Harbor District

Name

Harbor District

Legal name

Harbor District, Inc.

Website

https://harbordistrict.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waterfront Revitalization and Community Development

NAICS

Port and Harbor Operations (488310), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Non-Operating Establishments (9995)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Marine & Freshwater Conservation (BPAGAGAE), Stormwater & Drainage Infrastructure Construction (Sewer, Detention, Outfalls) (IMAFAGAF), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Waterfront revitalization
• Urban redevelopment
• Community development
• Ecological restoration
• Business improvement district

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: Harbor District accepts donations from individuals, organizations, and corporate sponsors to support revitalization projects and operations. Major donors include Rockwell Automation ($600K), City of Milwaukee ($300K), and Brico Fund ($260K) for Harbor View Plaza.
2. Business Improvement District (BID) 51 Assessments: BID 51 was formed to maintain and enhance the Harbor District as a place to do business, funded through assessments on property owners within the district boundaries.
3. Grants and Government Funding: Funding from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, US EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative ($3M for Grand Trunk Wetland), and other government sources for specific projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Harbor District, Inc. is a nonprofit organization leading the revitalization of Milwaukee's working waterfront through public space development (Harbor View Plaza, Riverwalk, Kinnickinnic River Trail), environmental restoration projects (Ecological Breakwater, green infrastructure stormwater management, habitat creation), community engagement programs (Education Programs, Community Science Boxes, Summer En La Plaza), and business support via Business Improvement District #51 (BID 51) including property improvement grants and placemaking services.

Product overview

Harbor District, Inc. and Business Improvement District #51 (BID 51) are non-profit organizations leading the revitalization of Milwaukee's Harbor District. Their portfolio consists of physical infrastructure and public spaces (Harbor View Plaza, Harbor District Riverwalk, Kinnickinnic River Trail, Boat Ramp Redesign), community programs (Education Programs, Community Science Boxes, Summer En La Plaza), annual events (Harbor Fest, 10th Anniversary Celebration), grant programs (BID 51 Property Improvement Grant Program up to $5,000), environmental initiatives (Ecological Breakwater Project, Stormwater Information, Green Infrastructure), public art (Greenfield Bridge Mural), and planning documents (Water and Land Use Plan/WaLUP). These offerings work together to connect people to place, support a healthy business community, and improve the quality of the natural environment in Milwaukee's Harbor District.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Harbor View Plaza A waterfront public park featuring a play structure, water play area, canoe/kayak launch and dock, intended for community members, families, and visitors to access the Milwaukee Inner Harbor waterfront.
• Harbor Fest An annual free, all-ages festival celebrating Milwaukee's Inner Harbor featuring live music, boat rides, food trucks, interactive art, and family activities, open to residents and visitors of Milwaukee.
• Harbor District Riverwalk A public Riverwalk extending from Walker's Point up the Kinnickinnic River to Lincoln Avenue, providing public access to the waterfront as part of the Water and Land Use Plan catalytic projects.
• Kinnickinnic River Trail (KKRT)

