disparities in STEM-related industries and give youth in Milwaukee another avenue to put these careers within reach.” 

Racial disparities within STEM-related industries is a well known fact and is a barrier for youth to enter these careers. A detailed study conducted by the National Science Foundation revealed that 49% of persons in STEM fields are white males. Women, Black Americans, Native Americans, and people of Hispanic descent are highly underrepresented. Businesses in the Menomonee River Valley are seeking to provide opportunities and increase inclusion and diversity in the sector through the new Rotational Engineering Internship for current high school students and recent graduates. 

To apply for the Rotational Engineering Internship, students must live in the City of Milwaukee and be a high school sophomore, junior, senior, or recent graduate. Students should have a strong interest in the engineering and architectural fields, have taken STEM-related coursework, and hold a 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA. 

Applications are due Thursday, June 3 and can be submitted at www.thevalleymke.org/engineering-internship. The Rotational Engineering Internship is open to students and recent graduates of all backgrounds.

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.