Milwaukee Region’s business, health and science communities collaborate to launch restart toolkit for companies

Medical College of Wisconsin, MMAC and M7 provide guidance to help businesses prepare and protect employees, customers and facilities during COVID-19 pandemic.

MILWAUKEE – To help Milwaukee Region businesses reopen and operate safely during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW), the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and the Milwaukee 7 Economic Development Partnership (M7) have collaborated to launch an online toolkit with information, guidance and resources.
 
The toolkit, which can be accessed online, is designed to help businesses identify risks and implement health and safety procedures that will protect their employees and customers. Through the toolkit, companies are encouraged to enact procedures and protocols that minimize the introduction, exposure and spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.

Resources include:

• A restart checklist to give business leaders a step-by-step approach to opening and operating safely.
• Health and safety best practices that are based in science.
• Quick links to resources for disinfecting, personalized protection equipment, and more

 
“As we move into a ‘new normal’ of learning how to live and work safely under the threat of COVID-19, earning the trust of employees and customers is a top priority for our business community,” said MMAC President Tim Sheehy. “Building that trust is necessary to restart our economy. We can accomplish this by taking steps to mitigate the spread of the virus and protect employees and customers. This is a new challenge, and it may not be clear what steps are necessary for a particular business to take. This toolkit, designed with the expertise of health and science professionals at MCW, can help show business owners the way forward.”
 
“COVID-19 is virulent and continues to live around us and we encourage all individuals to vigilant with the only tools we have available right now - physical distancing, face coverings, hand washing and frequent cleaning,” said John R. Raymond, Sr, MD, President and CEO of MCW. “As we move into a new phase, we want employers and employees to have the tools to stay safe so we our economy and community can thrive again.”
 
Updates to the toolkit will be implemented as more resources and information become available. Dr. Raymond, Tim Sheehy and other experts will go into greater detail during the MMAC’s Business Strategies During the Pandemic webinar at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19. The webinar is free and open to everyone, but registration is required and available online.
 
Link to toolkit:
https://coronavirus-mmac.org/smart-restart/toolkit/
 
About the Medical College of Wisconsin
With a history dating back to 1893, The Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research and community engagement. More than 1,200 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical school and graduate school programs in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Central Wisconsin in 2016. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and second largest in Wisconsin. In FY2016, faculty received more than $184 million in external support for research, teaching, training and related purposes. This total includes highly competitive research and training awards from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Annually, MCW faculty direct or collaborate on more than 3,100 research studies, including clinical trials. Additionally, more than 1,500 physicians provide care in virtually every specialty of medicine for more than 525,000 patients annually.

About the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce
Founded in 1861, the MMAC serves as the chamber of commerce for the Milwaukee Region, representing approximately 2,000 member businesses with 300,000 employees. Its mission is to improve Metro Milwaukee as a place to invest capital, grow business and create jobs. Online: MMAC.org.
 
About the Milwaukee 7 Economic Development Partnership
The Milwaukee 7 is the regional economic development partnership of the seven Southeastern Wisconsin counties of Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha, dedicated to growing, expanding and attracting business and talent. Online: mke7.com.