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of MilwaukeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner in the Harbor District Initiative. City of Milwaukee Common Council adopted the Water and Land Use Plan (WaLUP) in 2018. City provided $300,000 in funding for Harbor View Plaza and works with Harbor District on development projects, infrastructure, and environmental improvements.
• Business Improvement District #51coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBID 51 works alongside nonprofit Harbor District, Inc. to maintain and enhance the Harbor District as a place to do business. Through property improvement grants and streetscaping/placemaking projects, BID creates an attractive business environment.
• UWM School of Freshwater SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNation's only graduate school dedicated solely to freshwater study. Located adjacent to Harbor View Plaza. Partnership includes research collaboration, educational programs, and connection to scientific expertise for ecological work.
• Urban Ecology CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Harbor District to learn more about wildlife present in the area. Conducted 2019 surveys of birds, butterflies, dragonflies, bats, and mammals, identifying over 60 different species.
• Milwaukee Public MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Harbor District for wildlife surveys in 2019. Contributes Milwaukee Butterfly Guides to Community Science Boxes for public education.
• Wisconsin DNRcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Harbor District on Ecological Breakwater Project alongside Wisconsin DNR, Port Milwaukee, and US Army Corps of Engineers to explore coastal protection with habitat improvements.
• US Army Corps of EngineerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago District responsible for maintaining breakwater systems around the Great Lakes. Partnered with Harbor District on Ecological Breakwater Project for design and engineering of coastal protection with habitat integration.
• Green Tree Garden ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of Community Science Boxes project. Purpose is to promote knowledge and love of gardening through education and activities in conservation, horticulture, and civic improvement.
• Port MilwaukeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilwaukee's international commercial port connected to regional economy and world markets. Key partner in Ecological Breakwater Project and broader Harbor District revitalization efforts.
• High Line NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHarbor District Riverwalk became member of High Line Network, a group of infrastructure reuse projects across North America, providing peer learning and collaboration opportunities.
• UWM School of Freshwater SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpen House experiences offered at Harbor Fest, showcasing groundbreaking work in fish ecology, aquaculture, water chemistry, invasive species, and climate change research.
• Riveredge Nature CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for Sturgeon Fest at Harbor Fest, celebrating the return of lake sturgeon to Milwaukee's waterways with blessing ceremony and baby sturgeon release program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Urban Ecology Center: Milwaukee-based nonprofit focused on urban ecology, environmental education, and community engagement along the Milwaukee River system. Direct operational partner of Harbor District with overlapping ecological restoration, wildlife survey, and educational programming – and similar community-anchored nonprofit model.
• The High Line: New York City nonprofit operating the iconic elevated linear park built on a historic freight rail line. Fellow High Line Network member alongside Harbor District Riverwalk; directly comparable as an urban infrastructure reuse project with nonprofit-led operations, public-private funding, and catalytic neighborhood impact.
• Groundwork USA: National network of urban environmental restoration nonprofits focused on brownfield remediation, green infrastructure, and community-led environmental improvement. Comparable to Harbor District in urban environmental focus and trust-based community engagement model.
• Milwaukee Riverkeeper: Local Milwaukee-based advocacy organization focused on protecting and improving the Milwaukee, Menomonee, and Kinnickinnic River system. Directly comparable mission on the same waterways, with overlapping community engagement and water quality focus.
• Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper: Buffalo-based nonprofit restoring the Buffalo River and Niagara River watersheds through ecological remediation and community engagement. Closely comparable Great Lakes waterfront revitalization nonprofit with similar focus on habitat restoration, water quality, and public access.
• Downtown Cleveland Alliance: Cleveland-based nonprofit and Business Improvement District managing downtown Cleveland's public spaces, cleanliness, safety, and economic development. Closely comparable dual nonprofit + BID organizational structure used to drive urban district revitalization.
• Friends of the Chicago River: Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to improving the health of the Chicago River system and its surrounding communities. Directly comparable to Harbor District as a Great Lakes urban river revitalization nonprofit combining ecological restoration, public access, and community programming.
• Riverlife: Pittsburgh-based nonprofit focused on transforming the city's riverfronts through public-private partnerships and catalytic capital projects. Highly comparable to Harbor District in mission (urban waterfront revitalization), structure (nonprofit-led with public/private financing), and stage (multi-decade district transformation).

Broad incumbents

• The Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for people, with significant urban park and waterfront access programs. A larger, established peer operating at national scale on overlapping mission areas (urban park creation, public waterfront access, conservation).
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): Major national community development financial institution supporting equitable neighborhood revitalization through capital, advice, and partnerships. Larger, established peer with overlapping focus on community-led revitalization and public-private partnership models.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2MQS2NOonay_ccLhFjNbmQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/harbordistrictmilwaukee
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/harbordistrict
• Instagraminstagram.com/harbordistrict

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Harbor District