Milwaukee Tool Could Bring 2,000 Jobs Downtown
City would provide up to $20 million to lure fast-growing company to Downtown.
Milwaukee Tool could bring up to 2,000 jobs to downtown Milwaukee according to a public notice released Wednesday by the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee.
The city is proposing a $12.1 million grant to support the Brookfield-based company’s move of at least 1,210 employees to HQ501, the former Assurant Health office building at 501 W. Michigan St. The city would provide an additional $7.9 million if the company adds an additional 790 employees.
The company, officially Milwaukee Electric Tool Co., has grown quickly in the past decade. It reported 300 employees at its headquarters in 2011, but multiple expansions have added over 300,000 square feet of space and brought the total employment count to more than 1,400 as of late 2019.
“As we continue to grow our presence here in southeastern Wisconsin, we are looking into additional space to expand our corporate operations. A site in downtown Milwaukee is our first choice. At this time, we have no other details to share,” said Ty Staviski, chief financial officer of Milwaukee Tool, in a statement.
In 2020, a $100 million corporate campus plan for the company was approved for the Woodland Prime Business Park in Menomonee Falls. The company purchased 65 acres to augment its existing headquarters. This new announcement’s impact on either the Brookfield or Menomonee Falls campus is unclear at this point.
“I think it’s a very significant development and frankly it’s about time for a company with Milwaukee in its name to return to Milwaukee,” said Alderman Robert Bauman in an interview.
He singled out the location choice, on the west side of Downtown, as a significant positive.
“The fact that they’re comfortable going into the Westown neighborhood is a big positive and shows what progress has been made in Westown,” said the area alderman. He said it was proof that the Bradley Symphony Center and other W. Wisconsin Ave. developments were catalyzing further growth.
Founded in Milwaukee in 1924, Milwaukee Tool is now a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Techtronics Industries.
According to a Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation release, since 2016 the company has pledged to create up to 1,812 new jobs and invest $174.5 million in capital projects in exchange for up to $46 million in tax incentives. That includes new or expanded plants in Sun Praire and West Bend.
The city’s Redevelopment Authority will first consider the proposal at its April 15th meeting. The tax increment financing proposal is subject to Common Council approval.
Thank you for including pictures of the current buildings when writing about buildings – it is really helpful to recognize what location is being discussed.
Great to hear Milwaukee Electric Tool is doing so well. I’m proud to have worked the third shift there as a lathe operator for two years in the early 1970s. Skilled trades workers, like carpenters, electricians and sheet metal workers, love the quality they get with Milwaukee tools. Great company!