by Erin Aleman
8/27/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop for high school and middle-school aged students on Friday, August 14th. Participants came from several local community organizations including Casa Central, the Chicago Urban League, and the Chicago Korean Cultural and Resource Center.

We began the afternoon with a tour of the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s Model City exhibit. At the exhibit we learned about what urban planning is and heard how different parts of Chicago came to be. After the tour we headed to DePaul University to engage students in their own Invent the Future workshop. Like all of our public workshops we began by asking the students to imagine what 2040 should look like. What are the issues that we must tackle to create a brighter 2040? Students said they wanted more jobs, quality senior citizen programs, faster better ways to get around, and a good cost of living.

We discussed how the region might be affected by the estimated 2.8 million new residents that will be living in our region by 2040. Much like other workshops held across the region, these students wanted to invest in transit so that they could spend less time traveling to and from places. Participants were keenly aware that by investing in new alternative Transportation we could help improve the environment by reduce air pollution.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario students created at the workshop, click here. To see more photos from the event, see our Flickr page.

In addition to holding a youth workshop to gain public input for GO TO 2040 CMAP is currently accepting applications for our second year of Future Leaders in Planning (FLIP for short). FLIP is a great way for high school aged youth to learn about the region and participate in making it a better place for everyone. Do you know a high school aged student who is interested in gaining leadership skills and going behind the scenes to learn how things get done in northeastern Illinois? Tell them about FLIP! Applications are due Monday, August 31st.

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Photo of Edgebrook Flatwoods in Cook County, part of the North Branch Restoration Project, by Flickr user mastodont from our pool

by Sean Glowacz
8/27/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Thursday, August 20th at the Lansing Public Library.

We began the workshop by asking participants to think about how they would like to see the region in 2040. What steps do we need to take to make our region even better than it is now? Many participants mentioned a desire to preserve the natural environment to the greatest degree possible. CMAP has been researching several different strategies to help preserve the region’s natural environment through 2040. One of these strategies, ecosystem restoration, is a promising way to preserve our natural environment as the region’s population grows in the coming decades. Protecting an ecosystem and its services such as stormwater management, biodiversity maintenance, and air and water purification ensures a healthier environment to live, work and play. Restoration gives us an opportunity to improve our relationship to the ecosystems we depend on, and allows us to become a constructive part of the communities that create our region’s natural environment. To learn more, please read our Ecosystem Restoration Strategy Report.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Lansing, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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New Grant Opportunities and Updates for Energy-Related Funds

EECBG Plans for Formula Funds Due, Money Allocated
Plans for Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants (EECBG) assigned by formula were due August 10, 2009, following a deadline extension from June 25.  Illinois received $112,175,600 for EECBG to be distributed by formula to the state and local governments.  A breakdown of the funding amounts as allocated can be found online.

EECBG Recipients: Don’t Forget Your EECS!
Energy Efficient and Conservation Strategy (EECSs) are required of all EECBG applicants.  Local governments can either submit an EECS with their application or within 120 days after the effective date of award.  Samples of EECSs can be found online. 

EECSs create a plan to help grant recipients set benchmarks and provide a strategy to track progress on energy savings, jobs created, greenhouse gas emission reduction and other factors.  The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) has a new data center that will provide an energy and emissions profile for each municipality in CMAP’s seven-county region.  CNT reached out to 37 direct recipients of EECBG in our region to offer assistance in the strategy development process.  Interested localities should contact CNT Energy Planner Lindy Wordlaw (773-269-4012 or lindy@cntenergy.org).

For more information relating to the EECBG on how to leverage funds and which strategies can provide the biggest economic and environmental impacts, see presentations from the ARRA EECBG Workshop, which CMAP co-hosted on June 3, 2009.   Presentations include the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) on EECBG;  ComEd’s Smart Ideas program an opportunity for leveraging EECBG funds;  a CNT presentation on developing an EECS;  how to save money with Energy Audits;  and the Illinois Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC).

Illinois State Energy Plan Approved, Ready for Implementation
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) approved the State of Illinois Energy Plan on August 14, which allows the state to begin implementation.  The ARRA State Energy Program (SEP) ensures that each state has a comprehensive plan to increase energy efficiency while reducing energy costs, reliance on imported energy, and the impacts of energy production and use of fossil fuels.  Plans are assessed on the amount of jobs created, energy saved, installed renewable energy and its capacity, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, savings in energy costs and funds leveraged.  According to DCEO, the plan is “the most comprehensive effort to date to address the state’s energy production needs.”

