Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce | Milwaukee, WI 53202
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The objective of MMAC's Blueprint for Economic Prosperity for GROWTH is to foster a thriving and inclusive economy.

2017-2019 RESULTS


Economic Development
Objective: Grow, expand and attract corporate business, investment and jobs, nationally and internationally, and focus on the region’s cluster industries.

Corporate expansion & attraction
  • In 2019, the Milwaukee 7 Economic Development Partnership recorded its 100th project win since launching in 2005.
  • During its most recent campaign (2015-2020), M7 recorded 46 new project wins with a combined $1.88 billion in capital investment, $649 million in combined payroll and 10,833 pledged jobs with an average wage of more than $60,000 per year – 20% above the average wage for the M7 region.
  • Partnered with the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership to launch the Transformational Productivity Initiative (TPI), a new best-practice program designed to improve productivity in Wisconsin’s small and midsize manufacturers.
  • M7’s Business Development in Distressed Communities program, supported with a five-year EDA grant, is helping low-income areas of the region to retain, grow and attract businesses through targeted business development and foreign direct investment efforts, talent development, export assistance, venture funding and start-up loan programs.
Entrepreneurship
  • With funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. (WEDC) and Milwaukee Economic Development Corp. (MEDC), launched first $1 million M7 Venture Capital Fund to provide loans and grants to second-stage startups in advanced manufacturing and technology. Distributions completed in 2019.
  • Established second $1 million M7 Venture Capital Fund in June 2019, focused on pre-seed and seed stage companies in advanced manufacturing and technology. Funding provided by WEDC, MEDC and Milwaukee Development Corporation (MDC).  
  • Provided $1.5 million to the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. (WWBIC) Fund that has lent over $5.8+ million to low-to-moderate income recipients, including 40% to minority-owned and 60% to women-owned companies in the Milwaukee region.
  • Provided $136,000+ in micro-loans to 51 Milwaukee-area companies through internet-based crowdfunding program KIVA. More than 60% of recipients were women-owned companies.
  • Supported the M7 “Marshalling Our Resources” Entrepreneurial Advisory Network to connect and leverage resources available for startups.
Advance Leading Industry Clusters
Through FaB (Food and Beverage) Wisconsin:
  • Launched a food safety training certificate for food and beverage and related manufacturers.
  • Launched a two-year industry talent outreach strategy, including the expansion of a high school career discovery program.
  • Graduated three FaBcap Accelerator classes and launched FaBcap 4, with each class consisting of 10 growing food, beverage, ingredients, equipment or packaging manufacturers and technology companies
  • M7 partnered with the Ohio Aerospace Institute to study accelerated technology sharing between companies in the Ohio-Wisconsin corridor and federal laboratories, such as the NASA Glenn Research Center.

Global Business Engagement
  • The M7 Export Development Grant Program provided matching funds of up to $4,000 to Southeastern Wisconsin companies that export or want to begin exporting to international markets.
  • Awarded a total of $467,000 to 93 companies over the past four years to subsidize the costs of entering new international markets. Companies reported a combined $21 million in new export growth as a result of the program.   

Ethnically Diverse Businesses
  • The Business Council, an affiliate of the MMAC, is dedicated to growing ethnically diverse businesses in Metro Milwaukee. The organization focused on improving the climate for minority-owned businesses and strategic match-making with corporations.

Competitive business climate
Objective: Advocate for public policies that support regional business growth.
  • Blocked proposed $516 million reduction in the Manufacturing Activities Tax Credit.
  • Prevented proposed $505 million Capital Gains Tax increase.
  • Repealed the state moratorium on mineral mining.
  • Allowed corporations the option of lowering costs and increasing participation through virtual shareholder meetings.
  • Blocked proposed repeal of statewide labor law uniformity requirement.
  • Blocked proposed repeal of Right to Work.
  • Created “Benefit Corporation” classification for state companies that want to highlight their community benefit work.
Copyright © 2021 Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  All rights reserved.
275 W Wisconsin Ave., Ste. 220 | Milwaukee, WI 53203  |  Tel 414/287-4100 | Fax 414/271-7753 | info@mmac.org
Privacy Policy
  • Membership
    • Gain visibility >
      • Advertising
      • Event Sponsorship
      • Lead generation
    • Grow & strengthen your biz >
      • Executive roundtable program >
        • Roundtable News
      • Food and beverage manufacturers
      • Focus on the Future Awards
      • Future 50 Awards >
        • Future 50 winner archive
      • Leadership Council
      • International >
        • Global Business Insights series
        • Wisconsin International Trade Conference
        • Benefits of WTA membership >
          • Join WTA now
        • WTA member directory
        • Global Pulse - eNewsletter Archive
        • WTA events
        • Volunteer leadership
      • Roundtables for high-growth companies
      • Small business >
        • Council of Small Business Executives
      • Young professionals
    • Improve the business climate
    • Invest in our community
    • Cost Savings programs >
      • Certificates of origin
      • Health insurance plan
      • Office supply discount program
    • Join now
    • Request More Information
    • Members only >
      • Member Orientation
      • Submit an event
      • Submit news about your company
      • Update email preferences
      • Promote your MMAC membership
  • Events
    • MMAC event calendar
    • Event photos >
      • 2020 Golf Outing
    • Community events calendar
    • Submit an event
    • Sponsorship
    • 2019 MMAC All Member Meeting
  • Talent Pipeline
    • Grow your talent pipeline >
      • Business tours for students
      • Career-based learning
      • Manufacturing CAREERx
      • Technology Education & Literacy in Schools (TEALS)
    • Attracting & retaining young professionals
    • Professional development
  • Equity
    • Region of Choice initiative >
      • ROC: Improve the recruitment, retention & advancement
      • ROC: Increase educational attainment & career development opportunities
      • ROC: Support wealth creation of Black & Brown businesses
      • ROC Background & Data
      • ROC FAQs
  • Advocacy
    • Miller Park economic impact study
    • Legislator voting records
    • Education recommendations >
      • Supportive policies
      • Quality schools
      • Effective Educators
      • Community engagement
    • Ranking Milwaukee County Schools
  • Economic Growth
    • Attracting & retaining businesses
    • Food & beverage cluster
    • Milwaukee Development Corp. >
      • Rebuild & Revitalize Program
    • Milwaukee EB-5 Visa program
    • Milwaukee Urban Strategic Investment Corp. (MUSIC)
    • Metro Milwaukee reports
    • Starting a business >
      • BizStarts
      • New business planning guide
  • About the Region
    • 2021 Navigate Business MKE
    • Benchmarking metro MKE
    • Business outlook survey
    • Economic Trends
    • Local media listings
    • Major employers in metro Milwaukee
    • Metro Milwaukee demographics
    • Order a publication
    • Relocating a business
  • About MMAC
    • Board of directors >
      • New 2021 Board Members
    • Contact us
    • Members of the media
    • Publication archive >
      • News Archive
      • Press Releases
      • Milwaukee Commerce magazine
    • Scholarships for minority students
    • Staff
  • Member Directory
  • Member Login
  • COVID-19 Resources
    • Health & Safety Toolkit >
      • Vaccine FAQ
      • Employer Outbreak FAQs
      • Testing FAQs
      • Preparing for the 2nd wave
      • Health & Safety Checklist
    • Business Strategies webinars