Milwaukee projects get federal funds

Daily Reporter (Milwaukee), Sep 14, 2007 by Sean Ryan

The U.S. Senate passed the funding bill for the Department of Housing and Urban Development that included $1.2 million for projects in Milwaukee.

"The city of Milwaukee has always had great vision when it comes to investing in economic development projects to help revitalize our community," said U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl. "I'm pleased that that the Senate approved this modest investment in these worthwhile projects."

As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Kohl got the funding included in the budget the committee passed in July. The full Senate approved the HUD budget with a vote of 88-7.

The $1.2 million will be split between three Milwaukee initiatives.

Most of it, $750,000, would go to the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee for the city-county effort to redevelop the 30th Street Industrial Corridor. Most of the site -- 82 acres -- is owned by the Milwaukee Industrial Trade Center LLC, a Milwaukee firm with the same ownership as Midwest Rail and Dismantling and Knapp Railroad Builder Inc.

The bill would also give $200,000 to the city's housing authority for its Convent Hill senior and affordable housing development. The money will pay for a green roof for the $15 million, 10-story project. Construction on the project started in July 2006.

The bill includes $250,000 for the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership/BIG STEP Center for Excellence to continue to renovate its new building on 3841 W. Wisconsin Ave.