INVESTMENT PROFILE: FRANKLIN,

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36. The park is 20 minutes south of downtown and 80 minutes north of Chicago. What kind of investment is Franklin most Franklin Is More interested in? Chicago “We want to be complementary with what the universities and others are looking for,” says Mayor Than a Location work. Another is meat processor Strauss Brands, Olson, “meaning technology manufacturing and which is moving forward with plans to develop a research. But we also want new development to be ompanies choose locations for their by MARK AREND 175,000-sq.-ft. expansion. complementary with what already is in the city. We facilities all the time. When they choose “If you’re a business owner looking for a place have aerospace manufacturing already and would Franklin, Wisconsin, they’ve picked a to land your business, you have a tremendous like to see more of that. We would like to see some destination. This suburb of Milwaukee entertainment center with 57 heated open-air bays opportunity to develop your business in a climate operations dovetailing with what Krones is doing hasC among the best location attributes in the overlooking 215 yards of turf with a retractable that wants it,” says Franklin Mayor Steve Olson. in bottling. Anything technology and higher-end region, including a 10-minute drive roof and removable panels to create a “We’re in Milwaukee County, which is noted manufacturing we would look for.” to Milwaukee’s General Mitchell controlled environment year-round. for its water infrastructure and research, food Meanwhile, a 540-acre business park is in the Field International Airport and a The Midwest Orthopedic Specialty and medical research — you can’t beat this planning stages, making more space available for 70-minute drive to Chicago’s O’Hare Hospital (MOSH) Performance location for technology. Krones is a world leader the industries the mayor believes will be the future International Airport, three Interstate Center provides sports medicine and in bottling and packaging for liquids, and their of Franklin. highways and all the sports, cultural orthopedic services and includes a North American headquarters is based here.” “With the success of our parks with large, and commercial benefits of nearby fitness facility. SCW Soccer Club In 2019, Germany-based Krones AG opened its non-traditional industrial users moving in, I see Milwaukee and Chicago. and Prospect Training Academy, North American Technology & Training Center probably a dozen 200,000-square-foot buildings in But Franklin residents don’t along with two professional teams, at its Franklin site. those parks, each housing technical manufacturing even need to travel to Milwaukee will anchor 77,000 sq. ft. of and service economy tenants,” says Mayor Olson. for many of those attributes. They integrated sports training turf. The Franklin’s Future Comes into Focus “This will buck the trend we see now of fulfillment came to Franklin in the form of ROC Ventures development also Franklin is home to the new, 125-acre Loomis centers and warehousing. Our trend will be away Ballpark Commons, a mixed-use includes senior housing, a drive-in Business Park, which is adjacent to several from that. We want the clean, high-tech jobs in This Investment Profile entertainment district that’s home to Franklin Mayor Steve Olson theatre, apartments and plenty of commercial and industrial properties with space high-value buildings providing great jobs for skilled was prepared under the Milwaukee Milkmen franchise dining options. for development. In addition to several Tax people. There are communities attracted to the the auspices of the of the American Association league and That’s a destination. Incremental Finance Districts, it’s also home to Amazon-style developments — that’s just not us. City of Franklin. For the University of Wisconsin-, a But it’s only part of Franklin’s value proposition the Franklin Business Park, a 425-acre corporate We have a strong emphasis on quality of life, and more information, Division 1 team. And much more. for businesses, like Milwaukee-based Northwestern development for office and light industrial use. It that includes parks and schools and health care. We contact Calli Berg The Northwestern Mutual Life Hinterhof, a year-round beer garden, will Mutual Life Insurance, which picked Franklin provides quick access to Interstates 94 and 894, offer the small town experience while having a big at (414) 427-7566 or Insurance campus in Franklin be anchored by Luxe Golf Bays, a three-level for its 886,000-sq.-ft. campus where 2,000 people U.S. Highways 41 and 45 and State Trunk Highway city nearby.” [email protected].

SEPTEMBER 2020 SITE SELECTION SITE SELECTION SEPTEMBER 2020