Milwaukee Bucks, Deer District community benefit deal seen as model for more development

When the new owners of the Milwaukee Bucks got help from state taxpayers to build a new basketball arena nearly a decade ago, community activists pushed for a deal that would do more for the people who would one day work there. Not the NBA stars, but the people selling refreshments, mopping the floors, providing security and fulfilling a host of other necessary tasks.

That agreement has helped foster a new trajectory for service workers, according to a new report released Wednesday — turning their low-wage and insecure work into jobs with the promise of longer term, family-sustaining careers.

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Ken Notes: This entire project has been a good model for economic development. From wages to surrounding build out the "District" has put Milwaukee on the map. Now if we can just make this summer about the city and not the politics at hand we will be in great shape. I know it is a lot to ask, but Bucks if you could just win the NBA finals in June...