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Press Releases

The latest press releases from IndependenceFirst are found here.

IndependenceFirst Open for Business At New Location

(Milwaukee, WI) – October 22, 2008 – IndependenceFirst is pleased to announce operations have begun at their new location at 540 South 1st Street in Milwaukee. A community-wide open house will happen November 13, 2008 from 2:30-5:30pm.

The new, expanded location is close to IndependenceFirst’s former offices at 600 W. Virginia Street, where the organization previously occupied 30,000 square feet on three floors. "Our new 40,000 square foot facility provides our consumers, volunteers and staff with ample free parking, convenience to bus routes and 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. Last week, the Real Estate Firm CB Richard Ellis received the "Office Deal of the Year" Award for their work in finding the location for IndependenceFirst from the Commercial Association of Realtors Wisconsin (CARW).

IndependenceFirst’s new office serves as a model of accessibility to other businesses who are interested in replicating the concepts for use in their planning as people with age-related or other disabilities are a workforce option and a customer base. "IndependenceFirst takes the lead in accessibility and doesn’t just talk the talk, but walks (or rolls) the walk," states Luber, who uses a wheelchair. Over 50% of IndependenceFirst’s onsite staff, management and Board of Directors are people with disabilities.

IndependenceFirst has grown with an internal staff of almost 90 people and Personal Assistance Service Program, employing nearly 1,200 personal care workers. 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.

Potawatomi Expansion Welcomes People with Disabilities
(Milwaukee, WI)--July 2008 

The expanded Potawatomi Bingo Casino, 1721 W. Canal St. had IndependenceFirst as a proud subcontractor as the Access Consultant on the project. Memphis Tennessee-based Hnedak Bobo Group (HBG) was the main contractor who, after sending a nationwide RFP a few years ago in search of a partner with special expertise in access issues, chose IndependenceFirst. 
 
Accessibility Services Coordinator, Diana Sullivan says, "Our input was key to achieving true access that goes beyond simple building codes and gets to the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA].  We put real, functional usage in the accessible design, developing an inclusive environment for customers or staff who have disabilities now, and those who will have age-related or other disabilities in the future."  

This contract has been a springboard for other, subsequent Access Consultation projects between HBG and IndependenceFirst in Detroit, California and the Pacific Northwest.  Ms. Sullivan gives a call to action for local and other national firms, "A large firm outside of Wisconsin saw the value of subcontracting for Access Consultation services.  Many construction projects including those locally, have under-valued the advantages of good, proactive and inclusive design for today's customers with disabilities and the millions more aging in the population in coming years.  Our services work to make all potential customers--with or without disabilities--welcome to go where they want to go and do what they would like to do in terms of accessibility of public places of business.  We bring a lot to the table for companies that want to welcome people with disabilities to their business."


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.