MILWAUKEE (SPECTRUM NEWS) – The 2020 Democratic National Convention is one year away, and the chair of the Milwaukee 2020 DNC Bid Committee sees a lot of potential for Milwaukee now and in the years to come thanks to the exposure from the convention.

“I want people to come here and want to come back for vacation or come back here for college,” bid chair and Milwaukee Bucks Senior Vice President Alex Lasry said, “or also to realize that Milwaukee has some of the best jobs and is one of the top cities in the country.”

The estimated economic impact of the DNC is $200 million for the whole state. To pull the convention off, $70 million needs to be fundraised. However, the team is already ahead of their fundraising goals, according to Lasry.

“We were able to outraise cities like Houston and Miami in trying to get the convention, so I think what that shows is that Milwaukee is ready to play with those type of cities and that Milwaukee needs to be in that conversation when you’re talking about some of the top-tier cities in this country,” said Lasry.

Lasry is confident that the DNC will prove to people across the country that Milwaukee is an up and coming, progressive and welcoming city.

“One of the things I’m most proud of is the team that we have in place,” Lasry said. “We’ve got a real good mix of local people and national people who are going to make this convention one of the most unique and successful conventions that we’ve ever had. It will be one that will speak not only about the Democratic Party’s values, but Milwaukee’s values as well.”

DNC planning leaders will be working with the hospitality industry to make sure that they are ready for the convention and have all necessary resources, said Lasry.

Lasry views the DNC as a bigger picture than party affiliation. It will give Milwaukee national exposure and is bigger than politics. No one is really concerned about the partisan aspect; people are able to look past their political views and see what this means for the state, he said.

“This is nonpartisan. What happens inside of the arena is going to be partisan,” said Lasry, “but everything that’s happening around it is about putting our city on the map and about showing everyone that this is about growth. This is more than democrats or republicans. This is about Milwaukee, and this is about Wisconsin.”

The 2020 DNC will be held at the Fiserv Forum on July 13 through July 16.