FirstPathway Weblog

Friday January 20,2012 – United States Senator Ron Johnson visited FirstPathway Partners today to express his appreciation for the significant economic and job creation impact FirstPathway Partners has had on Southeast Wisconsin under the Federal EB5 Regional Center Program. FirstPathway Partners was honored to host the senator and hear his insights. 

Senator Johnson is a United States Senator of the 112th Congress representing the state of Wisconsin, and a member of the Republican Party.  Prior to his election to the Senate, he was chief executive officer of PACUR, LLC, a Wisconsin polyester and plastics manufacturer.

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On Thursday, December 8, 2011 Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners, joined Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett as he presented a bronze bald eagle sculpture to the city of Ningbo, China in celebration of Milwaukee’s five-year anniversary with the City.  In 2006, Milwaukee signed a cooperative MOU with Ningbo, China.

The gift, a beautifully carved, 6 ft., bronze bald eagle, created by artist Mike Capser, symbolizes the American spirit and continued development of a dynamic partnership between Ningbo and Milwaukee. The sculpture will be on display at the Ningbo Museum. This gift is in response to the 2008 presentation of Ningbo’s two stone lions to the city of Milwaukee. The lions can be seen at the entrance of the Zeidler Municipal Building on Broadway St. in downtown Milwaukee.

First Pathway Partners, Chairman/CEO and MMAC China Council Co-Chair Bob Kraft, spoke on behalf of Milwaukee Business leaders at the event.

Today University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Chancellor, Michael Lovell, signed an MOU with CERNET Education Development Co., in Beijing. This MOU will serve to increase enrolment of Chinese students at UWM while also heightening the University’s international profile. “UWM is striving to become more internationally and globally engaged, and is committed to recruiting students from all areas of the world, particularly from vital international partners such as China,” –Lovell. This fits with UWM’s current goal of increasing international enrolment to 3,000 within the next 5 years. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was present in China for the signing

Under the MOU, CERNET will establish a Wisconsin International Academy in Milwaukee to provide support services and housing for the Chinese students studying English through UWM’s Intensive English Program and once they qualify for degree programs within the University. According to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “UWM’s Intensive English Program now serves students from more than 30 countries speaking 20 different languages.” There are currently international students, from 94 countries enrolled at UWM.

CERNET Education Development Co., was founded by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China to develop a nationwide marketing network and service support system to actively integrate cooperative high-quality academic or vocational educational service businesses with well-known universities and educational leaders throughout the world. Cernet currently has operations with The University of Massachusetts.

The event received an enormous amount of press both in the US and China, including an article on Sohu.com, China’s largest web portal. Featured  were Bob Kraft, former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, and Marc Marotta.

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Monday, November  28,  2011 – FirstPathway Partners was on site to celebrate the construction kick-off of its most recent project, a world class 201-room, 4-star, full-service, Marriott Hotel.  Armed with sledgehammers, Mayor Tom Barrett and FirstPathway Partners Chairman and CEO Bob Kraft were in attendance alongside representatives from Jackson Street Management, Marriott and White Lodging to bring down the first wall on the site that will later be transformed into the new Marriott.

This catalytic project funded in part by the FirstPathway EB5 program will create jobs, enhance the neighborhood and help many deserving family’s make their American dream come true.

The project is scheduled for completion in 2013. It will be the first full-service hotel built downtown in more than 20 years. The project will be located in the heart of the downtown central business district of Milwaukee, WI, USA on the southwest corner of East Wisconsin Avenue and North Milwaukee Street, surrounding the Johnson Bank building.

The iconic $54 Million dollar, 10-story, 197,000 square foot hotel will feature a luxurious high-end restaurant, lobby bar, Starbucks, a jeweler, 15,000 square feet of meeting/banquet space, and 60 underground parking stalls.  Hotel amenities will include a fully equipped fitness center, a swimming pool, business center, concierge service, and gift shop.

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Prof. PU Ying Hua presents gift to Bob Kraft

June 27, 2011- The MMAC China Business Council hosted  The Art of War and the War of Business featuring one of Power Magazine’s, top 100 most influential persons in China, Prof. PU Ying Hua.  Prof. PU is an expert in classical Chinese thought and literature who has written and consulted extensively on business strategy and the Art of War, the famous 2,500 year old Chinese classic. PU is also a direct descendent of the Qing royal family.

Bob Kraft Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners is Co-chair of the MMAC’s China Business Council.

