Green Bay council recognizes Shipyard District after nonprofit testimony

The Green Bay Common Council on Feb. 4 unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the Shipyard District as a public-private partner, after hearing endorsements from neighborhood business leaders.

Charles Knight, executive director of Shipyard District Inc., told the council the nonprofit group formed three years ago to coordinate business and property owners along South Broadway and thanked city staff for help in establishing a working relationship with the city. "We want to move forward as good faith partners with the city," Knight said, citing efforts to address relocation of coal piles and improvements around the Mason Street bridge corridor.

The resolution was moved by Alder Johnson and seconded by Alder Galvin. Alder Johnson recounted several years of staff and stakeholder work, noting a transition among department directors and saying the current process now identifies how neighborhood business associations can gain the city's recognition. "It's exciting when you get a group of individuals that come together before the city's ready, and pushes us sometimes in those uncomfortable positions to create a process," Johnson said.

Mayor Genrich and council members expressed support; the council approved the resolution by voice vote. After the vote, council members and Shipyard District representatives posed for a brief photo at the mayor's invitation.

The action establishes formal acknowledgement of the Shipyard District and signals the council's intent to continue working with the nonprofit and Economic Development staff on revitalization projects along South Broadway. No budget appropriation or ordinance change was recorded with the resolution at the meeting.