Who We Are

It’s a specific area in a city that receives extra funding from the City of Milwaukee to undertake improvements or beautification efforts that improve the environment for all businesses in that location. We are one of more than 30 other BIDs in Milwaukee that operate according to Wisconsin State Law. 

Our district encompasses West North Avenue between N. 60th Street and W. Sherman Blvd. and along West Lisbon Ave, between N. 52nd Street and N. 45th Street. See the map below. If you operate a business in this area you are automatically a member of BID 16 and benefit from our services. There is no association fee. 

An executive director along with a volunteer board of directors acts in accordance with its bylaws to an Operating Budget each year that proposes how to spend the money received from the City of Milwaukee and follows it up with an Annual Report that summarizes how we met those goals. 

Lots of stuff. If you already own a business in our district, you have access to grant funding that can help you beautify your storefront or update signage. We keep you in the loop about a variety of state and local grants that become available and we connect you to small business resources that help your business thrive. We also plan events and activities to help draw customers to the business corridor as well as maintain plantings, street furniture, seasonable decorations, light pole banners,  trash receptacles and street cleaning.

If you are looking to start a new business in our district, you may be eligible for money from the City of Milwaukee’s Commercial Corridor Team to renovate a space that was previously vacant. 

Heck yeah! BID 16 Uptown Crossing relies on feedback from businesses, commercial property owners and local residents to develop plans that suit our community. You can join any monthly meeting or volunteer on a regular basis. 

As an active member of the City, BID 16 is always looking for ways to partner with local and state agencies to explore new opportunities. In 2019, we published a Community Design and Development Charette in partnership with UW-Milwaukee. New businesses and developers are encouraged to read this Charette and contact Executive Director Tracy Staedter with any questions at info@uptowncrossing.com.

In 2016, BID 16 Uptown Crossing participated in The City of Milwaukee’s WIS 175 Visioning Study, done in coordination with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, to discuss long-term visions for the intersection where the Stadium Freeway (WIS 175) terminates at Lisbon Avenue. The final report, published in 2017, can be accessed here.