Definitions.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 370-1
in effect370-1. Definitions.
In this chapter:
1. AT A DISADVANTAGE WITH RESPECT TO BUSINESS LOCATION means location within a renewal community within the city for a period of not less than one year of the applicant’s principal office and business of which the applicant is the sole owner or one of the owners and a principal operator.
2. AT A DISADVANTAGE WITH RESPECT TO EDUCATION means failure to attain a high school degree or its equivalent for good reason or attendance in schools which have repeatedly achieved ratings below national, state and community averages in educational standards, educational standardized test scores and student grade point averages.
3. AT A DISADVANTAGE WITH RESPECT TO EMPLOYMENT means a pattern of nonachievement in hiring, promotion and other aspects of employment advancement due to factors beyond the individual's reasonable control, a lack of current knowledge and skills necessary for employment, career advancement or consistent earning of average annual income below the median income level of adults of comparable age in this city.
4. AT A SOCIAL DISADVANTAGE means an applicant's experience of substantial difficulty in attaining employment or business success at least in part due to location of the individual's residence and lack of mobility, physical handicap or other causes beyond the individual's reasonable control.
5. AT AN ECONOMIC DIS-ADVANTAGE means an inability to compete in the free enterprise system due to diminished capital, credit or bonding opportunities. Factors which will be considered as an indication that an individual has been economically disadvantaged include, but are not limited to, failure to accumulate adequate business capital or obtain sufficient credit to start or support a going business concern, failure to acquire business-related credit or bonding under terms or circumstances as favorable as those generally experienced by nondisadvantaged individuals, consistent failure to receive awards or bids of governmental contracts despite competitive pricing or other similar factors which have disadvantaged the applicant in the development of a business.
6. CONSTRUCTION means the erection, rehabilitation, alteration, conversion, extension, demolition or repair of improvements to real property, including facilities providing utility service and includes the supervision, inspection and other on-site functions incidental to construction.
7. CONTRACT means a binding agreement by which the city is committed to expend or does expend its funds or other resources for in connection with any of the following purposes:
a. Construction of any public improvements.
b. Purchase of any personal property.
c. Purchase of any services, goods or supplies.
d. Lease of any personal or real property.
e. Concession agreements whereby the city grants a specific permission, privilege or license.
8. CONTRACTING AGENCY means any city department, agency, board, commission or officer that has contracting authority.
9. CONTRACTOR means a separate and distinguishable business entity participating or seeking to participate in the performance of a contract.
11. INDIVIDUAL AT A DISADVANTAGE means a person who is at an economic disadvantage, who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is experiencing substantial difficulty in achieving business-related success as a result of at least 3 of the following:
a. At a disadvantage with respect to business location.
b. At a disadvantage with respect to education.
c. At a disadvantage with respect to employment.
d. At a social disadvantage.
12. JOINT VENTURE means an association of 2 or more persons or businesses carrying out a single business enterprise for profit for which purpose they combine their property, capital, efforts, skills and knowledge.
15. OWNED, OPERATED AND CONTROLLED means a business which is one of the following:
a. A sole proprietorship legitimately owned, operated and controlled by an individual at a disadvantage.
b. A partnership or joint venture legitimately owned, operated and controlled by individuals who are at a disadvantage and who own at least 51% of the beneficial ownership interests in the enterprise and who hold at least 51% of the voting interests of the enterprise.
c. A corporation legitimately owned, operated and controlled by one or more individuals who are at a disadvantage and who own at least 51% of the outstanding shares and who hold at least 51% of the voting interests of the corporation.
17. RENEWAL COMMUNITY means an area within the city for which an application for designation as a renewal community has been submitted to the United States secretary of housing and urban development, or which has been designated as a renewal community by the United States secretary of housing and urban development, under 26 U.S.C., ss. 1400E, et seq., as amended, or similar area designated as disadvantaged by the common council.
18. SMALL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE means a business that has been certified by the department of compliance and engagement based on the requirements specified in s. 370-25.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-3/CH370.pdf#page=1Fetched: 10/26/2026