Technical Assistance Providers Directory

Economic Development: Economic Development (other)  

Main Contact for Technical Assistance:
Janice Metzger
Senior Project Manager
(773) 269-4019
(773) 378-4830 (fax)
jan@cnt.org 

Other Areas of Technical Assistance:
Economic Development: Office market analysis, Residential market analysis, Retail market analysis; Economic Development (Other); Land Use: Brownfield and greyfield redevelopment, Community visioning, Infill, Mixed-use re(development), Natural areas and open space; Transportation: Integrating transportation and land use planning, Station area and transit oriented development, Transportation (other); Environment and Natural Resources: Green practices in communities, Natural landscaping, Stormwater management, Watershed plans; Housing: Affordable housing; Data/GIS: GIS demographic data, GIS land use data, GIS mapping assistance  

Specific Projects:
Blue Island Redevelopment Plan 
Blue Island, Illinois
Beginning date: 2004
Ending date: 2008
Project website: http://www.cnt.org/tcd/smart-communities/

Description of project:
The goal of the Blue Island Plan is to create jobs and raise local tax revenues, by celebrating the city’s identity, preserving its diversity and enhancing the natural environment. The Plan uses transit oriented development to revitalize Blue Island’s main street and adjacent residential areas and leverages freight transportation assets through cargo oriented development. The plan was created with input from business, community leaders and residents, including dissident voices that were deliberately drawn into the process. The community resoundingly endorsed the Plan in a public meeting and the City Council adopted it in September of 2005. Since adoption the City has secured grants to meet predevelopment costs; concluded a master development agreement for construction of a 75-acre industrial park on a former landfill; created a $10 million loan fund for businesses undertaking projects consistent with the Plan; encouraged a 384-unit, market-rate housing development.

Contact person for project:
David Chandler
David@cnt.org


Joliet Quality of Life Plan 
Joliet, Illinois
Beginning date: 2006
Ending date: 2007
Project website: http://www.cityofjoliet.info/QualityofLifeTaskForce.htm

Description of project:
A CNT-led team created a Quality of Life Plan for two Joliet City Council districts. The broad plan addresses housing, recreation, retail business, transportation, industrial and workforce development, land use, social services, and education. It lists action steps to improve residents’ quality of life in all areas at 3- and 10-year horizons The recommendations of the Plan were based on interviews with over 115 stakeholders; a survey to all planning area households; a parcel level GIS analysis; and four facilitated community workshops in which more than 500 residents and stakeholders participated. The CNT team worked closely with community and City partners to finalize a Plan to: improve quality of life by leveraging existing assets; draw on additional state and federal resources; integrate the efforts of professionals and residents in complimentary programs; and create new institutions for residents to have an ongoing voice in and responsibility for development in their community.

Contact person for project:
David Chandler
David@cnt.org

Description of project:
Working with the association and regional mayors/managers associations to provide information on targeted municipalities to improve delivery times and reduce congestion during peak travel periods.

Contact person for project:
Bola Delano
bdelano@cmap.illinois.gov 

:
Ed Sitar
Economic Development Manager
(312) 394-2571
(312) 394-5737 (fax)
edward.sitar@comed.com

Other Areas of Technical Assistance:
Economic Development: Business attraction/retention, Office market analysis, Economic Development (other); Data/GIS: GIS demographic data, Interpreting census data; Other: Energy efficiency evaluations and incentives
 

 
(member, Illinois Entrepreneurship Network, Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity)
9501 S. King Drive
BHS-601
Chicago, Illinois 60628
(773) 995-3938
(773) 821-2841 (fax)
i-conda@csu.edu 
http://www.csu.edu/sbdc/index.htm 

Main Contact for Technical Assistance:
Isabelle Conda
Director
(773) 995-3938
(773) 821-2841 (fax)
Main Contact Email i-conda@csu.edu 

Other Areas of Technical Assistance:
Economic Development: Business attraction/retention; Other: Business plan assistance, Entrepreneur training program, Business loan programs (SBA, State of Illinois, and Community Express loan programs)

