Dept. of Commerce: Governor Doyle announces federal funding for Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee

Contact: Tony Hozeny, Department of Commerce, 608/267-9661

MADISON—Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Cultural Alliance of Greater Milwaukee has received a $146,250 grant from the US Economic Development Administration for a comprehensive survey of the region’s innovative and creative industries and a focused plan to accelerate the commercialization of its products and services.

“For Wisconsin to thrive, we need a strong and growing Milwaukee,” Governor Doyle said. “By identifying these key areas of growth, we will move Milwaukee, and all of Wisconsin, forward.”

CAGM’s Innovation/Creative Industries project is thought to be one of only a handful of such endeavors in the entire country. The funded study will identify, map, link, and strategically foster the creative/innovation industry micro-clusters that both exist now and that should be a future priority within the region.

Innovation/Creative Industries are enterprises involved in the creation and distribution of emerging products and services that generate technological innovation, drive design, cultivate change, and foster aesthetic connection through the intellectual and emotional engagement of the consumer.

This project funds a study to identify Innovative/Creative Industry clusters, map high skill technology jobs connected to the creative and innovative economy, explore the economic development potential which might occur, and to prepare a focused, strategic plan that targets the most promising sectors for acceleration into commercialization of products/services. ICI will focus on technologically innovative businesses and entrepreneurs.

For more information on Commerce programs and services, visit http://commerce.wi.gov