GREEN BAY – A vision for the Phoenix Innovation Park is hoping to expand on the idea of public/private partnerships to craft a live, learn, work, play, environment where technology, research and science thrive.

Six years ago, UW-Green Bay, Brown County, philanthropic donors and the state of Wisconsin collaborated to build the STEM Innovation Center to grow the engineering program.

“UW-Green Bay is one of the few universities in the country with too much land and too much parking and the Innovation Park will turn the empty land and unused parking lots into resources for our students and community,” stated Economic Development Executive and Phoenix Innovation Park Project Leader Alan Peters.

“Over the years we have lost our corporate headquarters to other markets as businesses grew and were acquired. So we need to backfill our economy with the next generation of businesses that call northeastern Wisconsin home.
“To attain this, we need to cultivate an entrepreneurial ecosystem that incubates and fosters growth. This will propel tomorrow’s businesses that grow, scale and prosper in the region.”

The plan is to transform the land located directly west of campus into a mixed-use development that will include the possibility of academic and collaborative spaces, housing, a hotel, coffee shop, cafe and other additions through a sustainable and dense design creating an ecosystem that fulfills the idea of the project.

“UW-Green Bay is a NCAA Division 1 University, but it lacks the Division 1 experience. Phoenix Innovation Park will add amenities that enhance the student experience and encourage visitors that frequently visit places, such as

The Weidner Theater and Kress Center, to socialize on campus before and after events and performances,” Peters explained.

“Plus, it will add commercial offerings for the 2,100 plus students that live on campus.”

The vision for the project is to create an amenity-rich environment where technology, research and science thrive with collaborative spaces that incubate and foster growth.

This in turn will generate synergies with private investment where ideas sprout and flourish into commercialized enterprises, philanthropic endeavors and academic advances in the region.

When asked about how the community could possibly get involved with a large project such as this, Peters stated, “The project is in its early stage. We are currently working through the many layers of approval that are needed to prepare the land for vertical construction; so community engagement and support as this project moves forward is very much appreciated.

“Ideas and feedback are encouraged. As we get further along in the process, we will continue to provide updates and details on opportunities as they become available.”

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