Milwaukee Marriott
323 E Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202

Continuing Education: EDFP, CEcD: 1 Point

3 AICP CM Course: #9175308

Course Objective: Impart intermediate level planning and evaluation concepts and implementation processes/ideas to equip attendees with an awareness and confidence level around effective redevelopment strategies they can use in their community.

Partner Associations: Members of Mid-America EDC, APA-WI, League of Wisconsin Municipalities and CARW receive a discount off the non-member rate. Contact your association for the discount promo code.

Course Description:

This course will provide attendees with a framework for the redevelopment process, whether it is for one building, a city block or an entire business district. Content will be presented along three main components of strategy:  1) The inspiration/vision for the redevelopment. We will discuss drivers of redevelopment including blight elimination, business expansion, sprawl prevention, resilience, and historic preservation.  We will explore when, why and how to engage the public and what could happen without public engagement (the right kind at the right time).  We will delve into the importance of leadership (types and sources) to drive the vision. 2) Methods and processes for evaluating the project to ensure positive impacts financially, politically and socially.  This section will walk attendees through fiscal and economic impact analysis of redevelopment projects.  We will discuss political pitfalls and challenges, including the expense vs. goals of redevelopment and long-term, less easily measured gains, and finding a balance between new construction and historic preservation.  We will also touch on social goals/outcomes of redevelopment vs. lack of action. 3) Steps to effective implementation of redevelopment strategies – from vision to completion.  This portion of the session will include effective communication tips, financial tools to aid the process and ways to celebrate the history and future of the redevelopment subject area.  We will also discuss why plans don’t get implemented. Presenters will provide classroom style presentations with impactful case study examples.  Attendees will be engaged in hands-on activities which will better equip them for learning and using content in their own communities. Optional Workshop: Following the formal program, interested participants are invited to stay for a 30-minute brainstorming discussion about redevelopment projects in their communities.

Our Instructors

Kristen Fish-Peterson, CEcD, Principal/CEO Redevelopment Resources

Kristen’s work through Redevelopment Resources focuses on bringing results to businesses and communities through proactive commercial real estate development and redevelopment, market analysis, creative financing, tax incremental financing district creation and implementation, organizational structure consulting and business recruitment/retention.  Equipping communities with the tools to solve their economic challenges drives the work of the firm.

Notable projects include creation of a Downtown and Riverfront Revitalization Initiative for a client community in which she is currently serving in the capacity of the Executive Director for the Redevelopment Authority (on contract).  Under her leadership, the RDA recently acquired six commercial buildings (without invoking eminent domain) on Main Street with plans to demolish them and create a Town Square, attracting commercial and multi-family residential development on an adjacent city-owned surface parking lot on the banks of the Rock River. In other communities she has led the client through the process of obtaining control of blighted buildings and/or transitioning them to their end user as revitalized and productive properties

John F. Stibal, Development Department Director, City of West Allis, WI

As the City of West Allis Director of Development, John has guided the city’s redevelopment, economic development, city planning, and housing efforts for nearly 30 years. He has successfully led the West Allis Department of Development utilizing his skills as a collaborator, negotiator and community promoter, to retain and attract key businesses, secure new projects, redevelop blighted properties and induced the creation of family supporting jobs. His efforts have facilitated over a billion dollars in private investment on behalf of West Allis.

John also serves as President of First-ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise, Inc. (FIRE) which has deployed over $275 million in New Market Tax Credit capital that provides equity financing to businesses in the four county areas in southeastern Wisconsin. Under this initiative, he has also been at the forefront of deploying New Market Tax Credits to redevelopment projects that improve distressed neighborhoods by financing over 2,500,000 ft.² in business developments (nearly 1,500,000 ft.² were Brownfield sites) which produced over 2,500 family-supporting jobs.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Association (WEDA) recently recognized John as the 2019 Frederick C. Pearce Award winner. The prominent award, given every other year, was established in 1985 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of economic development. John received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Political Science, with an emphasis in municipal government, from the University of Northern Iowa.

Kathryn Berger, JD, Manager- Business Development, CG Schmidt, Inc.

Kathryn Berger is Business Development Manager for Milwaukee-based CG Schmidt, Inc., one of the top construction management firms in the Midwest. In that role, she adds value to future development efforts in the M7 Region and identifies potential business opportunities for the firm.   She also has the exciting opportunity to lead the planning for the firm’s 100^th anniversary in 2020. Previously, Kathryn served as Regional Economic Development Director with Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, delivering financial and technical assistance to communities in Southeastern Wisconsin to help spur local economic development, and facilitating state financial participation with the private sector in 120 Southeastern Wisconsin business expansion and real estate projects. She also spent ten years at Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) in Milwaukee, where she provided financing and technical assistance to community development and affordable housing projects throughout the City of Milwaukee.  Kathryn has a BA in English from Hamline University in St. Paul, MN, and a JD from UW Madison Law School. She has worked in economic and community development in Southeastern Wisconsin for more than 20 years.