BROOKFIELD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS NOVEMBER 2011

  
FEATURED ARTICLE
Thanks to our Marketing Sub-Committee
 

This is the fourth edition of our Economic Development E-Newsletter. When the City of Brookfield started the process of examining our marketing efforts, and choosing a new theme, we turned to a group of individuals with extensive marketing backgrounds and knowledge of our community to assist us in that effort. This committee led us through the process of hiring a marketing firm, honing our message, and selecting a brand, logo and look for our Economic Development marketing efforts. We would like to thank:

 

Nancy Justman, Executive Director, Brookfield Convention and Visitors Bureau

 

Steve Miazga, Business Development Manager, R. A. Smith National

 

Judi Murphy, Senior Vice President, Murphy Associates

 

Carla Rutley, Director Community/Corporate

Outreach, Ottawa University

 

Carol White, President, Greater Brookfield Chamber of Commerce

 

for all of their time, effort and expertise as we went through the process of updating our marketing, including this newsletter.

 

 

"Located in the heart of Southeastern Wisconsin, the City of Brookfield is a community of choice for families and businesses and a premier sustainable place to live, work, shop, and play."

 

City of Brookfield

2035 Vision 

 

Milwaukee Electric Tool to Expand R&D, Headquarter's Operations

 

Milwaukee Electric Tool announced this month significant growth of Research and Development and other operations at its Headquarters at 13135 W. Lisbon Road in the City of Brookfield. City officials began meeting with METCO representatives a year ago, to discuss the potential project. The City worked closely with the State of Wisconsin Department of Commerce (now the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation) to assemble a package of financial assistance to the project. Governor Walker announced that the company is eligible for state tax credits of up to $1.5 million, based on projected creation of 103 new jobs.

 

The City and Waukesha County Economic Development Corporation offered Revolving Loan Funds to the project, but a loan from the State of Wisconsin will be paid back from tax credits earned. Milwaukee 7, the regional marketing entity was also involved in planning for the project several years ago, when economic conditions delayed the opportunity.


"These are the kind of jobs that we like to see being added in Brookfield", said Mayor Steven Ponto. "They're really sophisticated family supporting jobs", the Mayor added. Milwaukee Electric Tool has added some staff this year, and anticipates adding 100 plus positions in total in the next few years. Most of the positions are in engineering, with administrative, marketing and operations comprising the balance. Average pay is above $75,000 per year. "There's a wealth of skill sets that we're looking for that are across the gamut of different educational backgrounds and degrees", said Ty Staviski, Senior Vice-President and CFO of METCO.

 

Milwaukee Electric Tool moved to Brookfield in 1965, and the focus of the 180,000 square foot facility became Headquarters and R&D in 2004, when manufacturing was moved to Mississippi. METCO was acquired by Techtonic Industries Co. Ltd. (TTI) in 2005. Employment is over 1,000 in total, with over 300 positions in Brookfield.

 
PNC Bank to Build Two Green Branch� Locations in Brookfield

 

PNC Bank, the nation's sixth largest bank (by deposits), will build two new branches in Brookfield.   PNC's branches are designed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) New Construction standards, keeping Brookfield as one of the top cities in the state with LEED-certified buildings.

 

PNC will start construction in spring, 2012 of a branch at Underwood Crossing, the Target-anchored development, currently under construction at 12805 West Bluemound Road on the City's east side.   The 4,000-square-foot PNC Bank branch will feature a brick-and-stone exterior, consistent with the fa�ade of the new 140,000-square-foot Target.  

PNC Nov 2011
PNC Bank: Underwood Crossing Rendering

 

PNC also will construct a branch at 17295 West Capitol, in front of the Pick 'N Save-anchored neighborhood shopping center located at Capitol and Calhoun Road. The Capitol branch will feature similar architecture and the 4,000-square-foot design.

 

Both branches will provide full service and drive-through banking, and are expected to open in the third quarter, 2012.

 

Currently, the City of Brookfield has six LEED Certified buildings and tenant spaces, the third highest number in the state after Milwaukee and Madison. PNC has more newly constructed LEED-certified green buildings (102) than any company on earth.

Focus Groups Examine 124th Street Corridor Opportunities, Potential Branding

 

The City of Brookfield has been conducting a series of focus group meetings with business and property owners in our 124th Street Corridor, from Burleigh Road to Feerick Street. The meetings are a follow-up to the City's recent updating of the 124th Street Corridor Plan, an element of the City's Comprehensive Plan. This portion of the corridor has a mix of owner occupied and multi-tenant light industrial buildings; with retail, restaurant, office and service uses on the Burleigh and 124th Street frontages. More than 75 buildings have total space of more than 1.6 million square feet, and are home to more than 100 businesses.

 

The purpose of the meetings is to identify advantages and disadvantages of the area, and to solicit ideas about future improvements that could be made. Another goal is to identify a potential "brand" and name for the area, that could be utilized in entrance signs and marketing efforts to enhance awareness and perceptions of the area. KW Advertising has been assisting the City in conducting the focus groups, to bring their expertise to the table, and to ensure a neutral facilitation of discussion. More than 25 business and property owners have participated in the meetings, and we look forward to continuing our work with these stakeholders to improve business conditions in the corridor.

 

 
 Your Questions, Comments & Requests are Welcome

 

If you need any information for your business or for someone considering a business opportunity in Brookfield, contact:

 
Tim Casey
 
Economic Development Coordinator
 
City of Brookfield
 
2000 N. Calhoun Road
 
Brookfield, WI 53005-5095
 
262-796-6694
 
[email protected] 

 
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Brookfield Economic Development

 

The City of Brookfield Economic Development Coordinator is Tim Casey. Economic Development Committee members include: Nate Cunniff, M&I Bank - West Suburban District; James Garvens, Alderman, City of Brookfield; Glen Allgaier, School District of Elmbrook; David Krutz, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Scott Oleson, Brookfield Square Shopping Center; Steve Miazga, R. A. Smith National and Brookfield Chamber of Commerce; Brian Shecterle, Culver's Restaurant & Shecterle Commercial Properties LLC.

 

The Economic Development Committee generally meets on the first Monday of every month (excluding July). For meeting agendas and minutes, please visit http://www.ci.brookfield.wi.us/archive.asp