The Illinois Energy Plan includes approximately $101 million in competitive grants for renewable energy ($33 million), manufacturing/processing ($33 million), energy efficiency ($33 million) and biofuels ($10 million).  The state was awarded $40,528,400 on August 14, and Illinois will receive the rest of its $101 million after demonstrating successful implementation of its plan.  A detailed table describing the grant opportunities, eligible applicants and contact information was created by DCEO and can be found here.  Local governments, private companies and non-profits can apply.  Applications for each program are linked below, with deadlines as follows:

• Green Roofs Program (Deadline: October 1, 2009)
• Electric Efficiency Program (Deadline: October 1, 2009)
• Thermal Efficiency Program for Public Facilities (Deadline: October 1, 2009)
• Large Customer Energy Efficiency Program (Deadline: October 1, 2009)
• Renewable Energy Production Program (Deadline: October 26, 2009)
• Community Renewable Energy Program (Deadline: October 26, 2009)
• Green Industry Business Development Program (Deadline: October 26, 2009)
• Next Generation Biofuels Production Program (Deadline: October 26, 2009)

Photo of the Hampshire, IL water tower in Kane County by Flickr user thomas.merton from our pool.

by Sean Glowacz
8/27/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Wednesday, August 19th at the Elmwood Park Village Hall.

We discussed how the region might be affected by the estimated 2.8 million new residents that will be living in our region by 2040. What changes must we make to ensure that the region can accommodate these residents without damaging the quality of life for the rest of us? Particiants touched on a number of issues, but seemed to be most concerned with the topic of water conservation. One participant said that, “It is imperative that we begin to find ways to curb water use throughout the region. This can be accomplished by doing things like instituting water-reuse programs, using ‘grey water’, charging more for water use, etc.”

As part of the GO TO 2040 process, CMAP has been researching several strategies that address the issue of water conservation. One of the strategies that CMAP has been looking at is called conservation pricing. Traditionally, water has been under-priced to foster objectives of public health & safety, and economic development. Water conservation pricing is aimed at curbing water use by charging higher prices for water use that account for the “actual” value of water. Conservation prices consider a range of variables, including the cost to operate and maintain water utilities, the cost to procure and develop additional supplies to meet growing demand, and the social and environmental opportunity costs of losing other benefits of the water and natural waterways. To learn more, please check out our presentation on Conservation Pricing (opens 371.73 KB PDF).

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Elmwood Park, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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by Sean Glowacz
8/26/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Tuesday, August 18th at the Arlington Heights Village Hall.

We discussed how the region might be affected by the estimated 2.8 million new residents that will be living in our region by 2040. What changes do we need to make to better accommodate this anticipated growth? Participants were most concerned with finding novel ways to solve the current problems that exist throughout the region. “We should support massive increases in transit investment including dedicating highway lanes solely for busses, creating more ‘park and ride areas’, introduce HOV lanes, and creating a more pedestrian friendly environment in general (i.e. creating safety islands at pedestrian crossings).” Another participant commented that, “We should find ways to use our resources more efficiently. We should not limit our focus solely to automobile technologies, but find ways to create homes that use less energy as well.”

As part of the GO TO 2040 process, CMAP has used a technique called scenario evaluation to explore how different policy choices may affect how our region develops toward 2040. Scenario evaluation is commonly used in long-range land use and Transportation plans. It allows several alternative futures to be created and compared, illustrating the consequences of different policy and investment decisions. Three alternative scenarios were created using examples from around the nation and consultation with CMAP’s working committees. One of the three alternatives, the Innovate Scenario, closely resembles policy choices that were supported by participants at the Arlington Heights workshop. In the Innovate Scenario, the region could continue to grow outward, but use clean energy and more efficient homes and vehicles to reduce the impact of development. To reduce the impacts of new construction on the environment and energy use, homes and businesses could use “green” development practices. The use of advanced technology and alternative fuels could allow Transportation systems to operate more efficiently and support the use of alternative Transportation in lower-density areas. To read more, please visit the Innovate Scenario webpage.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Arlington Heights, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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by Sean Glowacz
8/26/09

Thirty-nine people came out to the Evanston Civic Center on Thursday, August 20th to participate in an Invent the Future Workshop with CMAP.

We began the workshop by asking participants to envision the region in 2040. What changes would they wish to see? Many of the participants expressed a desire to see big changes in regards to the way people travel throughout the region. Specifically, participants seemed to be most interested in finding ways to reduce emissions and energy use throughout the region. One participant said that, “We should invest heavily in not only improving/adding accessibility of transit systems, but also in reducing energy use through the development of more sustainable technologies.” Another participant added that, “We need to decrease energy use, reduce CO2 emissions, and improve the overall health and safety of the region’s residents.”

