Our Milwaukee is a business alliance that advocates for locally owned businesses that provide a genuine, quality experience – in celebration of our community’s unique character.
For every $1 you spend at a locally owned business, more than 68¢ remains in Milwaukee.
Locally owned businesses maintain Milwaukee’s unmistakable style. When you’re in Milwaukee, you know it!
What is a local business?
According to Our Milwaukee, a local business is an organization that is privately held and located in the metropolitan Milwaukee area. Local businesses have no corporate or national headquarters outside of Wisconsin and are able to make independent purchasing and branding decisions. Owners of Our Milwaukee member businesses must live and work within the metropolitan Milwaukee area.
Our Milwaukee also requires that its business members participate in community activities and assist local charities. These are the people and organizations that create a difference not only through their presence but also through their actions, helping to preserve Milwaukee's unique character and make it a great place to live!
Reasons to Buy Local
- Buy Local – Support Yourself
Several studies have shown that when you buy from an independent, locally owned business, rather than a nationally owned business, significantly more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms – continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community.
- Support Community Groups
Non-profit organizations receive an average of 250% more support from small business owners than they do from large businesses.
- Keep our Community Unique
Where we shop, where we eat and have fun – all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. Our tourism businesses also benefits. "When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace."
- Reduce Environmental Impact
Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town or city centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.
- Create More Good Jobs
Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community; providing the most jobs to residents.
- Get Better Service
Local businesses often hire people with better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers.
- Invest in the Community
Local businesses are owned by people who live in the community, are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.
- Put Your Taxes to Good Use
Local businesses in town centers require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make more efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.
- Buy What You Want, Not What Someone Wants You to Buy
A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term. A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.
- Encourage Local Prosperity
A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character.
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:: Our Milwaukee ::
 - President
Pam Mehnert
Outpost Natural Foods
- Vice President
Todd Leech
Beans and Barley
- Treasurer
Jim Schrimpf
Brewery Credit Union
- Secretary
Gordon Goggins
Diablos Rojos Restaurant Group
- Board Member
Ramie Camarena
Alterra Coffee
- Board Member
Tiffany Becker
Pabst/Riverside
- Board Member
Peter Adams
88Nine Radio Milwaukee
- Our Milwaukee
205 W. Highland Avenue Suite 501
Milwaukee, WI 53203
info@ourmilwaukee.net
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