Menomonee River Valley – Urban Habitat Restoration Project, Milwaukee, WI – 2006-2009
Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc. called on Bergner Associates to strengthen the language describing the ecological significance of a restoration of the largest brownfield in the state of Wisconsin. The Menomonee Valley in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was the heart of manufacturing and industrialization for the Nation in the middle to late 1800s. The Menomonee River, once a major hunting and gathering spot for the Potawatomi Nation, was channelized, its banks were concretized, and the area was contaminated with hazardous materials during the Valley’s industrialization. Bergner Associates has helped MVP raise over $2 million to date for this historic ecological restoration that has included creation of over 45 acres of new greenspace and will ultimately create over 90 acres of reclaimed greenspace, pedestrian and bike trails, and soccer fields. Restoration efforts have collectively increased plant and aquatic species diversity more than 10-fold since the project began over 10 years ago. The area now also has over 3000 new jobs as a result of this revitalization.
Centerville Creek – Hika Bay Restoration and Public Access on Lake Michigan – 2010- 2011
The Lakeshore Natural Resource Partnership has worked with Bergner Associates for over three years to refine their mission, develop grant opportunities, strengthen program language, and attract sponsors, donors, and members. Currently, Bergner Associates is helping to identify grant opportunities and write proposals for the Centerville Creek – Hika Bay Restoration and Public Access project. When complete, this ecological restoration project will restore a former mill pond dam area that left excessive sediment in the Centerville Creek when the dam was removed, remove invasive plant species, restore a rare ridge and swale beach wetland on the Hika Bay of Lake Michigan, and improve public access to the only lake-level boat launch access on Lake Michigan between Sheboygan and Manitowoc.
Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin
The Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin (AROW) is the only state-wide organization in Wisconsin that focuses on promoting learning and leadership in waste reduction and recycling through education, advocacy, collaboration, programs and services. Bergner Associates is currently assisting AROW to expand their reach in Wisconsin and to refine their grant proposals to build capacity. We are expanding and better articulating the outcomes and deliverables of their major programs to attract new members, donors, and grant funding. Leveraging AROW’s strengths and resources, these proposals will also be used for email marketing, public relations, brochures, presentations, workshops, and online information
