The document summarizes the goals and approach of the Transform Milwaukee initiative, a public-private partnership led by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) to invest $100 million and stimulate economic development in Milwaukee. The initiative aims to generate $200 million in development, create jobs, strengthen property values and housing, improve stormwater management, boost transportation networks, and decrease reliance on social services over its initial two years. WHEDA is working with various public and private partners to package financing resources that will help grow businesses and restore central Milwaukee neighborhoods.

1. EXPECTED RESulTS
Governor Scott Walker and WHEDA recognize the important role that the
Milwaukee-metro area plays in growing the overall state economy. As a
result, Transform Milwaukee is one of the largest economic development
commitments in state history.
Through WHEDA financing and public-private partnerships, the initiative
is expected to:
nGenerate $200 million of development in Milwaukee over the
initial two-year period that began May 2012
nImprove the city’s unemployment levels by creating thousands of
construction-relatedandotherpermanentjobs
nDiversify and strengthen local property values, housing stock,
retail businesses and manufacturing facilities
nRemediate longstanding flood issues to help rebuild confidence in
Milwaukee’s storm water management
nunite transportation networks to boost the shipment of Milwaukee
goods and commodities to national and global markets
nDecrease the city’s reliance on social service assistance while
increasing state and local revenues
For more information, please contact Maria Watts,
Project Manager at 414.227.4706 (office),
414.750.4454 (cell) or by email at
maria.watts@wheda.com TransformMilwaukee.com

2. APPROACH & PARTNERSHIPS
The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA®)
is leading the initiative to create and implement strategies that
leverage Milwaukee’s workforce, industrial strengths and transportation
assets. WHEDA is working with public and private partners – federal
agencies, private foundations, the City of Milwaukee, the Wisconsin
Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) and state agencies – to
package resources that will help grow businesses and restore central
Milwaukee to a vibrant place in which to live and work.
WHEDA’S INVESTMENT
WHEDAhascommitted$100milliontoTransformMilwaukeewithfinancial
resources such as:
n Federal business development tax credits and/or bonding
n WHEDA participation loans for business development projects
n Federal housing tax credits
n Multifamily housing loans
n Single family mortgages
n Vacant property remediation grants
PRIMARY STRATEGIES
n Expandbusinessdevelopmentandinnovationwithnewandexistingfinancing
resourcestospurjobcreation
n Reducethenumberofforeclosedandvacantpropertiestomakeneighborhoods
moredesirableforhousingandbusinessdevelopment
n Foster partnerships between state agencies and nonprofit community groups
toincreasejobtraining,skillenhancementandeducationalopportunities
n Createstormwaterrunoffconveyancesystems–bioswales–asanalternative
tostormsewerstopreventfuturefloodingevents
n Direct resources to established intermodal transportation infrastructure –
water, air, rail and highway systemsTransformMilwaukeeIS
a public-private partnership focusing
on restoring economic prosperity to the
industrial, residential and transportation
areas connecting the City of Milwaukee’s
30thStreetIndustrialCorridor,Menomonee
Valley, Port of Milwaukee and the Milwaukee
Aerotropolis located south of General
Mitchell Airport.