Grappling with vacant storefronts? Definitely not South Milwaukee.
In fact, it wouldn’t be exaggeration to say the city is thriving.
According to Spectrum News Milwaukee, between 2017 and 2022, the number of new businesses in the city surged by 525%, standing in stark contrast to the mere four new businesses that opened in 2017.
South Milwaukee Assistant City Administrator and Economic Development Director Patrick Brever attributed this growth to a variety of factors. Notably, he pointed to the effectiveness of their robust small business grant programs, as many of the new businesses in the region have seized the opportunity to secure loans at both the state and local levels.
“The average community in Wisconsin will lose $76,000 in economic activity for each vacant storefront so it has been our priority to fill them,” said Brever to Spectrum News.
Additionally, Brever also highlighted the city’s competitive advantage in terms of startup costs compared to neighboring cities and pointed to the success stories of local businesses as a testament to the thriving business environment.
But, based on the same article, it’s not only new businesses that are benefitting. The resurgence is also benefitting those long established, as well.
Read the full story at the link above.
