Milwaukee, WI

LEADERSHIP
Executive Director:
Leo J. Ries
Chair, Local Advisory Committee:
Cathie Madden
CONTACT INFORMATION
660 East Mason Street, 5th Floor
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Telephone: (414) 273-1815
Fax: (414) 273-2036
Website

Established in 1995

Achievements by the Numbers:

(By LISC and Affiliates since inception)
  • 2,158 homes and apartments
  • 1.75 million square feet of commercial space
  • $94.9 million total investment
  • $361.8 million leveraged

Profile:

In 2010, LISC Milwaukee played a key leadership role in advancing community partnerships and Quality-of-Life Plans in our four Sustainable Communities: Washington Park, Harambee, Clarke Square, and Lindsay Heights. Despite the economic downturn, more than six major LISC-supported developments closed this year with a combined value of $40 million. As a result of LISC’s support and planning, these projects were able to capitalize on federal stimulus funding. Examples include King Drive Commons III, mixed-use housing that combines 24 modern apartments with a fresh food market; and Silver City, 20 rent-to-own townhomes, which offers sports courts, a playground, and access to shopping and nature trails.

To help families achieve financial stability, LISC opened a Financial Opportunity Center serving 561 families with a second center opening in 2011. In order to stimulate economic activity, LISC partnered with the City of Milwaukee to operate the Main Street Program, a national model for revitalizing historic commercial districts. This program will expand from 6 to potentially 12 commercial districts and provides training and technical assistance to business owners, as well as grants for physical improvements and safety initiatives. LISC was able to expand their support for healthy environments by sponsoring a SafeGrowth course. This six-week community safety certification program teaches police officers, prosecutors, urban planners and community members how to modify the environment to reduce and prevent crime.