What We Do
The Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation provides low interest loans to Milwaukee businesses working in partnership with a bank. MEDC's approach to lending revolves around two fundamental principles:
1. sharing risk with all participants in a project, and
2. lending in partnership with private sector financial institutions
We are unique in that MEDC assesses risk similar to conventional lenders; however, MEDC will lend its funds at a higher risk level to increase feasibility of a project. With all its loan program, MEDC supports and assists minority, and women-owned businesses.
MEDC also works in collaboration with the City of Milwaukee and the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee (RACM) to assist with the development and environmental remediation of commercial and industrial properties. A number of resources are available to assist in locating properties, in financing and funding environmental cleanup.
The Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation's mission is to aid business expansion to grow our economy through the creation and retention of jobs and by increasing the property tax base. The corporation uses its loan capital to provide business loans and assist in the financing of projects that achieve that objective.
Formed in 1971, MEDC has been a participating lender in thousands of investment projects in the Milwaukee area. Taken together these projects have generated over a billion dollars of new investment and thousands of jobs for Milwaukee residents. The MEDC commitment to continuous improvement has made it possible for us to annually increase the number of businesses we serve. In addition, working with area banks for over 35 years, the MEDC loan fund has grown to over $60 million, making it possible to serve a much wider range of businesses, both large and small.
Oversight of the corporation's activities is provided by a Board of Directors made up of Milwaukee area business people and lenders, with day to day governance delegated to the Board's Executive Committee. All loans are reviewed and approved by our Loan & Finance Committee and land investments are reviewed and approved by the Land Resource Committee.
MEDC is audited annually by Virchow & Krause Company LLP. Audit information is available upon request.
Click here to download the list of the MEDC Board of Directors
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