Transform Milwaukee Strategic Action Plan

Created by the State of Wisconsin, Transform Milwaukee is a comprehensive, public-private initiative that leverages Milwaukee's workforce, industrial strengths, and transportation assets to expand community investments, increase business development, boost job creation, and strengthen neighborhoods.

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) contracted with a consultant team, led by GRAEF, to develop a 10-year Strategic Action Plan focusing on economic development in the five industrial corridors that comprise the Transform Milwaukee area. Collaboratively, GRAEF performed a comprehensive and unprecedented review of relevant studies, plans and research, and extracted key recommendations to inform the Transform Milwaukee Strategic Action Plan.

The GRAEF team interviewed key community stakeholders to identify action items around the areas of focus/greatest concern, such as business development, job creation, vacant and foreclosed properties, flooding and storm water management, and transportation networks (known in the Initiative as the “5 Key Strategies”). The plan engages private and public partners – businesses, neighborhood organizations, government entities, nonprofit organizations and social services – to participate in developing and executing actions that will help foster a thriving Milwaukee.

WHEDA unveiled the plan on April 30, 2015, the Initiative’s three-year anniversary.