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| Kenosha Area Business Alliance | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kenosha Area Business Alliance |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Kenosha, Wisconsin |
| Region served | Kenosha County |
| Leader title | President & CEO |
Kenosha Area Business Alliance is a regional nonprofit economic development and chamber of commerce organization serving Kenosha County, Wisconsin. It focuses on business attraction, retention, workforce development, and community partnerships, acting as a focal point for coordination among local governments, corporations, and civic institutions. The Alliance collaborates with educational institutions, trade associations, and philanthropic foundations to promote investment, job creation, and regional competitiveness.
The organization was formed through a consolidation that united legacy institutions including the Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, Kenosha County Economic Development Corporation, and local business improvement initiatives in the early 2010s. Its evolution paralleled civic efforts associated with the City of Kenosha, Village of Pleasant Prairie, and Town of Somers to respond to manufacturing shifts tied to firms such as Jockey International, American Motors Corporation, and InSinkErator (Emerson Electric) affiliates. Regional development strategies drew upon models from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Association of Commerce, Greater Milwaukee Committee, and Racine County Economic Development Corporation, while leveraging transportation assets like Union Pacific Railroad, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, and proximity to Interstate 94 and Lake Michigan shipping routes. Partnerships with workforce institutions mirrored collaborations involving University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Gateway Technical College, and Carthage College as well as regional initiatives like SEWRPC and the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission.
The Alliance is governed by a board of directors drawn from corporate leaders, municipal executives, and nonprofit CEOs including representation from companies such as Snap-on Incorporated, Kenosha Beef International, Baxter International, and Uline. Board structure and bylaws reflect nonprofit best practices observed in organizations like United Way of Kenosha County, Kenosha County Board of Supervisors, and regional philanthropic entities including the Kenosha Area Chamber Foundation and private family foundations such as those associated with the Bradley Family model. Executive leadership liaises with municipal mayors, including officials from Mayor of Kenosha, county administrators, and offices connected to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation. Committees coordinate finance, workforce, site selection, and public policy engagement in concert with partners such as Chamber of Commerce of the United States, National Association of Manufacturers, and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
Core programs include business retention and expansion visits, site selection assistance, and workforce pipelines developed with Workforce Development Board of Southeast Wisconsin, Wisconsin Technical College System, ApprenticeshipUSA, and employer partners like Uline and Bradshaw Medical. The Alliance administers incentive navigation in coordination with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, Racine-Kenosha Workforce Development Board, and municipal incentive tools modeled after programs in Milwaukee, Racine, and Chicago. Small business services align with resources from Small Business Administration, SCORE, and Main Street America initiatives, while export assistance connects to Export-Import Bank of the United States and trade missions referencing markets linked to Port of Milwaukee and Port of Chicago. Business counseling, talent attraction, and entrepreneurial support involve partnerships with Kenosha Innovation Neighborhood, Catalyst Kitchens, and university technology transfer offices like UW–Madison Office of Corporate Relations.
The Alliance has led initiatives targeting advanced manufacturing, logistics, and life sciences sectors, collaborating with companies such as Snap-on Incorporated, InSinkErator (Emerson Electric), Caterpillar, and Baxter International. Strategic corridors promoted by the Alliance include freight and supply chain linkages involving CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway, and regional intermodal assets connected to the Chicago metropolitan area's cargo network. Workforce initiatives target veterans through partnerships with Veterans Employment Services and re-skilling programs echoing models from Manufacturing Institute and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act frameworks. Place-making projects reference case studies from Riverwalk (Kenosha River) development, and tourism promotion coordinates with Visit Milwaukee, Travel Wisconsin, and cultural institutions such as the Kenosha Public Museums and Kemper Center for the Arts.
Membership spans small enterprises, family-owned firms, and multinational corporations, including representatives from Snap-on Incorporated, Uline, Bayshore Medical Center, Aurora Health Care (Aurora BayCare) affiliates, Theisen's Home Farm Auto, and logistics providers tied to FedEx and UPS. Retail and hospitality stakeholders include businesses linked to downtown Kenosha districts, HarborMarket, and hospitality groups that operate near attractions like Bear Brand Ranch and Kenosha HarborMarket. Institutional partners include University of Wisconsin–Parkside, Gateway Technical College, Carthage College, Kenosha Unified School District, Kenosha County Job Center, and local municipal governments across Kenosha County.
The Alliance engages in advocacy on taxation, workforce development funding, infrastructure investment, and regulatory reform, coordinating with statewide organizations such as Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, Wisconsin Technology Council, and the Wisconsin Counties Association. It has participated in legislative discussions with members of the Wisconsin State Legislature, federal delegations including offices associated with U.S. Representative Bryan Steil and U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson, and with municipal leaders from City of Kenosha and Village of Pleasant Prairie. Policy priorities mirror regional themes found in plans by Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission and federal funding mechanisms like Community Development Block Grant and Economic Development Administration programs.
The Alliance organizes and co-sponsors events such as site selection forums, workforce summits, ribbon-cuttings, and business expos held alongside partners like Kenosha Area Chamber of Commerce, Visit Lake Geneva initiatives, and community festivals at venues including Kenosha HarborMarket, Southport Park, and the Civic Center (Kenosha). Signature events foster connections among stakeholders from Milwaukee, Chicago, Racine, and national partners including U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Manufacturing Day observances. Community engagement extends to philanthropic collaboration with United Way of Kenosha County, arts programming with Kenosha Public Museums, and volunteer-driven initiatives coordinated with HandsOn Network affiliates.
Category:Organizations based in Kenosha County, Wisconsin