As part of the GO TO 2040 process, CMAP has been researching a variety of strategies to curb harmful emissions throughout the region, including the use of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies (AVTs). Pursuing alternative fuel and AVT can help CMAP achieve its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goals. By integrating alternative fuel considerations into its on-going planning processes, CMAP has the opportunity to be at the forefront among MPOs recognizing how strategic energy and vehicle technology choices support a sustainable regional Transportation system. To read more about CMAPs research on this topic, please read our Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicle Technology Strategy Report (opens 1.38MB PDF).

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Evanston, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page. 

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Important Information in Weatherization Funding at the State and National Levels
New grant money is available for weatherization funding on both the national and state levels.  The weatherization of homes for low-income families can result in savings of 32 percent on heating bills and hundreds of dollars a year on overall energy bills, according to the Department of Energy (DOE).

National:  Illinois was allocated $242,526,619 in Weatherization Assistance Program funding, 50 percent of which has already been received.  After receiving the initial 10 percent for training and ramp-up activities, Illinois received $97,010,647 more on June 26, 2009 following a DOE review of our state’s comprehensive application.  The final 50 percent of funds will be awarded once the state meets reporting requirements and oversight and accountability milestones, as required by the Recovery Act.  This funding expands the state’s Home Weatherization Assistance Program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).  The funding is planned to weatherize nearly 27,000 homes, and DCEO will award money to 35 existing local agencies.  Criteria used to determine which homes will be weatherized include the home owner’s poverty level, whether they are elderly or disable disabled, and the home’s fuel cost.

Important Federal updates:

• There has been a change in reporting requirements.  Only 40 percent of awarded money must be spent in the first year, beginning July 1, 2009 (compared to the 60 percent originally stated).  In the second year, 60 percent of funding must be spent.  OMB reporting requirements  for the quarter ending September 30, 2009 are due on October 10.
• In May the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and DOE partnered to coordinate the use of ARRA funding to eliminate barriers preventing the use of weatherization funds in public and assisted multifamily housing.  The partnership will streamline the weatherization eligibility process for residents in public housing and privately owned federally-assisted units, as well as 950,000 Low Income Housing Tax Credit-financed units.  A family’s income must be below 200 percent of the federal poverty level for a unit to qualify for weatherization assistance.
•  FAQs about Weatherization funding are online.

State:  The Illinois General Assembly passed the Urban Weatherization Initiative Act, effective July 13, 2009, which seeks to increase both employment and entrepreneurship opportunities with the manufacturing and installation of low-cost weatherization materials.  DCEO will administer the initiative’s $425 million, with a focus on weatherizing “owner-occupied, single family homes and multifamily (6 units or fewer) housing in census tracts with high rates of unemployment, underemployment, and poverty to ensure that residents of those communities are able to access the work as a local employment engine.”  Outreach strategies will also raise awareness on the cost savings and job training opportunities associated with the program.  Grants will be awarded via a competitive request-for-proposal process.  All applicants must include a plan for local community engagement, including outreach at local intake centers like churches, schools, and community centers.  Eligible applicants include private, public and non-profit entities.  Grants will be up to $500,000 per fiscal year.

by Lindsay Banks
8/24/09

The photo chosen today from our Explore Northeastern Illinois Flickr pool is by Flickr user myn91. This is a photo of springtime in the Morton Arboretum, located 25 miles west of Chicago in suburban Lisle.  Although it's not springtime in Chicagoland, we can still appreciate these beautiful flowers.

 CMAP will be co-hosting a GO TO 2040 Invent the Future workshop in Lisle in partnership with the Morton Arboretum on Thursday, August 27th at 7:00 pm, in the Visitors Center.

Other workshops this week include: The Field Museum, Grayslake, Palos Hills, Montgomery, and Hegewisch Public Library in Chicago.  Check out our workshops page for more information, and to find one near you and have your say!

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Springtime in the Arboretum 
by Flickr user myn91 in our pool 

Photo "Old 135th St. Swing Bridge, Romeoville, IL" by Flickr user muledriver in our pool

by Sean Glowacz
8/21/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Thursday, August 13th at the Barrington Area Library.

