Thriving Economy

MMAC's Blueprint for Economic Prosperity
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce | Milwaukee, WI 53202
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  • Economic Growth
    • FoxConn project
    • Attracting & retaining businesses
    • Expanding global exports
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GOAL: Foster a climate that promotes business growth

Our approach to a thriving economy is two-fold: Advocate for public policy that improves the region’s business climate and aggressively market the region to those investing capital and creating jobs. We are competing every day with regions around the country, and the world, for ideas and talent. Together with the Milwaukee 7 Regional Economic Development Partnership, MMAC builds capacity for growth. This past year, that work paid off – big. We added 31 corporate attraction and expansion projects to the region, most notably Haribo from Germany, and Foxconn, the massive producer of technology products, from Taiwan. These developments will have wide-ranging ripple effects. We are working closely with education and community partners, and legislators and government officials, to ensure we manage this rapid growth and leverage its immense opportunities. At the same time, we continue to organically grow our exporters and entrepreneurs.
“We chose Wisconsin as the center of our U.S. investment plans for many reasons, but high on the list was the talented and committed Wisconsin workforce.”
Picture
Terry Gou
Chairman,
FOXCONN

2017-2019 Agenda


Economic Development

Objective: Grow, expand and attract corporate businesses, investment and jobs, nationally and internationally, and focus on the region’s cluster industries.
2015-2017 Results

Corporate expansion and attraction
  • Attract an additional 3,200 pledged, retained or new jobs.
  • Expand the MMAC’s Regional Center for EB-5 Capital investment to include four Chicago area counties and one Indiana county.

Entrepreneurship
  • Explore and encourage the creation of a venture capital fund for regional technology startups.
  • Create a pool of mentors that can work with entrepreneurs in programs such as Scale Up, BizStarts and Gener8tor.

Global business engagement
  • Continue to provide funding through the JP Morgan Chase Export Development Grant Program for companies new to export or expanding their export markets.
  • Make the Milwaukee region a viable shipping hub by restoring service of the intermodal rail ramp at the Port of Milwaukee.
  • Engage companies with exporting potential through the World Trade Association’s Export Assessment.
  • Continue participation in Brookings Global Cities Initiative to help the Milwaukee Region develop a global identity based on the region’s unique assets.

Advance leading industry clusters
  • Continue to advance regional industry clusters. Through FaB Wisconsin:
    • Engage with high school students year-round on food career discovery events
    • Participate in career pathway development with Milwaukee 7 and the Wisconsin Regional Pathways project
    • Fund and pilot a Food Safety Training Certificate
    • Secure tenants for the Future Food Center

Ethnically-Diverse businesses
  • Launch another Business Connection Program Module, creating $40 million in local spending with minority suppliers in 2018, increasing by at least 10% in 2019.  

Competitive business climate

Objective: Advocate for public policies that support regional business growth.
2015-2017 results

  • Continue to align the state tax code with economic growth priorities.
  • Eliminate state personal property tax (about $200 million in business-related items).
  • Reduce the regulatory burden on Wisconsin companies.
  • Reform Wisconsin’s Workers Compensation to make compliance simple, fair and cost effective for employers and health providers.
  • Pass federal tax reform to create a U.S. tax system that is simpler, fairer, and rewards business and job growth.
Copyright © 2019 Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce.  All rights reserved.
756 N. Milwaukee St., Ste. 400 - Milwaukee, WI 53202  |  Tel 414/287-4100 | Fax 414/271-7753 | info@mmac.org


  • Membership
    • Gain visibility >
      • Advertising
      • Coupons and discounts
      • Lead generation
    • Grow & strengthen your biz >
      • Ethically-diverse businesses
      • Executive roundtable program >
        • Roundtable News
      • Food and beverage manufacturers
      • Future 50 Awards >
        • Future 50 winner archive
      • International >
        • 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 supplies discount
    • Join now
    • Request More Information
    • Members only >
      • Submit an event
      • Add a coupon/discount
      • Submit news about your company
      • Update email preferences
      • Promote your MMAC membership
  • Events
    • MMAC event calendar
    • Event photos >
      • 2017 MMAC All Member Meeting
      • Business After Hours
      • Foxconn Announcement with Governor Walker
      • Future 50 Awards Luncheon
      • Legislative Receptions
      • Milwaukee 7 Economic Development Forum
      • Milwaukee 7 Investor Celebration
      • Small Business Events
      • TBC Strategic Partnership Luncheon
      • WI International Trade Conference 2018
      • Workforce development events
    • Community events calendar
    • Submit an event
    • Sponsorship
  • Talent Development
    • Education recommendations >
      • Supportive policies
      • Quality schools
      • Effective Educators
      • Community engagement
    • Ranking Milwaukee County Schools
    • Business tours for students
    • Career-based learning
    • Attracting & retaining employees
    • Professional development
  • Advocacy
    • Legislator voting records
    • Pro-business public policy agenda >
      • Distinct place
      • Diversity & Inclusion
      • Talented Workforce
      • Thriving economy
      • Small business legislative agenda
    • WI governmental officials directory >
      • Milwaukee county
      • Ozaukee county
      • Washington county
      • Waukesha county
  • Economic Growth
    • FoxConn project
    • Attracting & retaining businesses
    • Expanding global exports
    • Food & beverage cluster
    • Milwaukee Development Corp.
    • 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
    • 2019 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
    • Contact us
    • Members of the media
    • Publication archive >
      • Milwaukee Commerce magazine
      • Metro business news
    • Scholarships for minority students
    • Staff
  • Member Directory
    • MMAC Virtual Business & Area Guide