Food & Beverage Manufacturing

In the Milwaukee Region, you’ll find fertile ground to grow your business. Cost advantages in real estate, labor and utilities contribute to the region’s lower business costs compared with coastal metro areas and surrounding Midwest markets.

Today, 33% of the U.S. value of agricultural products is produced within a 500-mile radius of Milwaukee.  Wisconsin ranks 6th in the U.S. for the value of food shipments made. Wisconsin’s well-maintained transportation network reduces time to market. Our state is also home to some of the largest interstate trucking firms in the U.S. and efficient rail access to both coasts.

High Concentration of Talent that's Affordable
Within the food and beverage industry, the Milwaukee Region boasts the highest concentration of talent among the 50 largest U.S. metros.  The region's concentration of talent comes at a more competitive wage, ranking 13th lowest among major metros for average weekly wage.

Abundant Water, Lower Operating Costs
Located along Lake Michigan, the Milwaukee Region features an abundant, high-quality supply of fresh water to meet business demands. Water, sewer and electricity costs are lower than most Midwest markets.

A Leader in Research and Development
Area food and beverage producers benefit from being just 80 minutes from the University of Wisconsin-Madison which offers a premier food science program and several institutes to support the food industry, including the Food Research Institute.

Investment Credits & Incentives
The State of Wisconsin offers a variety of incentives to assist businesses with their expansion and relocation projects, including tax exemptions, credits and other special incentives, including TIF districts and enterprise zones. Counties, cities and communities also have financial resources and work aggressively to encourage economic development.
Specific state food and beverage investment credits include:

• Meat Processing Facility Investment Credits

• Food Processing and Food Warehouse Investment Credits
• Dairy Manufacturing Facility Investment Credits
  

Milwaukee 7 Food & Beverage Advisory Committee
The region's Food & Beverage Advisory Committee is helping develop deeper industry intelligence and build a stronger network of companies to facilitate strategic growth in the  region's food and beverage sector.