Milwaukee Press Club: Partners with Rotary Club of Milwaukee for program on the $1.2 billion Amazon effect

CONTACT: Joette Richards, (262)894-2224
admin@milwaukeepressclub.org

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Press Club and the Rotary Club of Milwaukee will present a joint program on Tuesday, Nov. 7, featuring Jon Wile, vice president of content for American City Business Journals, which operates 43 business newspapers and websites across the United States, including the Milwaukee Business Journal.

Wile oversaw a nine-month investigation by all of ACBJ’s newsrooms to document the systematic expansion of Amazon.com, from Class A office space in the nation’s largest cities to former cornfields and barren industrial spaces long abandoned by industries of old. The company’s growth, while massive in scope, has hinged on negotiations with local officials, deals with local real estate developers and tax breaks blessed by local municipalities in excess of $1.2 billion. The series of stories identified where the Seattle-based company’s unrelenting expansion might be headed, including the nationwide competition underway for its second headquarters, and the growing trend of requests for huge incentives by businesses looking to expand or relocate.

The program includes lunch and networking at 11:45 a.m., program 12 noon to 1:15 p.m. in Memorial Hall at the War Memorial Center, 750 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive downtown. Parking is available to the north of the building – please tell the attendant you are there for Rotary. Seating will be limited for this event and advanced registration is required.

The cost to attend is $20 for MPC members and $25 for non-members. Lunch is included. Registration deadline is Friday, Nov 3. Advanced registration and payment are required and may be done online at http://www.milwaukeepressclub.org/. Checks may be mailed to the MPC at PO Box 176, North Prairie, WI 53153-0176. Cancellations will be accepted up to 48 hours in advance for a full refund. Please contact Joette Richards at the Milwaukee Press Club at joette@milwaukeepressclub.org with any questions or call 262-894-2224.