Looking for a place to build your business? Oak Creek, Wisconsin, is perfectly positioned to make your dream a reality. As one of the fastest-growing communities in Milwaukee County, it’s home to Fortune 500 and multinational companies, and has a city team that knows how to get things done. With strong roots and a commitment to smart growth, Oak Creek is filled with opportunity for businesses of all sizes.
But what really sets Oak Creek apart isn’t just location or growth, it’s how the city approaches business.
“We’ve always had a very strong, stable core business community,” said City Administrator Andrew J. Vickers. “And that’s because of the assets we have, but also how we work with people.”
Not a Program, A Partnership
That approach is less about formal programs and more about partnership.
While some communities rely heavily on set incentive packages, Oak Creek takes a more flexible, case-by-case approach. The first step is simple: start the conversation. From there, the city works alongside businesses to understand what they need and how to make a project viable.
“Once you reach out and talk to the City, we’re committed to helping businesses through the entire process,” said Community Development Director Kristi Laine. “Our office can walk you through, step-by-step, from zoning and permits, all the way to occupancy and opening day.”
“If there’s a roadblock, we try to figure out how to remove it,” Vickers explained. “There are always tools. There are always unique circumstances. We’re willing to turn over those stones to help make a good project happen.”
“Our goal is to make the process easy, we’ve worked to streamline things, and our staff is extremely responsive to questions from business owners,” Laine explained.
Sometimes that means helping a business find the right site. Other times, it’s identifying funding tools like tax increment financing (TIF) to support redevelopment in key areas. And in certain cases, it’s as straightforward as solving a specific challenge that’s standing in the way of opening doors.
It’s not one-size-fits-all and that’s by design.
Growing With Intention
That same mindset shows up in how the city is evolving.
After more than a decade of rapid development, Oak Creek is entering a new phase one that’s more strategic, more selective, and focused on long-term impact.
“We don’t have a lot of space left,” Laine said. “So, we’re being really thoughtful about what we bring in and how we bring it in.”
That means prioritizing businesses that add something meaningful, places people want to gather, experiences you can’t find everywhere else, and developments that strengthen quality of life.
There’s a clear effort to avoid becoming “anywhere USA,” filled with the same repeat retail on every corner.
Instead, the focus is on building a destination.
“The goal is to meet the needs of our growing population,” Vickers said. “We want unique restaurants and entertainment, things to do after dark, unique one-of-a-kind retailers, for young families and professionals looking for more to do close to home.”
“We know there are unmet needs here,” Laine said. “And we’re actively working to change that.”
From Momentum to Direction
For years, the focus was keeping up with growth. Now, it’s about shaping what comes next.
“The city is taking a more proactive role, updating codes, investing in key properties, and guiding development in ways that align with a long-term vision,” Laine explained.
“We’re priming the pump a little more,” Vickers said. “Controlling our own destiny.”
That forward-thinking approach is backed by something just as important: alignment.
From city staff to elected officials, there’s a shared understanding of priorities and direction. Decisions are focused, intentional, and rooted in a bigger picture.
“Everybody knows what’s most important,” Vickers said. “There are always more ideas
than we can take on, but we stay focused on what matters most.”
Why Businesses Are Taking Notice
That clarity, and consistency, fuels momentum.
“There’s always something happening here,” Vickers said. “That activity feeds on itself.”
It’s why major brands continue to invest. It’s why local businesses are expanding. And it’s why more entrepreneurs are taking a closer look.
Because beyond the data and development, there’s something harder to quantify but easy to recognize, Oak Creek is still growing.
“We’re not full,” Vickers said. “There are still amazing opportunities here—for different types of businesses, large and small.”
Built to Connect
The City’s location plays a major role in that momentum.
Positioned along I-94, Oak Creek offers direct access to major markets like Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul, along with a strong regional workforce. Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport sits right on the city’s northern border. And O’Hare International Airport is just over an hour away, keeping global connections within reach.
Freight moves efficiently through the region and Oak Creek’s proximity to Chicago, one of the nation’s largest interchange hubs, adds another layer of accessibility.
It’s the kind of infrastructure that doesn’t just support business, it accelerates it.
See What’s Possible
In Oak Creek, growth is intentional and for businesses looking to start, expand, or invest, that makes all the difference.
Ready to make the move and start a conversation? Reach out to the Oak Creek Community Development team and make Oak Creek home.
Want to know more? Watch Discover Wisconsin’s Original Short, “Grow Your Business in Oak Creek” today:
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Hailey Marien: Writer for Discover Mediaworks. A born & bred Wisconsinite with a love for fishing, hunting, and enjoying the great outdoors.
