Spurred by the close research and business development work between the Milwaukee region’s water technology businesses and academia, The Water Council and partners created a water research and business accelerator center in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood. The Global Water Center, which celebrated it’s grand opening on September 12, 2013, houses water-related research facilities for universities, existing water-related companies and accelerator space for new, emerging water-related companies. The facility is a venue for attracting and creating new businesses in the water industry, and aims to address key local and global water-quality, technology and policy issues. The Global Water Center features common area amenities, including a 44 person lecture hall, exhibition space for new prototypes and, most importantly, high-tech, shared, core facilities. These core facilities, such as a state-of-the-art water flow lab, are critical to supporting the cutting-edge water research and product development activities of the cluster. The Global Water Center provides resources and expertise that are not presently available anywhere else in the world, adding to our unique nature is the designation by the United States Green Building Council of Silver LEED Certification, for the Core & Shell rating system. This building’s redevelopment also serves as a catalyst for the development of the Reed Street Yards (RSY), located across the street, which have been designated by the city of Milwaukee as a Global Water Technology Business Park. RSY is a mixed-use, urban office, educational research and technology zone focused on the international water industry; serving as a global showcase for water management. RSY balances natural resources with economic development by incorporating bio-swales, rain gardens, “purple-pipe” infrastructure, and pervious pavement. The Global Water Center–a confluence of industry, academia, and government expertise and resources–provides leading-edge technology and solutions necessary to succeed in the world water marketplace.