Author: Correspondent

Milwaukee awarded $20M from HUD grant to increase affordable housing and address homelessness

Marcia L. Fudge, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced the allocation of nearly $5 billion in American Rescue Plan funds to help communities across the country create affordable housing and services for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. Nearly $90 million was awarded to regions across Wisconsin, with more than $20 million specifically for Milwaukee. Secretary Fudge released the news on April 12 during a Zoom call with U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and Birmingham, Alabama Mayor Randall Woodfin. The supplemental funding was allocated through the HOME...

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Milwaukee-area community organizations to receive part of $500,000 in emergency grants for racial equity

In early May, 24 organizations began receiving emergency grants that will total nearly $500,000, on behalf of the UW Credit Union Fund for Racial Equity. The Emergency funds were part of a larger $1.5 million investment in economic mobility. As a result of additional contributions from the United Way of Dane County and United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County earlier this year, the $250,000 earmarked by UW Credit Union to support emergency grants quickly doubled, resulting in one-time gifts totaling $10,000 for Milwaukee-area organizations and up to $30,000 for Dane County organizations. Of the 24 emergency grant...

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Sculpture Milwaukee invites the public to explore contemporary social issues through art in 2021 exhibit

Sculpture Milwaukee will return to the streets of downtown Milwaukee this summer for its fifth annual exhibition. Features for 2021 will include a dynamic roster of international artworks guest curated by Chicago-based artist Theaster Gates — described by the Tate Modern as “one of the world’s most influential living artists” — and Milwaukee-based artist Michelle Grabner, Crown Family Professor of Art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and recent recipient of a 2021 Guggenheim Fellowship. For the first time, Sculpture Milwaukee will present a titled exhibition, introduce a guest artist program featuring emerging artist Lauren Yeager,...

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MCC YouthBuild receives part of $11.1M grant from Bader Philanthropies to support community programs

The Milwaukee Christian Center (MCC) announced it was the recipient of a generous grant from Bader Philanthropies on May 6, coinciding with the celebration of its 100th anniversary of service to the Milwaukee community. MCC YouthBuild champions young adults aged 18 to 24 as they overcome challenges and move toward family-sustaining careers, through education and hands-on construction training while building homes for low-income families. Referred to as Opportunity Youth, the young adults who are not working and out of school have an opportunity to continue their personal growth. According to Milwaukee Succeeds, almost 19,000 young people in Milwaukee County...

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Veteran outreach program works to prevent suicides in Wisconsin communities with firearm safety initiative

The Captain John D. Mason Veteran Peer Outreach Program, in collaboration with the Southeastern Wisconsin Suicide Prevention Taskforce and BeThereWis.com, is bringing the Gun Shop Project and Safe Storage Program to local communities across Wisconsin. The program, developed by Safe Communities of Madison-Dane County, works with Wisconsin gun shops and ranges to provide two levels of support to the gun-owner community that address firearm suicides. Firearm safety: Gun shops will provide materials to customers and staff about suicide prevention and responsible firearm ownership developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), American Foundation on Suicide Prevention, and the VA....

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Wisconsin taxpayers saved $2.77B in renegotiated contract after Foxconn mostly abandoned its plans

Governor Tony Evers announced that the state had renegotiated its contract with Foxconn, the world’s largest electronics manufacturer, lowering the burden on taxpayers after the company failed to honor its contract agreements and public promises. The new agreement negotiated under Governor Evers between the Wisconsin Economic Development (WEDC) and Foxconn will save Wisconsin taxpayers a total of $2.77 billion compared to the previous contract, maintain accountability measures requiring job creation to receive incentives, and protect hundreds of millions of dollars in local and state infrastructure investments made in support of the project. “When I ran to be governor, I...

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