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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Scott Luber, 414-226-8303 V/Relay sluber@independencefirst.org
IndependenceFirst Announces New Office Lease and Location
(Milwaukee, WI) – April 10, 2008 – IndependenceFirst is pleased to announce that after a 3 year search for an ideal office location and lease with-option-to-buy, an agreement has been signed with 544 South 1st Street, LLC for the redevelopment of the former Karp Bakery Warehouse at 544 South 1st Street. "Our Facilities Committee considered dozens of locations with a specific criteria for a 40,000 square foot configurable office, ample free parking, convenience to bus routes and a flexible developer who was interested in working with us to promote the highest caliber of accessibility at a location that employs and serves people with disabilities in our community" says Scott Luber, Director of Administration at IndependenceFirst and Facilities Committee Chair.
IndependenceFirst currently is located near to their new planned location at 600 W. Virginia St., in the Walker’s Point neighborhood, and the organization presently occupies 30,000 square feet in the Tannery Complex on the south end of the 6th St. bridge. "The new location affords us the space we need to grow and a unique address on First Street, which will be a helpful aid in finding the new IndependenceFirst office for our consumers, donors and volunteers." The offices at IndependenceFirst are expected to move in the Fall of 2008.
"We plan on our offices serving as a model of accessibility to other businesses who are interested in replicating the concepts and for use in their planning, as people with age-related or other disabilities will be a new workforce option and a customer base that may not yet be fully appreciated in Milwaukee," Luber states. "Accessibility is one of the things our organization is all about and we truly walk (or roll) the talk." Over 50% of the IndependenceFirst’s onsite staff, management and Board of Directors are people with disabilities.
IndependenceFirst was represented in the transaction by Kevin Armstrong and Steve White of CB Richard Ellis. Kevin Armstrong stated, "We are excited that IndependenceFirst has settled on this location – an ideal marriage of cost-effectiveness, functionality, prominence and accessibility. It is a great feeling to have helped such a worthwhile organization address their real estate needs."
IndependenceFirst has an internal staff of almost 90 people and has experienced growth in the Personal Assistance Service Program, which employs nearly 1,200 personal care workers in people’s homes. The nonprofit organization’s 20+ programs serve thousands of people with disabilities, their families and the community at large each year. IndependenceFirst prides itself as being the FIRST resource on accessibility, independent living and the Americans with Disabilities Act for Metro Milwaukee.