City of Milwaukee - File #: 101375

• File #: 101375
• Version: 2
• Type: Resolution
• Status: Passed
• File created: 3/1/2011
• In control: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
• Final action: 5/3/2011
• Title: Substitute resolution appropriating $250,000 from the Development Fund to Sweet Water Organics for economic development purposes, in the 14th Aldermanic District.
• Sponsors: ALD. ZIELINSKI, ALD. BAUMAN, ALD. KOVAC, ALD. WADE, James N. Witkowiak
• Indexes: DEVELOPMENT FUND, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
5/10/2011	2	MAYOR	SIGNED
5/3/2011	2	COMMON COUNCIL	ADOPTED	Pass	14:1
4/26/2011	1	COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	SUBSTITUTED; Minutes note: Individuals present: Amy Hefter - Legislative Reference Bureau Mike Mervis - Zilbar LTD James Godsil - Sweet Water Co Founder Josh Fraundorf - Sweet Water Organic President Emanuel Pratt - Sweet Water Foundation Dean Amhauz - Milwaukee Water Council Martha Brown - Dept of City Development Proposed sub A was presented by Ald. Zielinski. There were no objections. Ald. Witkowski moved to hold this item one cycle. Motion failed 3 noes, 1 ayes and 1 abstain Alds. Wade and Witkowiak requested to be added as co sponsors to this resolution. There were no objections. Ald. Davis moved, that in addition to the job requirements for this forgivable loan, Sweet Water Organics shall submit to the City documentation showing that, over the entire term of the loan, Sweet Water Organics has made at least a 50% (i.e., at least $125,000) match for the requested forgivable loan amount. Prevailed 5-0	Pass	5:0
4/26/2011	2	COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	RECOMMENDED FOR ADOPTION	Pass	5:0
4/20/2011	1	COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/20/2011	1	COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
4/4/2011	1	COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR; Minutes note: Individuals present: Yves LaPierre - DCD Sweet Water Organic representatives: Josh Fraundrof - President & Co-Founder James Godsil - VP/Co-Founder David Baldus - President & Founder of Front Porch Pets, Inc. Ald. Zielinski moved to accept as part of the record the Sweet Water Organics - Grow Zone Expansion and Operating Expenses document provided by Mr. Fraundrof. There were no objections.	Pass	4:0
3/29/2011	0	COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
3/29/2011	0	COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE	HEARING NOTICES SENT
3/1/2011	0	COMMON COUNCIL	ASSIGNED TO

Number
101375
Version
SUBSTITUTE 2
Reference

Sponsor
ALD. ZIELINSKI, BAUMAN, KOVAC, WADE AND WIKOWIAK
Title
Substitute resolution appropriating $250,000 from the Development Fund to Sweet Water Organics for economic development purposes, in the 14th Aldermanic District.
Analysis
This resolution authorizes the expenditure of $250,000 from the Development Fund in the form of a forgivable loan to Sweet Water Organics to assist in a “Milwaukee Grow Zone” development project.
Body
Whereas, The 2011 Capital Budget for the City of Milwaukee provides for the Development Fund; and

Whereas, The City has an ongoing commitment to job retention and creation; and

Whereas, Sweet Water Organics is an urban farm that has re-purposed an unused industrial building in Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood; and

Whereas, Virtually all of the product grown and raised at Sweetwater and sold to city vendors such as Empire Fish, La Marenda, and many others, creates a 2.75 economic multiplier factor in the work force; and

Whereas, Future production would meet additional demand requested by such vendors as Roundy’s, Metcalfe/Sentry and SURG Restaurant Group; and

Whereas, These products are sold to retail outlets where they generate additional jobs and tax revenue and are making the city a recognized worldwide leader in the aquaponics industry as Sweetwater’s numerous appearances in the national and international media attest; and

Whereas, Sweetwater was one of 24 winners of the IBM Smaller Cities Challenge Grant, chosen from over 200 cities in 40 countries world-wide attesting to the power of its business concepts to attract global attention; and

Whereas, Numerous Milwaukee companies, foundations and educational entities (Great Lakes Water Institute, UWM, and MSOE, for example) are working with Sweetwater to expand its capacity and to assist it in patenting and licensing its products and operating trade secrets; and

Whereas, Sweet Water Organics has provided the yell...