RIVERWORKS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
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Mission Statement
Riverworks Development Corporation drives social and economic development by aligning residents and businesses with specialized resources that strengthen Harambee, Riverwest and the surrounding communities.
About This Cause
Once a thriving industrial corridor, Harambee and Riverwest were devastated by the exodus of major national corporations in the 1970s and 80s. Visionary, collaborative leadership was needed to battle this dramatic divestment and its impact on housing, jobs, safety, and social bonds. Since 1992, Riverworks Development Corporation (Riverworks) has spearheaded the revival of these neighborhoods, attracting millions of dollars of local and national corporate and philanthropic investment, and some of the top technical expertise in the country. Riverworks key initiatives focus on people, place and prosperity. * The Financial Clinic annually helps 700 individuals to reach their full financial potential through one-on-one financial coaching and free tax services. * Through the Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District (NID), Riverworks works with residents and partners to improve the quality of life for residents through housing, safety and the physical environment. * Riverworks is driving a multi-sector collaborative initiative focused on the development of a catalytic, multi-use recreational and economic green space where the historic “Beerline” railway railroad once ran. The railroad right-of-way lays diagonally across the vibrant Milwaukee neighborhoods of Harambee and Riverwest, and is expected to drive community and economic transformation in these divested communities and beyond. The Beerline Trail serves to connect future trail expansions in the central city of Milwaukee to the existing trail network, including the Oak Leaf Trail and Hank Aaron State Trail. * Riverworks serves hundreds of businesses annually through its Business Development Hub which helps grow businesses and spur economic growth through training and technical assistance. * Riverworks Cleans is a workforce program focused on improving Milwaukee through trash pick-up, graffiti removal, landscaping, light pole painting and snow removal. Additionally, Riverworks Laundry offers a clean, affordable laundry services. * Riverworks identifies catalytic real estate development opportunities that would only be possible with the intervention of a community development agency. To date, Riverworks has completed $11.6M in development, including two commercial projects and 30 affordable housing units. Recent Successes Financial Clinic: Provides innovative solutions to help families, individuals and small businesses reach their full potential by increasing credit scores, building wealth, and learning new ways to achieve short and long-term financial goals. The Clinic accomplishes this through one-on-one financial coaching, group-based education, free tax preparation services, debt management, planning, goal setting, building banking relationships, and other referral resources. In 2021, the Financial Clinic unveiled their newly expanded space at 518 E Concordia Avenue (formerly THE VIBE); in addition, the Clinic team grew to include 5 full time staff and an AmeriCorps member. With this growth, the Financial Clinic was able to work with more residents on their financial goals. 88 clients received one-on-one financial coaching services; 1,375 individuals were referred to financial resources and programs through the Financial Navigator Program; and approximately 1,000 individuals were assisted in preparing and submitting their tax returns through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. Neighborhood Development & Creative Placemaking: Collaborates with residents and other stakeholders to create a vibrant community that reflects the culture and values of the Harambee and Riverwest neighborhoods. This includes activating and revitalizing public spaces, such as the Beerline Trail, with art and culture, facilitating community improvement and safety projects, and connecting residents and homeowners to resources - including those available through the Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District (NID) #7. In 2021, residents engaged in the Beerline Shuffle, Music on the Beerline, the 53212Marketplace series, neighborhood clean ups, and other events that unite the Harambee and Riverwest communities. Riverworks completed over 1,300 housing surveys in the Harambee neighborhood to address blighted properties and encourage residents to apply for funding for home repair. The Harambee Quality of Life Plan brought together community stakeholders and residents to begin planning phases for a plan to improve the neighborhood and resident quality of life. The Beerline Trail Neighborhood Development Project continued to ensure the next phases of trail development serve the needs of the community, and that other development inspired by and centered around the trail benefits residents equitably. Prior to the Beerline Trail Neighborhood Development Project efforts, this corridor was significantly impacted by blight, disinvestment, and a lack of perceived safety. Business Development HUB: Provides technical assistance to local entrepreneurs and businesses. Our business specialist provides business coaching and strategic budgeting sessions to help find funding and grant opportunities that fit their needs. Services available to businesses include property/business beautification strategies, security initiatives, marketing & promotional opportunities, and business planning. We connect property owners and entrepreneurs/small businesses to physical space and provide each entrepreneur with our network of partners and educational opportunities. In 2021, the Business Development HUB received a major, multi-year donation from Wells Fargo to increase services to small businesses and entrepreneurs; this funding allowed the HUB to grow its team. With additional staffing, the HUB assisted 96 businesses in starting, growing, marketing, and funding their ventures. Through the Bounceback Grant, the HUB assisted 28 businesses in receiving a total $280,000 to fund leasing of commercial spaces. Through the Riverwest Business Improvement District (BID) #25, the HUB assisted 4 businesses/organizations in receiving a total of $27,650 in Property Improvement grants and Safety & Security grants. Riverworks Cleans: Hires community members who have barriers to employment through this social enterprise program. They serve the community by cleaning up sidewalks and curbs, vacant lots and commercial districts. Services include litter and graffiti removal, event set up, minor landscaping, streetscape maintenance, and returning stolen property. Contracts include private businesses, BIDS, and the City of Milwaukee. In 2021, Riverworks Cleans collected 4,053 bags of litter, emptied 1,235 trash cans, returned 384 shopping carts, and removed 22 graffiti tags in 9 Milwaukee Business Improvement Districts. Riverworks Cleans also completed 1,256 illegal dump work orders issued by the City of Milwaukee, resulting in 6,049 cubic yards of debris, removed from city owned properties. Real Estate Development: Leads catalytic residential and commercial projects which have a positive economic and social impact on the community. The four core values are: create jobs, stabilize the tax base, repurpose vacant & blighted properties, and generate revenue for RDC’s programs. The Riverworks City Center, completed in 2018, houses the offices for RDC staff, as well as the Riverworks Coin Laundry, a rotating Whitebox space for local businesses, the Beerline Trail Food Court, and a spaced rented by Family Dollar. The Riverworks Lofts, completed in 2012, has one- and two- bedroom loft-style apartments on the intersection of Holton and Townsend. The Riverworks Commons, completed in 2004, is a shopping center on Capitol Drive with 21,000 feet of retail space. In 2021, ground was broken on a green infrastructure project that will be completed in 2022 - The Beerline Plaza. The Plaza will be located at the Riverworks City Center, and will be a public place for events, music, art and much more. RDC also purchased the building and started construction on the Connector Building Project, which will have a multi-use community space and cafe adjacent to the Beerline Trail.