 
550 W. Algonquin Road
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005
(847) 364-7223
http://www.pacebus.com/

Main Contact for Technical Assistance:
David Tomzik
Manager
(847) 228-2463
(847) 228-2330 (fax)
david.tomzik@pacebus.com

Other Areas of Technical Assistance:
Economic Development: Business attraction / retention, Office market analysis, Residential market analysis, Retail market analysis; Land Use: Community visioning, Mixed-use (re)development, Streetscapes and urban design, Land Use (other); Transportation: Bicycle and pedestrian planning, Capital project funding, Circulation and access planning, Implementing human services plans for transit, Integrating transportation and land use planning, Operating project funding, Station area and transit oriented development, Transportation corridor planning, Transportation (other); Data / GIS: Data / GIS (other)

Specific Projects:
Employment Outreach
Chicago region, Illinois
  
Description of project:
Pace Business Development provides outreach to employers to assist in providing public transit services to their employees. Staff works with individual companies providing information on various transportation options to retain current employees, provide for relocation assistance and to attract new employees. Such options include ridsharing, vanpooling, fixed route, express service, shuttle connections, providing transit funding benefits for both employers and employees, and hosting on-site transit days to assist employees in understanding which transit options are available to them.

Contact person for project:
Barb Ladner
barbara.ladner@pacebus.com


Arterial Bus Rapid Transit 
Chicago region, Illinois
http://www.pacebus.com/sub/vision2020/default.asp
 
Description of project:
Pace’s vision is that Arterial Rapid Transit Network would serve as the high-quality, mixed traffic, trunk-route frame for Pace’s family of services. The network is to be integrated with Pace’s Express Bus Service to provide regional connectivity. It is to be supported by Pace’s integrated community services as its feeder service. The goals of the Arterial Rapid Transit Network are to:
• Connect the region’s suburban centers
• Serve growing, non-traditional travel demand patterns
• Reduce travel time • Improve service reliability
• Improve service frequency based on demand
• Simplify transit usage in the suburbs
• In addition, the ART network will support sustainable corridors developed around transit service incorporating appropriate land use near stations with TOD concepts, support economic development and regional connectivity and improved mobility. 

Contact person for project:
David Tomzik
david.tomzik@pacebus.com

Main Contact for Technical Assistance:
Cindy McSherry
District Council Coordinator
(773) 549-4972
(773) 472-3076 (fax)
info@ulichicago.org 

Other Areas of Technical Assistance:

Economic Development: Business attraction/retention, Economic Development (other); Land Use: Community visioning, Infill, Mixed-use (re)development, Land Use (other); Transportation: Integrating transportation and land use planning; Environment and Natural Resources: Conservation design; Housing: Affordable housing, Housing (other); Other: Business district plans, Downtown redevelopment, Market rate housing

Specific Projects:
Revitalizing a Classic American Town
Wilmette, Illinois
Beginning date: 2008
Ending date:
Project Website (report): http://www.ulichicago.org/PDFs/tap_reports/wilmette_tap.pdf

Description of project:
The ULI Technical Assistance Panel met January 14-15, 2008, to create a plan to “revitalize and reinvigorate” Wilmette’s Village Center and West Village Center.

Contact person for project:
Cindy McSherry
info@ulichicago.org

Michigan Avenue: Light, Life and Culture
Chicago, Illinois (Michigan Avenue)
Beginning date: 2008
Ending date:
Project Website (report): http://www.ulichicago.org/PDFs/tap_reports/ULIBKMichiganFinal.pdf

Description of project:
The Chicago Loop Alliance, Alderman Brendan Reilly,and the City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development enlisted the involvement of the Urban Land Institute Chicago District Council (ULI Chicago)to formulate a plan to bring vitality and identity to three pivotal, central blocks of Michigan Avenue from Randolph Street to the Chicago River.

Contact person for project:
Cindy McSherry
info@ulichicago.org

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