Council Adopts Legislation Creating Milwaukee’s first Innovation Distric

Today, the Milwaukee Common Council adopted file #250660 — a resolution creating a Milwaukee Innovation District. The file designates a portion of the Walker’s Point neighborhood and surrounding areas as the city’s first official Innovation District — a place where creativity meets strategy, allowing for the convergence of people, ideas, and resources in ways that drive sustainable growth. The district will be characterized by new models of entrepreneurship, research, design, technology development, and collaboration between public and private sectors.

Common Council President José G. Pérez, the file’s lead sponsor, looks forward to the impact this new, groundbreaking designation can have on the community.

“There is already tremendous work being done in Walker’s Point to facilitate and nurture innovation. The city has many great innovators, businesses, and organizations pushing the envelope, but Walker’s Point has a unique blend of tech and tech-enabling businesses, as well as many other conditions necessary for the foundation of innovation that make it a great first location,” said President Pérez.

“I want to thank my colleagues for their continued support of this effort. My goal is for this to just be the beginning. We want to create a model that is replicable so other areas of Milwaukee can follow suit. The city and its partners are ready to hit the ground running, and we look forward to announcing some exciting new plans very soon,” he added.

Steve Glynn, Chief Executive Officer of the Walker’s Point Innovation District, also shared his enthusiasm for this milestone:

“It is a life’s dream for me to help bring this vision into reality for Walker’s Point. My hope is that this is the first of many innovation districts across the city,” said Glynn. “What we will accomplish in Milwaukee will serve as a model for other cities looking to next-generation talent and growth. I am grateful to President Pérez and the entire Common Council for seeing the value and potential in this opportunity.”

The creation of the Walker’s Point Innovation District marks an important step toward positioning Milwaukee as a national leader in inclusive, neighborhood-based innovation to connect the city’s talent, ideas, and industries to the opportunities of tomorrow.

To connect with the Walker’s Point Innovation District, please visit INnovateMKE.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.