As part of the Request for Proposals for the Agricultural Development & Diversification Grant Program, this letter is to inform you of the City of Milwaukee’s support for the proposed Urban Aquaculture Center (UAC).
Proposers of the UAC have met with my staff at the City of Milwaukee’s Department of City Development on a couple of occasions presenting a plan that includes both production and education in aquaculture and related sciences. The primary purpose of the UAC is to act as a resource that exposes the community to the potential of sustainable aquaculture in an urban environment. The UAC proposers and the City of Milwaukee have not identified a 5-acre parcel for the proposed development, but are currently working towards that end.
In April 2005, Mayor Tom Barrett brought together over 80 Milwaukeeans to identify opportunities for the City to become more ‘green.’ This effort resulted in a number of objectives for the City including the stimulation of a green economy in the City of Milwaukee. This proposal would partially meet this objective and, consequently, the City is requesting additional information from the proposer to determine the economic viability of the project.
Mayor Barrett and the Department of City Development are extremely interested in this important project for the City of Milwaukee. The City is trying to identify financial resources that could assist in this project moving forward and would appreciate any financial assistance the State of Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection can provide.
Sincerely,
Rocky Marcoux
Commissioner
City of Milwaukee
Department of City Development