Major Milwaukee Employers Set Goals to Hire, Spend More with People of Color

Businesses and job seekers of color in Milwaukee’s lowest-income ZIP codes will have increased opportunities for wealth creation based on commitments made by a group of the area’s major employers.

The Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative (MAC), comprised of healthcare and educational institutions, has pledged to increase spending with businesses owned by people of color and to expand hiring people of color in select ZIP codes over the next five years.

The MAC has set these goals:

• Collectively increase purchasing with businesses owned by people of color in these ZIP codes by $5 million annually by 2026
• Collectively increase hiring of residents of color within these ZIP codes by 33% by 2026

“The MAC recognizes the strong connection between wealth and health, so achieving these goals will change the course of many lives,” said Rodney Moutry, director of the Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative. “Collectively, the anchor institutions have made major commitments to the individuals they will hire, to small business owners, and to the people those businesses will employ.”

The Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative’s members are Advocate Aurora Health, Ascension Wisconsin, Children’s Wisconsin, Froedtert Health, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The eight target ZIP codes are: 53204, 53205, 53206, 53208, 53210, 53212, 53216, and 53233. The combined population is 206,000, with 33% living in poverty.

While these ZIP codes are the group’s primary focus, an analysis by the MAC revealed low utilization levels of minority-owned businesses throughout the city of Milwaukee. Therefore, the MAC also has set goals for purchasing from businesses owned by people of color city-wide — increasing by an average of 60% per year over the next five years.

To oversee these efforts, the Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative has established hiring and procurement councils as well as an advisory board, all made up of representatives from the anchor institutions.

“We share the Milwaukee Anchor Collaborative’s mission to lift more people out of poverty and revitalize neighborhoods through sustainable employment and supplier diversity. Achieving these goals will create greater community and economic vitality,” said Cathy Jacobson, president and chief executive officer of Froedtert Health.

JobsWork MKE, a local nonprofit, spearheaded the creation of the collaborative last summer and is overseeing its efforts. It is holding “matchmaking” sessions, introducing potential vendors to purchasing agents from anchor institutions.

“This initiative is opening doors to new opportunities for business owners, and the anchors are becoming aware of suppliers they might not have known about. It’s a win-win,” said Moutry.

The anchors are seeking to purchase a wide variety of services and supplies, ranging from painting contractors and mechanical to medical equipment repair and graphic designers.

They also seek to fill a range of high-demand, mid-skill positions — from phlebotomists and medical assistants to facilities maintenance workers and administrative assistants.

Interested businesses and job seekers should contact Moutry via email: Rodney@JobsWorkMKE.org.

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.