Creation of Milwaukee’s first Innovation District approved at Committee

Today (Wednesday, October 1), the Common Council’s Community and Economic Development Committee recommended unanimous approval of file #250660 – a resolution creating a Milwaukee Innovation District. The file designates a portion of the Walker’s Point neighborhood and surrounding areas as a Milwaukee Innovation District – a place where creativity meets strategy, allowing for the convergence of people, ideas, and resources in ways that drive sustainable growth as 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, believes the creation of an innovation district can capitalize on momentum that already exists in Milwaukee and Walker’s Point. “Walker’s Point has a significant density of tech and tech-enabling businesses, as well as many conditions necessary for the foundation of innovation. All of this makes for a great location to launch Milwaukee’s first innovation district,” he said. “My goal is for this to just be the beginning. We want to create a replicable model so other areas of Milwaukee that already have, or could develop, the criteria necessary to be an innovation district can follow suit. I want to thank my colleagues for their support of this file today as we work toward a city where innovation is truly embraced and can thrive.”

The resolution also establishes a public-private leadership model. President Pérez is partnering with Steve Glynn, Chief Milwaukee Officer of Experience Milwaukee and operator of the Wantable Café, to guide the Innovation District’s launch and ongoing development.

The file will next be before the full Common Council for adoption at its next meeting on Tuesday, October 14 at 9 a.m. in the Common Council Chamber at City Hall, 200 E. Wells St. The meeting will also be streamed live on the City Channel (channel 25 on Spectrum Cable and channel 99 on AT&T U-Verse in the City of Milwaukee) and via streaming video on the city website at city.milwaukee.gov/Channel25.

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.