The Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corp. will move its Milwaukee office to the Schlitz Park office complex. WWBIC has signed a lease for 9,000 square feet of space in the River Center building at 1555 River Center Drive in the former Schlitz brewery complex just north of downtown Milwaukee.
WWBIC’s Milwaukee office, which has 35 employees, is currently located at 2745 N. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in Milwaukee.
“We love that at Schlitz Park we will be in the heart of the community close to downtown and highways making us easily accessible to our employees and the many clients we serve,” said WWBIC President Wendy K. Baumann. “With our new space we’ll have the flexibility required to meet our expanding needs, including breakout rooms and a larger conference room, all in a beautiful setting with riverfront window views.”
For more than 25 years, WWBIC has served emerging and existing business owners. The organization works with men and women-owned businesses in all market sectors in any phase of development. Clients include start-ups, established entrepreneurs, expanding businesses and individuals. In 2013, WWBIC assisted nearly 720 businesses, provided $4.8 million in direct loans to 120 business owners and educated more than 3,000 people in classroom or individual sessions.
WWBIC is the latest of several tenants that have been added at Schlitz Park this year including: My Dwelling, HSA Bank, Readers Digest Association’s Enthusiast Brands division and UMB Fund Services.
The new tenants have been added as the third and final phase of a $34 million renovation and redevelopment project continues at Schlitz Park.
“WWBIC represents the best of the transformation taking place at Schlitz Park — new tenants moving in that are creating jobs and spurring business growth,” said Gary Grunau, Schlitz Park’s co-developer. “We look forward to WWBIC’s expanding presence here and the entrepreneurial and creative spirit that both their employees and clients bring.”
RFP Commercial Inc.’s Ned Purtell, partner, and Jenna Maguire, broker associate, representing Schlitz Park, and CBRE’s Kendall Phillips, brokerage services, representing WWBIC, negotiated the WWBIC Schlitz Park lease.
