From January 2002 through December 2009, an area of Milwaukee is designated as a Renewal Community (RC) by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. During this designation period, businesses located within Milwaukee’s RC will have access to a package of Federal tax incentives – with the goal of job growth and economic development.  For additional information about the program, see the HUD website and a JSOnline article about the program.

The RC effort has some similarities to HUD's Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Communities program. However, instead of offering an infusion of dollars into designated areas, HUD will provide designated areas with a package of tax incentives. The RC program aims to spur economic development and job creation in the countries most distressed communities by offering designated areas a package of tax incentives for business growth. 

Milwaukee joined with the Urban Economic Development Association, Local Initiatives Support Corporation and Helen Bader Foundation to prepare the application. And together, we met with representatives of community organizations, business associations, and workforce development agencies to explain the RC program, to discuss the opportunities that might exist with such a designation and to gather input on the application, also known as the "Course of Action." (Read the executive summary of Milwaukee's Course of Action.)

The Renewal Communities designation will give disadvantaged neighborhoods in the city an extra tool to lure prospective employers, help existing companies with expansion plans and provide job opportunities. 

The City has delineated a Renewal Community area that meets HUD's requirements. 

Application Process

The City of Milwaukee Department of City Development, in partnership with Urban Economic Development Association (UEDA), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), Helen Bader Foundation, Metro Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) and Milwaukee’s Housing Authority worked together to submit the application.   The application process included three steps:

1. Determine an area HUD requires that applicants base their geographic area on specific demographic information from the 1990 census.   HUD’s criteria required that we choose an area with census tracts that have unemployment rates greater than 9.4% and a poverty rate of at least 20 percent.  In addition, at least 70% of area households must have incomes below 80% of median income.    HUD enters the applicant’s demographic data into a computer and designates those areas that statically show the greatest need.  

2. Submit a document summarizing how local government (city and state) programs have worked and will work with community-based organizations to reduce burdens and to improve services for RC residents and businesses.    HUD calls this document a “Course of Action.”  (Read the executive summary of Milwaukee's Course of Action.)  They require that applicants explain the role of local government in the following activities: