May 08, 2009 

NEWS FROM THE MAYOR

Dear Friends, 

I recently scheduled a visit to a downtown Milwaukee business. I wanted to stop by and congratulate Extendicare Health Services Inc. for extending its lease in downtown Milwaukee. 

The international company, which specializes in nursing care and assisted living, will continue to house its headquarters at 111 W. Michigan St. through 2019, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

I’m proud to have Extendicare in the city, and I am grateful for their decision to remain in the downtown area. With 29 care centers throughout Wisconsin and more than 475 employees at its corporate location, Extendicare has been and will continue to be a vital part of the Milwaukee business community.

In the ever-expanding global economy, I believe it is more important than ever that Milwaukee attract and retain strong national and international companies. As Mayor, I’m going to do all I can to ensure businesses stay and thrive in Milwaukee.

This decision was surely a result of the synergy between Extendicare and Towne Investments, which houses the company’s downtown headquarters. Extendicare has resided in Milwaukee for more than 25 years, after it purchased United Health in 1983 from Milwaukee philanthropist Joseph Zilber. Zilber, who owns Towne Investments, has always urged the company to keep its headquarters in the city.

I am thankful for Zilber’s commitment to Milwaukee, and am pleased that Tim Lukenda, president and CEO of Extendicare, has heeded Zilber’s advice.

We need people like Zilber and Lukenda to ensure that Milwaukee remains a vibrant place for businesses to invest. The economic wellbeing of our residents hangs on their ability to obtain family-supporting jobs, jobs that simply don’t exist without the presence of companies like Extendicare.

As Milwaukee continues to forge relationships with the business community, I will wholeheartedly support Extendicare and other companies that make a conscious effort to invest in Milwaukee. They are truly the catalyst for economic improvement for all residents of the city. 
 

Sincerely,

Mayor, City of Milwaukee  

Visit my website at: http://www.city.milwaukee.gov/mayor

Mayor Barrett listens to remarks from Tim Lukenda, president of CEO of Extendicare Health Services Inc. during Barrett’s visit to the company’s headquarters. Lukenda said Milwaukee has been a vital part of the company’s growth and development in the past 25 years. John Kersey, center, executive vice president of Zilber Ltd., was also in attendance.
 

Mayor Barrett thanks Lukenda for extending Extendicare’s lease in downtown through 2019. In addition to its corporate headquarters, the company owns three care facilities in the city.