Strategic Framework

The Milwaukee 7 undertook a strategic planning effort to define the region’s competitive advantages and target markets. To ensure that we are using our resources wisely, and to ensure a workable long-range plan, the Milwaukee 7 developed a strategic
framework to define our strategic advantages and determine who can benefit most from them, giving us specific industry targets.

• To see the Strategic Framework presentation from the May 30, 2007, Milwaukee 7 Council meeting, click here.
  
  
• To view the vision video from the meeting, click here.
   
  
• A PDF of the handout from the meeting outlining the Strategic Framework is available here.

Developing a Strategic Framework

The Milwaukee 7 set out to create a vision for the Region and a plan to get there.  We drew on the broad context of our regional partners, conducted hundreds of interviews and involved hundreds more to develop a strategic framework.  A few consistent themes emerged:

• Companies, counties and cities are not enough; we will succeed or fail as a region
• We cannot afford the deep gaps in prosperity - between city and suburb; dowtown and rural; minority and majority; and those without eductation and hope and those with skills and a home
• Real opportunity exists in our Region and it is evidenced through differentiating, place-based assets
• Success will be dependent on our ability to leverage innovation

We have defined regional assets as those that are fundamental to, or pose unique opportunity for, the Region's long-term prosperity.  These include:

• Fresh water location
• Chicago/Madison connection
• Infrastructure
• Arts and entertainment
• Great Lakes trade zone
• Innovation capacity
• Cultural diversity
• Experienced and educated talent

Assessing Export Drivers

The Milwaukee 7 Region produces a gross metropolitan product of nearly $78 billion, from 50,000 business establishments that employ one million people. 

Roughly one-third of those one million jobs drives the export of goods and services beyond our regional borders, thereby creating new income for the Region.  These "export drivers" power our economy.  For every job in the driver category, conservatively one other job is created to support that job.  The direct and indirect spending from these 600,000 jobs generates another 400,000 jobs that support the Region - from dentists to drycleaners and teachers to technicians.

Top regional export driver industries include: Manufacturing (173,305 jobs, $8.7 billion payroll), Financial Services (49,871 jobs, $2.9 billion payroll), Headquartered Companies/Management (20,148 jobs, $1.7 billion payroll) and Information Technology (12,770 jobs, $885 million payroll).

Mapping Opportunity Zones

The opportunities created by aligning export drivers with our assets will produce specific strategies for driver industries and build a regional agenda.  For example, in manufacturing, the Region is home to a large number of "Next Generation" manufacturers.  These firms are technology driven, innovative, lean and agile.  Many employ workers with higher skills and productivity and increasingly are using a more sophisticated level of technology. 

These firms present opportunities for growth, and their needs are well matched to the assets of the Region.  The needs include:

• An experienced workforce
• A critical mass of interconnected enterprises
• A strong infrastructure
• Relative cost parity
  
• Global reach
  

The Strategic Framework will also allow us to assess emerging, global trends.  Unique opportunities such as clean and green technologies, advances in biotechnology and water research present new and exciting prospects to be a front-runner in these fields, creating new driver industries for long-term sustained growth.

developing a strategic Regional Agenda

To develop the full Regional Agenda, we must stop, keep and start doing the right things:

STOP:
Becoming trapped by our challenges and holding the 'best kept secret' that is the Milwaukee Region

CONTINUE:
Building on our assets and working for a completitive cost of doing business

START:
Building alignment around regional solutions and for issues like transportation, water and talent