When you think “water,” Milwaukee wants you to think, well, Milwaukee. Sitting on the shores of 20 percent of the world’s freshwater supply, “water is a part of our history, our culture,” says Mayor Tom Barrett. During his tenure, he’s worked to position Milwaukee as not so much of a Rust Belt city as one that’s on “America’s Fresh Coast.”
Milwaukee has a history of spawning freshwater-related businesses and research because of its location on Lake Michigan. Today, thanks to a network of public-private partnerships, the city is globally recognized as a leader in freshwater technology and research. Businesses, universities and government agencies are coming together in the Water Technology District, an innovation hub that is transforming Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood, in more ways than one.