The Northwest Side Community Development Corporation (NWSCDC) was founded in 1983 with the
mission of improving the business environment of Milwaukee's Northwest side through
community economic development. The NWSCDC was the first business incubator in Milwaukee and
experimented with new forms of economic growth to rebuild the neighborhood's economy. The
NWSCDC was originally created as a economic development support program for the Northwest
Side Community Alliance. However, the NWSCDC and Alliance's interests increasingly separated
and the NWSCDC broke away from the Alliance in 1983. In 1984 the NWSCDC found a home for
their offices in an old fire station on Villard Avenue. In 1986, the NWSCDC renovated the
fire house turning it into a community center and art gallery as a demonstration of support
and renewal for the Northwest side. The fire station officially reopened in 1987. The NWSCDC
has a Board of Directors who prioritize the Executive Director's role and oversee the
overall administration.
The Northwest Industrial Council (NIC) was one of NWSCDC's first economic development
programs. Formed in 1985, the NIC was comprised of a group of large industries in the
Villard Village area working to attract and retain new businesses. NIC offered educational
programs primarily through their annual conferences and special workshops for neighborhood
businesses. They also worked to build neighborhood partnerships through mentoring and job
creation activities. Another major activity the NIC undertook was business planning and
retention surveys for the economic development of the Northwest side.
The NWSCDC established their MetroWorks program in 1986, the first business incubator of
its kind in Milwaukee. MetroWorks assists in building new businesses through the purchase
and reuse of properties on the Northwest side. They subsequently recruit and assist with the
establishment of small businesses through financial support; primarily through their
revolving loan fund system. The success of the MetroWorks program led to the establishment
of MetroWorks II in 1990 and MetroWorks III in 1991.
Another successful economic development program the NWSCDC established was the Villard
Avenue Redevelopment Project. The Villard Avenue Redevelopment Project was dedicated to
rebuilding and organizing the Villard Avenue Merchant's Association. They also obtained
low-interest loans for the improvement of Villard businesses and purchased property for
renovation and resale. Another goal of the project was the revitalization of the Villard
Village business community. Moreover, the Villard Avenue project developed community
building through events such as, Villard Village Days, a halloween parade, and street
festivals.
In addition to the NWSCDC's emphasis on economic development, they established many
programs dedicated to improving the needs of the community. In 1988, the NWSCDC established
their Youth As Resources program, dedicated to the development and education of the youth in
the Northwest side. The YouthBuild project trained high school students and high school
dropouts in construction skills through renovating properties on the Northwest side. The
NWSCDC also established community programs such as the Northwest Opportunities Center and
Quality Hire with the initiatives of neighborhood preservation and job placement. NWSCDC
also strove to improve the community by reducing crime through such programs as the Drug
Abatement Program, Mobile Watch, and joining in the Wisconsin Against Drug Environments
project. The NWSCDC also helped build the NorthwestOpportunities Vocational Academy (NOVA),
analternative high school on Milwaukee's Northwest side.
As of 2007 the NWSCDC continues to be active and holds the vision that the Northwest side
will become the preferred destination in Milwaukee for business and residents.
