Building Advantage: Supporting developers from financing through construction

Even in the face of the pandemic, Milwaukee has seen steady growth and revitalization in its residential, office, and cultural buildings.

Projects like the Deer District have changed the way people work, live, and play in downtown Milwaukee. We are also seeing historic projects like the Couture and Wisconsin Center Expansion that will help to further transform the lakefront and the westside of downtown. These landmarks will once again prove that Milwaukee is a world-class city with even more opportunities for development in the coming years.

As a developer, you have the vision for what a space could be, and the access to capital to make it happen, but sometimes obstacles can get in the way. Building Advantage and our partners are the answer to getting your project financed, staffed, constructed, and completed.

We work with local, state, and federal officials to help you win support and approval of your project and help you secure financing. Next, our member contractors and local labor unions will partner with you to complete your project on time and on budget.

Our partners know the hiring requirements and demands needed for city projects. We have trusted partnerships with the trades and WRTP|BIG STEP. We’ll connect you with the right contractors to meet your project’s hiring goals and requirements.

Right now, there are hiring challenges across every industry, however, our partners have an extensive pipeline of candidates. This workforce infrastructure is already supporting increased demand and has a capacity for more growth.

For local unions, being a strong community partner also means being willing to financially back specific projects. Several years ago, the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT) financed $42.4 million with union pension funds to help finance the construction of the $56.7 million Moderne project.

More recently, we again saw the HIT invest $104.5 million to secure Barrett Lo’s $191 million Couture project. This is in addition to the partnership from the local Building Trades United Pension Trust Fund, whose investment helped close the gap and get this project moving for the City and the region.

The union construction industry has the experience and expertise necessary to overcome any obstacle and they’re ready to start building your next project

Building Advantage is here to be a full-service resource for developers looking to build in Southeast Wisconsin. Learn more about us and our partners on our website: buildingadvantage.org.

 

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Chris Mambu Rasch, Executive Director at Building Advantage
Chris is the executive director of Building Advantage. He advances the interests of union contractors and tradespeople in the Greater Milwaukee Area. By partnering with industry stakeholders and community leaders, Chris ensures that Building Advantage is at the forefront of crucial construction industry initiatives including workforce, business and economic development.

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