Federal funds to provide catalyst for private sector jobs in Milwaukee

Milwaukee’s Northwest Side Community Development Corp. (NWSCDC) has been awarded $740,402 and the Martin Luther King Economic Development Corp. (MLKEDC) has been awarded $545,800 in federal urban development grants through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Community Services.
U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) contacted HHS in support of both grant proposals.
“Both of these community development corporations are well known leaders in strengthening workforce opportunities in the City of Milwaukee,” Kohl said.  “I’m pleased that these grants will help propel their efforts forward to create good jobs and help people develop the skills they’ll need to fill them.”
The NWSCDC funding is expected to bring additional family supporting employment to the city of Milwaukee through its partnership with Helios Solar Works.  Helios is a manufacturer founded and headquartered in Milwaukee that makes high-performance solar panels. With the funding, Helios will be able to purchase new equipment, increasing their manufacturing capacity, and add up to 40 new jobs, a majority of which will be filled by low-income individuals.
MLKEDC will use the funding to partner with Fix Development LLC to complete the development of the Milwaukee Fix Building.  The new totally sustainable building will house the Clock Shadow Creamery, a new cheese manufacturing plant, a community clinic and retail facilities.  The project will provide a total of 23 new jobs, 18 of which will be targeted for low-income residents of the near south side area and bring an otherwise rural activity to an urban area.