CMAP Media Tip Sheet

February 22, 2013

This tip sheet briefly summarizes newsworthy activities of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). Reporters should contact Justine Reisinger (312-386-8802 and jreisinger@cmap.illinois.gov) or Hillary Green (312-386-8619 and hgreen@cmap.illinois.gov) for more information.

February 26 launch event at Harper College to highlight new CMAP manufacturing cluster "drill-down report"

Annual manufacturing productivity in the Chicago region is $65 billion, and with over 580,000 jobs, the region has more manufacturing employees than all but one U.S. region. That's according to Metropolitan Chicago's Manufacturing Cluster: A Drill-Down Report on Innovation, Workforce, and Infrastructure, which CMAP will release during aforum at Harper College's Wojcik Conference Center (1200 W. Algonquin Road, Palatine) from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m., on Tuesday, February 26, with an optional tour of the college's manufacturing training facilities from 11:00 a.m. to noon. The event will include a presentation and panel discussion of the new report, which describes challenges and opportunities facing the region's manufacturing cluster, including innovation, workforce, and infrastructure. News media can register for free by emailinghgreen@cmap.illinois.gov. The report is an implementation activity of the GO TO 2040comprehensive regional plan, which calls on CMAP and its partners to evaluate and help strengthen industries that drive the region's economy.

New GO TO 2040 implementation report provides a quantitative overview of regional livability factors

CMAP has released "Moving Forward: Implementation Report, 2012," its second annual GO TO 2040 implementation report. This report takes a quantitative approach with informational graphics that describe progress on regional challenges identified by GO TO 2040. Presented in an interactive web space, this year's report emphasizes data visualizations that help shed light on particular issues addressed by the plan. In conjunction with the report, a printed poster-brochure is also available. Please contact Hillary Green if you'd like to receive a copy.

Current regional patterns of household income show potential for economic development

CMAP's Policy Updates blog examined currenthousehold income patternsin northeastern Illinois, as well as changes since the 2000 decennial census. In northeastern Illinois, household income growth has not kept pace with overall inflation and has been unevenly distributed across the region. Many of these communities are also experiencing relatively low population growth or even population declines. These demographic patterns tend to discourage economic development in the very areas that need it most. Understanding income growth patterns can help decision makers address quality-of-life, economic development, and fiscal issues across the metropolitan region.

New housing policy plan for Northwest Cook County communities

In February and March, final presentations will be given to participating communities in the Northwest Suburban Housing Collaborative (Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Palatine, and Rolling Meadows) regarding a new housing plan. In partnership with the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, Homes for a Changing Regionprovides technical assistance for municipal leaders to chart future demand and supply for housing in their communities and develop long-term housing policy plans.

--END--

About CMAP

The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is the comprehensive regional planning organization for the northeastern Illinois counties of Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. By state and federal law, CMAP is responsible for producing the region's official, integrated plan for land use and transportation. The agency's innovative GO TO 2040 planning campaign develops and implements strategies to shape the region's transportation system and development patterns, while also addressing the natural environment, economic development, housing, education, human services, and other factors shaping quality of life. See www.cmap.illinois.gov for more information.