Become A Member Business

We invite local businesses to join us in helping make Milwaukee a better place! We need your support as we grow in order to help make a bigger impact on our communities and increase awareness of the benefits of buying local.

Why Local First?

Buying from a local business has many positive impacts for our city and its communities. The more support we give to community based businesses the more we get back.

In order to make Milwaukee a more sustainable community, our goal is to build market share for locally-owned, independent businesses by increasing awareness about the personal and community benefits of choosing local.

Remember, for every $1 you spend at a locally owned business, more than 68¢, versus 43¢ spent at a national chain, remains in Milwaukee.

Learn More Here »

Featured Member

Laacke & Joys
http://www.laackeandjoys.com/

In 1844, Wisconsin was still a territory. Milwaukee had one of the best harbors on the Great Lakes and the confluence of three navigable rivers. The emerging city of 1,700 people was growing and so was lake commerce. Greenleaf D. Norris, an early settler, opened a ship's chandlery and sail loft at the corner of Water and Erie Streets.

It was an era of ship building supported by dense forests of near by oak. Norris and his employee, Andrew M. Joys, supplied cordage, covers, oars, tackle blocks, fittings, oils, paints, pitch and provisions for the commercial sailing vessels. One of… learn more about our member businesses here »