Common Council adopts “Buy Milwaukee/Buy American” proposal
The Milwaukee Common Council took a significant step toward reinvesting in the local economy Tuesday, passing Alderman Tony Zielinski’s proposal that will require the city to purchase certain Milwaukee-made goods when it’s fiscally feasible.
The Milwaukee Common Council took a significant step toward reinvesting in the local economy Tuesday, passing Alderman Tony Zielinski’s proposal that will require the city to purchase certain Milwaukee-made goods when it’s fiscally feasible.
The measures passed with the overwhelming 12-2 support of the council, as well as the blessing of the Mayor’s office, which collaborated with Zielinski to maximize the positive impact the measure will have on local businesses. As a major purchaser of goods, the decision by the City of Milwaukee to invest city funds in the local economy should pump a significant amount of funding into creating much-needed jobs in Milwaukee and throughout America.
“I think it’s better that we use taxpayer money to create jobs here rather than shipping them overseas,” Alderman Zielinski said.
The ordinance defines Milwaukee-made goods as any article that is manufactured, mined or produced in the city, where the cost of the components made in Milwaukee used to produce the goods exceeds 50 percent of the total cost of the components. For purchases valued at more than $30,000, the city will be required to select Milwaukee-made goods, provided that the selection does not increase the cost by more than 12 percent. If Milwaukee-made goods are not available, the city will be empowered to buy Milwaukee County-made goods meeting the same criteria. The next preference is given to American-made goods.
Local business operators who benefit from the proposal will report the number of jobs created to the city, to aid in decision making after the ordinance’s year-and-a-half sunset.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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