City of Milwaukee officials recently approved re-zoning to allow non-profit urban farm organization Growing Power Inc. to build a five-story building at 5500 W. Silver Spring Dr. for classrooms, offices, food and fish growing space, a demo kitchen, a retail food outlet and food processing space.
Growing Power and its president and chief executive officer, Will Allen, have received national attention for Allen’s efforts to create sustainable urban farms that provide healthy food for lower income individuals in areas, such as inner city neighborhoods, that have a lack of grocery stores. The organization works to provide neighborhood-based sustainable agricultural education.
As a result of its success, Growing Power says it needs more space to support production, classes, meetings, meal preparation, offices and on-site warehousing.