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Once Wisconsin’s most visible eyesore with hundreds of acres of vacant buildings and abandoned land, the Valley has been transformed, becoming a national model in economic development and environmental sustainability.

Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc. (MVP) is a Section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was founded in 1999, MVP has served as the lead agency in the redevelopment of Milwaukee’s Menomonee River Valley.

MVP plays a key role in the public-private collaboration to redevelop a revitalized and sustainable Menomonee River Valley for the benefit of the entire community. The organization serves as a convener and coordinator by engaging stakeholders, articulating a vision, leveraging funding, and aligning partners to accomplish shared goals.

 
 

Our Mission

MVP’s mission is to revitalize and sustain the Menomonee River Valley as a thriving urban district that advances economic, ecological, and social equity for the benefit of the greater Milwaukee community.

L&R employees looking over a piece of fabric

Business & Jobs

Volunteers working on the natural landscape at the Menomonee Valley Industrial Center

Nature & Community

Youth in hard hats touring a manufacturing facility

Youth & Career Paths

 

Our Vision

MVP envisions a thriving Valley with a well-balanced mix of industrial, recreational, and entertainment uses that strengthen Milwaukee:

  • Economically, with strong companies and jobs near worker's homes;

  • Ecologically, with sustainable development and environmental stewardship;

  • Geographically, with renewed ties to surrounding neighborhoods; and

  • Equitably, with opportunities for all.


I pride myself on my imagination when it comes to commercial real estate, but my imagination wasn’t big enough to see what has since happened in the Valley.
— James Barry Jr., chairman of The Barry Co. commercial real estate brokerage.

What We've Achieved

Once Wisconsin's most visible eyesore, the Valley has been transformed, becoming a national model in economic development and environmental sustainability. Since 1999:

  • 300 acres of brownfields have been developed,

  • More than 70 companies have opened in the Menomonee River Valley,

  • 5,200+ family-supporting jobs have been created,

  • 1,000,000+ square feet of green buildings have been constructed, and

  • 60+ acres of new trails and park space have been installed, with 45 acres of native plants which have led to improved wildlife habitat and water quality.

 
 

The best days of the Valley are still ahead of it.
— Rocky Marcoux, Former Commissioner, Department of City Development

Learn more about what we achieve together in the valley’s Annual Report!

Strategic Direction

MENOMONEE VALLEY PARTNERS STRATEGIC DIRECTION

Adopted on: September 20, 2023

Content: The Strategic Direction is a roadmap that outlines strategies to navigate the MVP’s current inflection point and ensures ongoing excellence and impact as a guide for MVP’s leadership. By scaling work appropriately, MVP can achieve longevity and future impact, maintaining its significance within the community. This roadmap guides MVP to adapt, grow, and continue to fulfill its role as a catalyst for positive change in the Menomonee Valley and surround neighborhoods.

By implementing the strategies outlined, MVP can preserve its legacy while propelling itself to new heights of influence and effectiveness. As a learning organization, MVP will refine and adjust its model based on the implementation of this strategic direction and continue to deliver exceptional impact in a sustainable manner.


MVP is dedicated to achieving the following goals to assure continued success of the Valley’s revitalization. Each goal and strategy is supported by a detailed action plan and performance measures, which are outlined in the full Menomonee Valley Partners Strategic Plan.

  1. Encourage and facilitate high-quality redevelopment of vacant parcels and underutilized properties, with a current focus on the East End of the Valley and the St. Paul Ave corridor

  2. Recruit and retain high-yield, high-quality employers

  3. Connect employers to a regional, job-ready workforce and position local workers to be competitive for upcoming employment opportunities

  4. Maintain a thriving, sustainable, urban district, which is home to manufacturing, entertainment, and recreation

  5. Provide effective transportation access and other infrastructure

  6. Ensure MVP has the organizational capacity to achieve its long-term goals

 
Map outlining the Kneelands Properties

The Kneelands Properties is 9.8 acre vacant parcel adjacent to the downtown post office and Milwaukee Intermodal Station

 

How do MVP and our partners achieve these strategic priorities?

MVP partners with public and private entities to develop the Valley as an attractive business location, a center of job creation, and community destination. We work to remove the barriers that prevent the private sector from redeveloping in the Valley, while creating new amenities for employees, neighbors, and the Milwaukee region. We advocate for, raise funds for, and coordinate new infrastructure projects, environmental restoration, and quality of life improvements. We recruit new businesses, help existing businesses expand, and assist companies with accessing grant funds and tax credits for a range of needs, including job creation, environmental cleanup, and energy efficiency. We also work to create new public park space, bike and pedestrian trails, and public access to the Menomonee River.