Milwaukee Mayor’s Climate Migration Plan and Cruise Dock Groundbreaking on September 4, 2025

MILWAUKEE, WI - On Thursday, September 4, 2025, Mayor Cavalier Johnson outlined two major initiatives aimed at positioning Milwaukee for future economic growth and demographic shifts.

Climate-Driven Population Strategy In an appearance on WUWM’s “Lake Effect,” Mayor Johnson addressed the potential influx of residents relocating to the Midwest due to climate change. He explained that Milwaukee is “ripe to reap the benefits in terms of population growth” as climate migrants seek stable communities in the region, and detailed how the city is preparing housing, social services, and infrastructure to accommodate this anticipated movement.

South Shore Cruise Dock Groundbreaking Later in the day, Mayor Johnson joined state and local officials at Port Milwaukee to break ground on the South Shore Cruise Dock. As part of his 2025 budget proposal, the mayor allocated $5 million toward the project, which received an additional $3.5 million from a Wisconsin Capital Tourism Grant and $500,000 from the state’s Harbor Assistance Program. Construction on the third designated cruise dock is expected to run through next summer, with operations commencing in mid-2026 to welcome Seawaymax vessels and boost regional tourism and job creation.