Milwaukee, WI, August 12, 2014 – Schlitz Park announced today that The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation (WWBIC) has signed a lease for 9,000 square feet of space in the office complex’s River Center building at 1555 River Center Drive. WWBIC is a leading innovative statewide economic development corporation with offices in Milwaukee, Madison, Racine and Kenosha and three virtual rural offices. WWBIC’s 35 Milwaukee employees will move to Schlitz Park during September from their current office at 2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
For more than 25 years, WWBIC has served emerging and existing business owners. The organization works with men and women-owned businesses in all market sectors in any phase of development. Clients include start-ups, established entrepreneurs, expanding businesses and individuals. In 2013, WWBIC assisted nearly 720 businesses, provided $4.8 million in direct loans to 120 business owners and educated more than 3,000 people in classroom or individual sessions.
“We love that at Schlitz Park we will be in the heart of the community close to downtown and highways making us easily accessible to our employees and the many clients we serve,” said Wendy K. Baumann, WWBIC President/CVO. “With our new space we’ll have the flexibility required to meet our expanding needs, including breakout rooms and a larger conference room, all in a beautiful setting with riverfront window views.”
Baumann noted that WWBIC had spent the past year looking at available office space “far and wide” and surveyed employees, clients and advisors for input on requirements. “That included plenty of parking and 24-hour security which is important for our evening programs. Further, Schlitz Park’s many amenities are a huge plus for our staff. This is a place we will be proud to call our office and people will feel good about spending time here.”
WWBIC will join several new tenants that have moved to Schlitz Park this year including My Dwelling, HSA Bank, RDA Enthusiast Brands and UMB Fund services.
“WWBIC represents the best of the transformation taking place at Schlitz Park — new tenants moving in that are creating jobs and spurring business growth,” said Gary Grunau, Schlitz Park’s co-developer. “We look forward to WWBIC’s expanding presence here and the entrepreneurial and creative spirit that both their employees and clients bring.”
One of WWBIC’s two Coffee With A Conscience® (CWAC) locations has been at Schlitz Park since 1998. CWAC is a WWBIC social business venture that acts as a business learning-laboratory for clients and serves as a revenue generating source for both WWBIC and clients. All CWAC products are from WWBIC clients or other small, local businesses.
RFP Commercial, Inc.’s Ned Purtell, partner, and Jenna Maguire, broker associate, representing Schlitz Park, and CBRE’s Kendall Phillips, brokerage services, representing WWBIC, negotiated the WWBIC Schlitz Park lease.
