Press Release: ICYMI: DOA Secretary-designee Blumenfeld Awards $235,000 for Milwaukee Coastal Projects

STATE OF WISCONSIN

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION

Tony Evers, Governor

Kathy Blumenfeld, Secretary-designee

ICYMI: DOA Secretary-designee Blumenfeld Awards $235,000 for Milwaukee Coastal Projects

Milwaukee, Wis. – On Friday, July 15, Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) Secretary-designee Kathy Blumenfeld, joined by representatives from the City of Milwaukee, Port Milwaukee, the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, and Wisconsin DNR, presented a total of $235,000 in coastal grant awards to Clean Wisconsin, Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful, and Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust. The awards were part of an overall $1.4 million investment previously announced by Governor Tony Evers for the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program.

 “The nearly 1,000 miles of our coastlines play a huge role in commerce, recreation, education, and simply making Wisconsin a great place to live, work, and play,” said DOA Secretary-designee Blumenfeld. “Sustainability and collaboration are critical for success both here in Milwaukee, and across the state, and it takes strong partnerships, targeted investments, and educational outreach to make a difference for the future.”

Commissioner Lafayette Crump accepted a $128,000 grant for the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee, for the Node development project. Commissioner Crump noted that not many Milwaukee residents get chance to touch the water on Lake Michigan, and this project will provide over 4,300 feet of public access. The project also includes plans to create 3,000 square feet of aquatic habitat and educational opportunities on the ecosystem of the Harbor and Great Lakes.

Clean Wisconsin received a $44,066 grant for ongoing green infrastructure in Milwaukee’s 30^th Street Industrial Corridor, an area hard-hit by the impacts of excess stormwater runoff and flooding. This newest grant will fund community outreach and events to engage the residents of the surrounding neighborhoods.

Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful received $38,075 to support the Milwaukee Waters Investigation project. The program connects a citywide beach and river cleanup and water quality testing event and a professional development day to Learn Deep’s 2022-2023 Fellows program. Educators will work with community partners on the design and implementation of water-focused learning experiences.

The $25,825 award to the Southeastern Wisconsin Watershed Trust will go to develop a program to engage the small business community in Milwaukee and Ozaukee counties on the importance of the local waterways.

A complete list of 2022 2023 awarded grants is available on the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program website and at this link: https://doa.wi.gov/DIR/Coastal_press-release-2023-grants.pdf.

About the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program

Since 1978, the WCMP has balanced natural resource protection and sustainable economic development along Wisconsin's Great Lakes coasts. The program awards federal funds from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office for Coastal Management in the U.S. Department of Commerce to local governments and other entities for innovative coastal initiatives.