Bob Bauman
A resident of his district for nearly three decades, Alderman Bob Bauman has served the 4th Aldermanic district since 2004, including the near west side, Marquette University, the lower east side, downtown, and the Third Ward. Bob brings a unique perspective.
Before he was elected to public office, he had a 27 year career as a practicing attorney and as the owner and manager of a start-up business on Milwaukee’s Northside.
He knows from multiple perspectives what is needed to spur development and create family supporting jobs.
In his role as the Co- Chair of the Joint Committee on the Redevelopment of Abandoned and Foreclosed Homes, Chair of the Public Works Committee, and as a member of the Zoning, Neighborhoods, and Development Committee, Bauman has overseen the city’s efforts to revitalize neighborhoods and authored many economic development initiatives that have created family supporting construction and permanent jobs.
For example, under his leadership, the Resident Preference Program (“RPP”) helps residents find work repairing and replacing city infrastructure.
In 2014, 2,791 previously unemployed or underemployed residents benefited. In fact, since the onset of the Great Recession in 2009, Bauman said the city has invested nearly $70 million in foreclosure mitigation and neighborhood revitalization.
“Using economic development tools such as Tax Incremental Financing helps us invest in real estate projects and infrastructure improvements throughout Milwaukee,” Johnny Thomas said Bauman.
“That creates thousands of family-supporting construction and permanent jobs.”
Other examples include the new Northwestern Mutual office tower downtown, which has already created 350 jobs under the Resident Preference Program for workers who were previously unemployed or underemployed, and has resulted in awards of over $103 million worth of contracts to Emerging Business Enterprises, many of which are owned by and employ people of color.
The city’s shining jewel is the Menomonee Valley, where 39 businesses have moved in or expanded during Bauman’s tenure on the City Council, creating 5,200 family supporting jobs.
“For years, the Menomonee Valley has seen a resurgence of investments and interest,” said Corey Zetts, executive director of Menomonee Valley Partners.
“Working collaboratively with community partners, residents and the City of Milwaukee, including Alderman Bauman, the Menomonee Valley is on the right track for future development and jobs.”
Bauman notes that projects downtown and in the valley employ hundreds of residents who live in neighborhoods across the city, and that the new Bucks arena and streetcar projects will create thousands of more opportunities for city residents through the Resident Preference Program.
“Both of these major projects will create thousands of construction jobs, 40 percent of which are required to go to city residents,” said Bauman, who fought hard to increase the requirement to that level. “And the deal for the arena includes $750,000 in job training, and the streetcar project includes a training program to prepare workers for careers in railway construction.”
It takes experience in business and government to ensure city residents have a fighting chance. Creating opportunity – that’s what Alderman Bob Bauman is fighting for every day.