Green Bay · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Green Bay public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
New indoor tennis training facility on west side
Title Shot Athletic Club will bring eight tennis simulator bays — the first in Wisconsin — plus three indoor courts to the Badger State Brewing campus. It fills a real gap: pickleball's growth has squeezed tennis court space in Green Bay, and the facility gives youth, college, and adult players a year-round training option.
2026 Federal Grant Plan with New Small-business Grants
The city's $941,462 CDBG plan adds a microenterprise grant of up to $10,000 for businesses with five or fewer employees, continues park and road investments in low-income neighborhoods, and boosts down-payment assistance.
Grandview Industrial Park expansion
The council spent up to $51,000 of TID 25 money on land for extending Padi-Wood Lane and signed a development agreement with Global Optics — both pieces of the Grandview Industrial Park expansion.
Convention center capital improvements
Design work is moving ahead on three big convention center fixes: emergency lighting, the roof, and the grand ballroom air wall. Construction money comes from the capital improvement fund, which sits just above $3 million.
Broadway liquor licensing actions
Police reported eight liquor law violations and 14 citations in under three weeks, with repeat trouble at 100 Bar and Grill, including pepper spray inside the bar and chronic nuisance citations. State Street Pub and BC's Bar got warnings over ID scanners.
Alcohol license grants
The council approved a full slate of new beer and liquor licenses for stores, bars, restaurants and a hotel, plus limited outdoor expansions and a festival pouring permit.
Public art map update and tourism rack card
The city's public art map is six years out of date, so staff are updating the inventory and map and designing a rack card with QR codes linking visitors to both permanent and rotating public art — aimed at getting tourists to plan visits around the city's artwork.
Small business lending through the CD Revolving Loan Fund
The city's federally funded revolving loan fund helps small businesses like SK Scrap Art open storefronts downtown. The committee tweaked loan terms — stretching three years to five — to make payments workable for a first-time storefront owner.
Convention Center management transfer and naming rights marketing
The 1984 roof, walls, lighting, and a ballroom airwall need work, with estimates ranging from $212,000 to $1.9 million depending on repair vs. replacement. Bidding is authorized now; actual spending decisions come later from a fund with just under $3.1 million.
Keller Inc. Erie Road industrial development
A 70,000-square-foot light industrial facility planned for nine acres in Grandview Industrial Park would let an existing Green Bay company expand, bringing an estimated $125,000 in annual property taxes and a $8.5 million construction cost.
Liquor licenses for new and existing establishments
The committee approved a batch of liquor licenses, including a new Class B license for Player 2 Arcade Bar downtown and Salud's move to a regular license. One location, 510 S Monroe Ave, hit the state's 300-foot school buffer rule — the waiver was denied, but the beer license there was still approved.
Salon Fifty-Four loan restructuring
A Green Bay salon asked the city to restructure its $70,000 economic development loan into two smaller loans so it can access working capital while finishing renovations. The change returns about $10,000 to the loan fund for other businesses.
Alcohol licensing actions
The committee cleared the annual renewals plus event and patio expansions for several bars, and advanced a Whiskey Rose Saloon appeal to the Council. These decisions shape where and when alcohol is served around the city.
Downtown loading zones made permanent
Two 15-minute loading zones — one on Pine Street near North Washington, one on Adams Street near Pine — are now permanent after successful 90-day trials.
Economic Development staffing capacity
The city is upgrading its Economic Development Specialist role to senior level because of a surge in complex development projects — 7 new TIF districts and 15 development agreements in two years. The extra cost comes from TIF revenue, not the tax levy.
New liquor licenses for local venues
A new bar/restaurant on N. Washington St, an event center on Kepler Dr, and a seasonal patio at Richard Craniums all advanced — good news for local nightlife and event business.
JBS Urban Barn food production facility
A $1.3 million food innovation barn at the JBS urban farm — food production room, coolers, restrooms and a shaded patio — funded partly by ARPA dollars, a TID, and Wello fundraising including a recommended $468,900 state grant.
Green Bay Sustainable Business Accelerator
The Chamber-hosted accelerator kicked off April 10 with room for a few more companies before the April 24 session. Participating businesses install nature-based solutions this summer.
Urban Cultural Arts Center fire recovery
The Walnut Street arts space damaged by fire has temporarily relocated to the Arts Garage, running classes and studios. A Saturday Art War fundraiser at the Tarlton Theatre will benefit it, with Fox Cares matching up to $4,000.
Downtown storefront activation at 110 N Washington Street
A vacant former credit union branch downtown gets a second life as a high-end furniture showroom, backed by a city revolving loan fund loan and owner equity. It brings foot traffic and one new full-time job to the downtown district.
Downtown Business Improvement Districts' 2025 performance
All four BIDs reported strong 2025s: ~475 downtown housing units under construction, 732,000 unique visitors on Broadway, the Harvest Hall market fundraising on Military Avenue, and a state Main Street marketing award.
Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) on CityDeck
The council adopted a social district allowing people to carry open containers of alcohol in a designated downtown area, with hours limited to Thursday–Sunday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. and one drink per person, plus a $25 permit fee.
DORA permit fee
Before the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area ordinance gets final council approval, the city needs a permit fee — set at $25. Staff are still figuring out how to affordably label the cups and cans people will carry, since labels proved expensive.
Food truck rules update
Green Bay's zoning code was silent on food trucks gathering in groups. New rules create permanent 'food courts' (requiring a conditional use permit, real restrooms and hard-surfaced pads), allow small truck gatherings as an accessory use on commercial lots, and set temporary-permit rules for 'rallies' — with hours capped at 10 p.m. except downtown.
Liquor license approvals for local establishments
Las Maracas, JJ875 Property, and Aldi #30 all got committee approval for licensing changes and now head to the council.