The Building Bridges Program provides grants and resources to support small businesses and commercial corridor activation in Milwaukee County
MILWAUKEE – Today, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced the second and final cohort of local businesses awarded $10,000 grants as part of his Building Bridges Program that supports small business development and commercial corridor activation by expanding access to resources and technical assistance.
Crowley’s Building Bridges Program provides technical support through a small business liaison and administers $10,000 grants to small businesses across Milwaukee County for building improvements that enhance commercial corridor activation efforts. The goal is to expand resources to establish or expand brick-and-mortar businesses in Milwaukee County while fueling commercial corridor revitalization. Milwaukee County Economic Development was awarded grant funding from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) for this initiative, which will be used to provide $10,000 grants to qualifying small businesses.
“My administration is working to build bridges between entrepreneurs, local governments, and community organizations to fuel real economic development in Milwaukee County. With support from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, we’re putting $10,000 grants and technical assistance directly into the hands of local small businesses so they have the tools to succeed,” said County Executive Crowley. “This initiative will help activate vacant storefronts, create jobs, and uplift small businesses throughout our community. That’s the kind of impact we’re aiming for, because Milwaukee County is committed to building opportunity—one small business at a time.”
“Small businesses are the backbone of Milwaukee County’s economy and the heart of our neighborhoods,” said Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson. “This new round of Building Bridges grant recipients will uplift the creativity and determination that make our community thrive. By supporting local entrepreneurs, we’re investing in stronger families, neighborhoods, and futures.”
As part of the Building Bridges Program, a small business liaison will work to foster communication, collaboration, and partnerships between municipalities and the local business community. Additional County resources will be utilized for commercial corridor activation, marketing, branding, and website development and maintenance. The Building Bridges Program is operated by Celia Benton, Director of Economic Development at Milwaukee County.
Below is more information about the second cohort of Building Bridges Program small business grant recipients.
- Allah Mode, LLC, a small business offering holistic wellness services, recently moved into a new brick-and-mortar space at 1942 N Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Their services include sound therapy, reiki, yoga workshops, practitioner certification classes, as well as retail products such as handmade jewelry and wellness products. Owner Melissa Blue Mohammed has also contracted with the City of Milwaukee Office of Community Wellness and Safety to offer free trainings, community events, summer camp, and 1-on-1 services to referred clients who have recently been exposed to violence. Renovations to the new space have included HVAC systems improvements, electrical wiring, drywall, flooring, custom shelving, acoustic wall panels, ceiling clouds for sound quality, and a privacy fence in the backyard to facilitate outdoor programming. The Building Bridges grant will help complete the final phase of buildout.
- Tootsie’s Tea, a Native, Hispanic, woman-owned business, specializes in flavorful, small-batch loose leaf tea made with locally grown and global ingredients. In addition to retail tea blends and accessories, they offer tea blending workshops, host tastings, and fulfill wholesale orders for cafés, offices, and wellness programs like diabetes prevention. Their new space at 2406 W. Clybourn Avenue will utilize a previously vacant space in the neighborhood, as well as combine their production, packaging, and kitchen space with administrative offices, along with additional room for a new storefront and workshop space. Owner Lizz Tsosie Stachura plans to use the Building Bridges grant to finalize needed renovations to the building that will help the company create a welcoming space and foster a vibrant commercial corridor in a previous industrial area.
- IV Generations Holdings LLC is a high-end event venue and creative studio space set to launch in a beautifully-reimagined historic warehouse at 4930 N. 32nd Street in Milwaukee’s Old North neighborhood. The new event space branded as “V on 32nd” will transform a former industrial structure into an upscale, technologically advanced event hall that is uniquely positioned to offer elegant event rentals for weddings, corporate functions, private concerts, and community events, alongside creative studio spaces for recording artists, podcasters, and content creators. The Building Bridges grant will provide needed support to start interior renovations, carry out tree removal and site clearing efforts, and launch large-scale renovations needed to complete the project.
- Mimosa, a community-driven breakfast and brunch concept that first opened in 2017, is known for locally sourced ingredients, scratch-made dishes, and impactful community giving. Owner Apostoli Evreniadis is now relocating his original restaurant location to a new, larger space at 7228 South 27th Street in Oak Creek, which will double seating capacity and add a 200-person banquet room. Building Bridges grant funding will help provide new exterior signage to attract guests, signal the move to the community, and launch this next chapter with strong visibility and impact.
- HoneyBee Sage Wellness & Apothecary Cafe is an herbal beverage cafe that combines the unique concept of an apothecary, tea cafe, and alcohol-free craft cocktail lounge. They have been nominated as “the best customer service experience” on King Drive, nationally praised by the Wine Enthusiast for their alcohol-free cocktails, and praised regionally for their commitment to supporting the alcohol-free movement. The community-centered wellness business in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood is now expanding to a second location at 207 E. Buffalo Street in the Third Ward. This will create a new gathering place where residents can learn, connect, and access wellness resources in an inclusive and supportive environment. The Building Bridges grant will help support renovations, equipment, and other costs of opening the new location.
- Kennedys Circle of Wellness provides mental health and wellness services to the Milwaukee community. Dr. Sha’Juan Kennedy, clinical director and founder of the organization, is dedicated to holistic healing, economic empowerment, and community restoration. Their new project involves the transformation of a commercial property at 909 W. Burleigh Street into a community wellness center focused on yoga, group mental health sessions, and holistic healing services. This new center will serve as a safe, trauma-informed space for residents to participate in wellness practices that support emotional regulation, community connection, and overall mental health—particularly for those impacted by chronic stress, trauma, or systemic inequity. The Building Bridges grant will help fund renovations for the building, including buildout of the space, plumbing and electrical work, HVAC, and other expenses to create a new, healing space in the community.
- Nail Studio Aesthetics is a full-service beauty salon dedicated to enhancing natural beauty through expert care and personalized services. Nail Studio Aesthetics is also an academy providing classes and services to teach and certify new aspiring beauty artists. Nail Studio Aesthetics is relocating and renovating a new salon space at 1901 S. 26th Street to create a modern, functional and welcoming environment. Funds from the Building Bridges grant will help support renovation costs such as flooring, plumbing, paint and other renovation work.
- Ni Burmese LLC at 2140 S. Kinnickinnic Avenue, one of the only authentic Burmese restaurants in the region, serves as both a cultural hub for the local Burmese community and a destination for anyone seeking diverse, flavorful cuisine. Their mission is to create a warm, inclusive environment where everyone can experience Burmese hospitality and traditional dishes made from family recipes. Building Bridges grant funds will support critical updates, repairs, and maintenance to the restaurant and kitchen space.
- TMTea Boba, a take-out beverage shop launching soon at 3174 S. 27th Street, will offer plant-based boba tea, fresh fruit smoothies, flavored milk teas, and specialty drinks, with a focus on high-quality ingredients and creative flavors. While they have completed major construction on the new location, the Building Bridges grant will provide additional funding for construction work and equipment to complete the project and start providing boba and specialty drinks for customers.
- Julie Mae’s Southern Cooking offers Southern cooking in a fast-food setting. Their location at 7604 W. Burleigh Street, in a former Pizza Hut building, is set to open soon as a southern style food take-out restaurant. Renovations to the space include signage and painting of the building, new stainless steel exhaust hoods, tile flooring, and new restaurant equipment. The Building Bridges grant will help cover this work to complete the project, activate an empty storefront, and bring a new dining option to the neighborhood.
More information about the first round of Building Bridges grant recipients is available HERE.
More information about County Executive Crowley’s Building Bridges Program is available HERE.
