Preparing Communities for Data Center Development

As data center development expands across Wisconsin and the Midwest, communities are increasingly being approached by developers seeking land, electricity, and water. While these projects can bring significant investment, they also raise complex questions related to zoning, infrastructure capacity, public finance, and environmental impacts.

Economic Impact of Eco Tourism: Year-round Destinations

An Innovative Cities Lecture Local events play a powerful role in strengthening city economies, generating activity from day trips to overnight stays. This session highlights how two Wisconsin communities attract visitors, host more than 80 events annually, and measure both …

Transit Priority: Improving Public Transit Through Collaboration

An Innovative Cities Lecture The Milwaukee Priority One Transportation Initiative is a bold, collaborative effort to improve regional mobility, connect workers to jobs, and ensure equitable access to opportunity across Milwaukee. This initiative prioritizes innovative transit solutions—such as on-demand workforce …

Marketplaces: Where Food Access, Health, and Economic Impacts Grow

An Innovative Cities Lecture Explore how public marketplaces—from farmers markets to food halls, and many more in between, provide social, economic, and health benefits; they are so much more than just a market.  Learn about the evolving ecosystem of market …

Placemaking in Action: Building Vibrant Communities

An Innovative Cities Lecture Creating vibrant and engaging communities helps communities recruit and retain residents, supports public gathering places in the heart of our communities, and fosters community connections. Learn about the WEDC Vibrant Communities grant and how projects create …

Mobilizing Regions: Workforce Rideshare and Regional Transit

An Innovative Cities Lecture Columbus and Milwaukee are illustrating how innovative transit solutions can strengthen regional connectivity, expand access to opportunity, and serve as models for communities nationwide.  Since 1992, MobiliSE has championed innovative ways to connect Southeast Wisconsin through …

Street Smart: Measuring the Impact of Complete Streets

The Innovative Cities Lecture Series Presentation by Mike Amsden, City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works Multimodal Transportation Manager, and James Hannig, Community Planning Manager with Michael Baker International. Lecture Summary Both Milwaukee and Detroit have enacted Complete Streets policies …

Renewable Energy and Clean Transportation for Sustainable Cities

The Innovative Cities Lecture Series “Renewable Energy and Clean Transportation for Sustainable Cities” presentation by Jodi Amble, Deputy Director of RENEW Wisconsin, and Ben Behlke, Clean Energy Manager for RENEW Wisconsin. Lecture Summary Renew Wisconsin has been advocating for clean energy …

Community Engaged Art

“Community Engaged Art” presentation by Deshea Agee, Vice President of Emem Group, and Nathan Mattimoe, Art in Public Places Director for The Arts Commission in Toledo, OH. Lecture Summary Learn how the leaders in Toledo, Ohio, and the Bronzeville District in …

Parks for everyBODY: Moving Beyond Accessibility to Universally Inclusive Parks

The Innovative Cities Lecture Series “Parks for everyBODY: Moving Beyond Accessibility to Universally Inclusive Parks” presentation by Damian Buchman, co-founder of The Opportunity Center, Inc. and founder and Executive Director of The Ability Center. Lecture Summary While the intent of public …