County Executive (title given in the meeting) and Department of Administrative Services economic development staff presented a Building Bridges small-business program that would pair $10,000 grants with a four-year, limited-term small business liaison to support brick-and-mortar businesses across Milwaukee County.

The initiative centers on a $200,000 Small Business Development Grant awarded to Milwaukee County by the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation and on leveraging a county economic development reserve that staff reported contains $639,278. The county executive said the program aims to “build bridges between small business entrepreneurs, small business support organizations, and municipalities seeking to fill commercial corridor spaces.”

Economic development Director Celia Benton said the WEDC award will fund $10,000 grants and that grants would be available and eligible in all 18 supervisory districts. Benton said the county reserve was established by the board in 2011 and that, if approved, a majority of the reserve would fund a single four-year limited-term small business liaison who would provide technical assistance, coordinate with municipalities and chambers of commerce, and pursue additional funding to continue the program beyond four years. Benton said the county has brought nearly $1 million in support to small businesses over the past five years and currently has $1.3 million in support through the Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation.

Supervisor questions focused on the source and ongoing funding for the reserve, reporting and geographic equity. Supervisor Logsdon asked for details about the “25% of all net revenue generated by the sale of county land” referenced in the resolution and how much land-sale revenue has gone into the reserve in recent years; staff said they would follow up with a breakdown and historical deposits. Deputy director Jim Moon explained the reserve was seeded during a period of larger land sales and that contributions have not continued at the same pace. Aaron Hertzberg, director of administrative services, said portions of land-sale proceeds had been used for other budget purposes in recent years and that staff would provide additional history.

Supervisors also pressed staff on program design: whether grants were available to nonprofits (Benton said grants are for for-profit businesses only), whether applications would be available in Spanish (Benton said the Spanish application was being finalized), and whether the liaison would be expected to speak additional languages (language ability would be a preferred qualification). Benton said staff expect the liaison to undertake outreach and marketing, keeping supervisors updated on district-level activity.

No formal action was taken by the committee at this meeting; staff and supervisors agreed the item will proceed to the Committee on Finance for recommendation. Several supervisors asked for annual reporting before transfers or payouts from the reserve and suggested an annual transfer approach rather than committing the entire reserve up front. Benton and administrative staff agreed to follow up on questions and to work with finance and personnel as appropriate.

Staff noted a deadline for the WEDC funds: the $200,000 grant must be expended by the end of 2026. Staff emphasized the grants are intended to support new or expanding brick-and-mortar businesses and to promote activation of commercial corridors in partnership with municipalities.

The committee’s discussion closed without a vote; staff committed to provide requested historical deposit details, reporting language, and clarifications to finance and personnel prior to any budget commitment.