Approved unanimously. Company wants to move quickly on occupying Westown building. By Jeramey Jannene - May 4th, 2021 11:51 am //end headline wrapper ?>501 Building. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
The Milwaukee Tool deal went from controversial to quiet in a week.
The Milwaukee Common Council unanimously approved a tax incremental financing package Tuesday morning that grants the company up to $20 million in exchange for bringing 2,000 jobs to the five-story office building at 501 W. Michigan St.
None of the 15 members spoke about the deal, a stark change from the nearly four-hour public hearing the project was subject to last week before the Zoning, Neighborhoods & Development Committee.
A plan to provide up to $20 million in city financing for Milwaukee Tool s new downtown office, which could have up to 2,000 employees, received another important public approval Tuesday.
But, for the second time in two weeks, that came only after organized labor groups said the financing proposal should include a side agreement on wages, benefits and working conditions for janitors and other employees of outside vendors at the future office.
The Common Council s Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee voted 4-0, with Ald. Milele Coggs abstaining, to recommend approval of the proposal.
The full council is to review the proposal at its May 4 meeting.
Council seeking labor agreement for contracted service workers. By Jeramey Jannene - Apr 24th, 2021 03:40 pm //end headline wrapper ?>Milwaukee Tool rendering for 501 W. Michigan St. Rendering by Stephen Perry Smith.
Next week the Milwaukee Common Council will begin its review of the Milwaukee Tool financing proposal that would bring up to 2,000 jobs to the Westown neighborhood in exchange for $20 million in city cash as part of a complicated, performance-based tax incremental financing district.
But it’s not what’s in the deal that has raised concern from council members, it’s what is
not in it. A labor group is pushing for a community benefits agreement to establish pay assurances and job protection for the contracted service workers that will support the office facility at 501 W. Michigan St.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said it would be a serious mistake for the city not to approve plans for a new Milwaukee Tool office downtown.
Barrett encouraged the Common Council in a letter Friday to move forward with Milwaukee Tool s proposal because of the message it would send to the business community. Pushing Milwaukee Tool away would be a serious mistake and a major disappointment, Barrett wrote in the letter.
Brookfield-based Milwaukee Tool has plans to buy and renovate a five-story, 350,000-square-foot office building at 501 W. Michigan St. The company is seeking up to $20 million in city financing for the new office that would have up to 2,000 employees.