Biden to focus on efforts helping Black, Latino businesses in Milwaukee visit
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- In his visit to Milwaukee Wednesday, President Joe Biden will mainly tout his administration's efforts to increase the number of Black and Latino-owned businesses.
The targeted message symbolizes Democrats' focus on turning out traditionally Democratic voters in the state's biggest city. Less than 11 months away from the 2024 election, avoiding voter apathy in Milwaukee is critical for Biden's re-election efforts since four of the last six presidential elections in Wisconsin were decided by less than one percentage point.
Biden will speak Wednesday afternoon at the Wisconsin Black Chamber of Commerce.
According to a release from the White House, Biden's remarks will largely cover the support his administration has given minority-owned businesses over the span of his first term.
Biden will note the share of Black households that own a business has doubled from 2019 to 2022. The president will also discuss how the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure law includes $15 billion for lead pipe replacement.
Biden will be joined by Hero Plumbing, a Black-owned business that has been among the contractors replacing lead pipes in Milwaukee. While the White House promotes its goal of having all lead pipes replaced by the end of the decade, that wouldn't happen in Milwaukee, even if the city quadrupled its current pace.
In fact, the city needs to more than triple its current replacement rate in order to meet Mayor Cavalier Johnson's goal of replacing the nearly 70,000 remaining lead pipes over the next 20 years.
Biden's economy-focused speech will come at a time when economists are encouraged by big picture data that show growing production, wages and labor participation. However, the public is largely skeptical amid the lingering effects of an inflation spike between 2021 and 2022 that caused the prices of everyday goods to surge.
During his visit, Biden will also announce the Grow Milwaukee Coalition is one of 22 finalists for a share of the $190 million federal 'Recompete' program, which is funded by the CHIPS and Science Act.
The Grow Milwaukee Coalition's proposal focused on rejuvenating the 30th Street Industrial Corridor, which covers a slice of the city's north side between N. 27th and 35th streets from east to west and between W. Hampton Ave. and W. Highland Blvd. from north to south.
Winning applicants can receive between $20 and $50 million, according to Don Graves, deputy secretary of the Commerce Department, during a press call with reporters Tuesday afternoon.
Biden is expected to note $70 billion the federal government spent in the 2022 fiscal year on contracts that went to firms classified as small, disadvantaged businesses, known as SDBs. The White House also notes funding it has provided to "community lenders" that, over the next decade, would amount to a $50 billion increase in lending to Latino communities while Black communities would see $80 billion in additional lending.