
The Bottom-Up Revolution Inside West Allis's Playbook for Stronger Local Economies
Mar 23, 2026
19:02
Steve Schaer and Patrick Schloss share how landlocked, eleven‑square‑mile West Allis, Wisconsin has become one of metro Milwaukee’s most business‑friendly cities by growing from within after major factory closures. They trace the community’s path from brownfields and aging corridors to adaptive reuse, new housing, and lively main streets filled with independent shops, coffee houses, and breweries. Along the way, they highlight zoning shifts, creative financing tools, arts events, transportation academies, and on‑the‑ground outreach that together have changed the city’s trajectory.
ADDITIONAL SHOW NOTES- Vote for West Allis in the Strongest Town Contest!
- Norm Van Eeden Petersman (LinkedIn)
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