Downtown employees to bask in week of summertime freebies and perks

MILWAUKEE, Wis. (July 17, 2017) — Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 will team up with downtown businesses and community leaders to celebrate downtown’s 83,490+ employees during the 12th annual Downtown Employee Appreciation Week, July 31 – Aug. 4. The weeklong celebration rewards downtown employees with outdoor entertainment, games, prizes, free lunches and after-hours events.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony, live music and prize opportunities will kick off the weeklong celebration on Monday, July 31 at 11:45 a.m. at Red Arrow Park. Lunch for 1,000 employees will be provided by Cousins Subs, Davians Catering & Events and Starbucks. Tickets to Wisconsin State Fair will also be distributed. Throughout the week, lunchtime giveaways will travel to various downtown locations and include 1,000-item treats ranging from mini pitas and pizza to smoothies and cookies.

In addition to food and live music, Office Challenge Games presented by Farbman Group will be offered. New games include Yardzee, Giant Connect Four and NEWaukee Limbo. Bango and Milwaukee Bucks Dancers will also add to the fun with their Milwaukee Bucks Basketball Shootout. All activities will be held from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Red Arrow Park (Monday, July 31), Pere Marquette Park (Tuesday, Aug. 1), Schlitz Park (Wednesday, Aug. 2), Chase Tower at Water and Wisconsin (Thursday, Aug. 3), The Blue (Thursday, Aug. 3), Wisconsin Center (Thursday, Aug. 3) and Cathedral Square Park (Friday, Aug. 4).

New this year, an “I Work Downtown” Western Hoedown complete with line-dancing lessons from Fred
Astaire Dance Studio will be held Wednesday, Aug. 2 beginning at 5 p.m. at the Milwaukee County
Historical Society Patio in Pere Marquette Park. Attendees can also enter to win tickets to see Kip Moore
at Wisconsin State Fair, as well as a pair of cowboy boots from The Boot Connection.

The “I Work Downtown” Volleyball Tournament will return to Bradford Beach at 5 p.m. on Monday, July 31 and Downtown’s Grandest Happy Hour will brew crowds and camaraderie at The Shops of Grand Avenue on Thursday, Aug. 3 at 5 p.m. To jump-start employees’ mornings, the World’s Largest Coffee Break returns to Catalano Square at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Another returning favorite, the “I Work Downtown” Trivia Tournament, hosted at Jackson’s Blue Ribbon Pub, 1203 N. 10th St., on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 5 p.m., invites companies to flex their intellectual muscle. Pre-registration is required for both the volleyball and trivia tournaments and ends Friday, July 21.

Downtown businesses will also recognize downtown employees by offering special discounts on products or services. Employees are encouraged to sport a paperclip to identify himself or herself as a downtown worker.

“Milwaukee’s downtown is growing exponentially and it’s important to acknowledge the people who keep it bustling,” said Beth Weirick, CEO of Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21. “Downtown Employee Appreciation Week is a great way to say thanks to the dedicated workforce. As our downtown community continues to grow, it’s events like Downtown Employee Appreciation Week that make downtown a desired work environment.”

Downtown Employee Appreciation Week will conclude with a closing ceremony featuring live music, games and lunch for 1,000 downtown employees on Friday, Aug. 4 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Cathedral Square Park. In addition, completed Downtown Employee Appreciation Week passports will be pulled for a prize drawing that recognizes employees who participated in three or more events. Passports must be turned in by 12:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 4 to a Public Service Ambassador to be eligible for the drawing.

Information on the passport, event registration, daily giveaways and employee discounts are available at www.milwaukeedowntown.com/iworkdowntown or by calling 414.220.4700.

ABOUT DOWNTOWN EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION WEEK

Begun by Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21 in 2006 as a business retention and recruitment initiative, Downtown Employee Appreciation Week mirrors a “spirit week” with special events, office challenge games, social gatherings and discounts at local businesses to rally downtown Milwaukee’s 83,490+ employees. Downtown Employee Appreciation Week received the International Downtown Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2007, which prompted other downtowns to replicate the event.

Milwaukee Downtown, Business Improvement District #21 is an organization established in 1998 to support the interests of the downtown Milwaukee business community. Created through private sector leadership, Milwaukee Downtown is a management district organization that oversees 150 square blocks representing approximately 500 property owners in the center of downtown Milwaukee. The organization funds specific initiatives aimed at creating a clean, safe and friendly downtown. More info is available at www.milwaukeedowntown.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.