This week the international table tennis world shifted its attention to Milwaukee as the Frontier Airlines Convention Center hosted The USA Table Tennis Federation’s US Open tournament featuring 700 elite table tennis athletes from 15 countries. The Open is part of Milwaukee’s 2011 ‘Summer of China’ designated by Mayor Tom Barrett.

The 2011 Open was politically significant in that it marked the 40th anniversary of “ping pong diplomacy,” a 1971 Beijing table tennis exhibition which helped open trade and diplomacy between the US and China. A Chinese delegation including several original “ping pong diplomacy” competitors and Chinese dignitaries attended the Open.

The “Summer of China” continues with The Milwaukee Art Museum’s summer series, The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, contents of the Qianlong Emperor’s private retreat, on view now through Sunday, September 11. Milwaukee is honored to be one of few cities selected to host this never before seen exhibition and historic tournament.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2011- Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners and Co-chair of the MMAC China Council, attended the exclusive President’s Circle Preview Party- The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City. This event was a sneak peak to the exhibition on view Saturday, June 11 through Sunday, September 11, 2011.

The Milwaukee Art Museum is one of only three museums in the world to ever showcase the over ninety objects of ceremony and leisure from the Qianlong Garden and the Forbidden City in Beijing.

“This is an extraordinary, unprecedented opportunity for the public to see masterpieces from the legendary Forbidden City complex before the objects return to Beijing where they will likely never leave the country again,” said Daniel Keegan, director of the Milwaukee Art Museum. “We are honored to be one of only three museums worldwide to present this breathtaking exhibition. It reaffirms our commitment to bringing world-class exhibitions to Milwaukee, and underscores the importance of the Milwaukee Art Museum on the international stage.”

For more information, visit mam.org/china.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011- Bob Kraft Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners was chosen to moderate two sessions at the 47^th annual Wisconsin International Trade Conference.

During the sessions, Kraft commended the efforts of Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett in expanding international trade, particularly with China. In his speech, the mayor encouraged efforts to further increase international trade and investment in our community, citing his support for EB5. The mayor expressed excitement for such projects as the Marriott which is seeking EB5 financing through FirstPathway Partners.  Mayor Barrett has also dubbed the summer of 2011 “The Summer of China,” featuring the US Table Tennis Open and The Milwaukee Art Museum’s, The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City.  Several Chinese delegations are scheduled to visit Milwaukee throughout the summer.

In conjunction with the Wisconsin International Trade Conference,  FirstPathway Partners also attended the Wisconsin Export Awards luncheon where Wisconsin Governor, Scott Walker addressed International business leaders. The Governor’s key message to investors and entrepreneurs was that Wisconsin is open for business. Wisconsin has added 24,000 jobs in the past 3 months, leading the country in new job creation. FirstPathway Partners is committed to driving job creation in Target Employment Areas across Wisconsin.

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Wednesday, May 4 – Bob Kraft, Chairman and CEO of FirstPathway Partners/Co-chair of the MMAC China Council joined Milwaukee Mayor, Tom Barrett in welcoming representatives of the US Olympic Committee and USA Table Tennis Federation during a recent site visit.

Milwaukee is honored to hosts The USA Table Tennis Federation’s US Open tournament featuring 700 elite table tennis athletes from 15 countries. The open takes place at the Frontier Airlines Convention Center, June 30 through July 4 during Milwaukee’s “Summer of China.”

The Open is politically significant in that it marks the 40th anniversary of “ping pong diplomacy,” a 1971 Beijing table tennis exhibition which helped open trade and diplomacy between the US and China. A Chinese delegation which includes several original “ping pong diplomacy” competitors is scheduled to appear.

Milwaukee’s “Summer of China,” also includes The Milwaukee Art Museum’s summer series, The Emperor’s Private Paradise: Treasures from the Forbidden City, contents of the Qianlong Emperor’s private retreat. Milwaukee is honored to be one of few cities selected to host this never before seen exhibition and historic tournament.

In a recent article, The Business Journal highlighted the importance of the continual push to make EB-5 permanent. Since 1993, the EB-5 pilot program has been renewed by Congress allowing Regional Centers to continue to bring much needed jobs and capital investment into our communities. The author also commends the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) Regional Center, “which paved the way for EB-5 to be used on projects in southeast Wisconsin.”

This article serves as a reminder to future investors and the community at large that business leaders, Senators, and organizations like IIUSA, are continuing their efforts to make the “beloved” EB-5 program permanent.

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