We began the workshop by asking people to imagine what 2040 should look like. Participants voiced a variety of opinions regarding how they would like the region to develop between now and 2040. While a variety of topics were discussed, participants seemed to be most concerned with environmental issues. One participant said that “We should plan for maximum possible protection of natural resources and encourage policies that support and encourage the use of nature.” Another participant voiced that ”We need to stop putting the environment on the back burner. Infrastructure is important but we need to focus on all of the issues.”

As part of the GO TO 2040 process, CMAP has been researching a number of strategies to tackle the wide range of environmental issues that face our region. One of the issues that we have been looking at is how to take a regional approach in regards to waterway management. Waterways management is inherently a regional issue as waterways extend across federal, state, local, municipal, and private ownership boundaries, and multi- or concurrent regulatory authority. The waterways of Northeastern Illinois play a vital role in the economic, social, and environmental health of the region, as well as the quality of life of its citizens. CMAP is using research in this area to better understand waterway management as a component of the recreational, economic and commercial resources of the region. To learn more about CMAP’s research in this area, please read our Waterway Management Strategy Paper.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Barrington, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page. There's still time to Have Your Say!

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by Sean Glowacz
8/20/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Thursday, August 13h at Bethel New Life on Chicago’s West Side.

We discussed different development strategies that should be considered to better handle the estimated 2.8 million new residents that will be in the region by 2040. How will this influx of people impact our current housing stock? Participants voiced a desire to see the majority of future development to occur in areas that have infill development opportunities. One participant said that “We need to stop using our existing green and open space to accommodate new construction. Future development should be concentrated within existing communities, using existing infrastructure.”

One of the central aspects of the GO TO 2040 campaign has been identifying potential infill opportunities throughout the region, so much so that one of the very first snapshot reports created by CMAP was on urban infill development. Urban infill development is a planning strategy that redirects growth from the urban and suburban fringes, or greenfields, into more dense urban cores to create compact, livable, and sustainable communities. CMAP’s urban infill report identifies land suitable for infill development in Cook County, and estimates the potential for these sites to absorb future population growth. As more data becomes available, the research will be extended into the entire CMAP region. Read the Infill and Redevelopment Regional Snapshot Report (opens 1.4MB PDF).

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created at Bethel New Life, click here. To see more photos from the event, see our Flickr page.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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Updates in Workforce Development Opportunities and ARRA Reporting Requirements
In the last week, there were several new developments regarding job training in the Recovery Act.  The State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Opportunity released a request for proposals for their ARRA discretionary funds and the Department of Labor released new guidance on reporting requirements.  In addition, applications for a pilot program to connect public housing residents to green jobs were due on August 18th.  Read more on these recent developments here.

 

Evergreen Park High School photo by Flickr user reallyboring in our pool

by Sean Glowacz
8/19/09

Forty-nine people came out to the Kendall County Health Department in Yorkville on Wednesday, August 12th to participate in an Invent the Future Workshop with CMAP.

We began the workshop by asking people to imagine what 2040 should look like. What are the issues that we must tackle to create a brighter 2040? One participant said that “Community leaders must consider the limited water resources and cost to build new schools when they make their land use plans. Growth should be pegged to current school and water/aquifer capacity.”

We discussed how the region might be affected by the estimated 2.8 million new residents that will be living in our region by 2040. What changes do we need to make to better accommodate this anticipated growth? One of the major points of discussion that arose was a desire for schools to be constructed closer to where children reside. Some participants were concerned with the distance their children had to travel to get to school, a trend they have seen growing in the region’s outer reaches. CMAP has been researching strategies to integrate school facility planning with other types of planning - particularly land-use and transportation – to encourage better school citing decisions.

Traditionally, public schools in northeastern Illinois were built near the students they served—within walking distance from their homes. They were compact in design and were often viewed as an integral part of the neighborhood or community. As a result, many students were able to bike or walk to school. As development pushed further and further from the urban core, this pattern of development gave way to a trend in which larger schools were often located beyond a reasonable walking or bicycling distance—particularly at the high school level. The significant reduction in the number of students who walk or bike to school correlates with an increase in vehicle traffic and congestion contributing to air and water pollution, and carbon emissions that impact climate change (BTS). Furthermore, the reduction in physical activity is likely a major contributor to the rapid rise in youth obesity rates (ICMA). By integrating school citing decisions within land use and transportation planning initiatives, schools can become a greater part of the community fabric - reachable by multiple modes of transportation and located closer to the communities they serve. To read more about CMAP’s research on this topic, please read our School Citing Strategy Report.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Yorkville, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

Photo of the Cabrini Green Community Vegetable Garden by Flickr user strannik45 from our Flickr pool

by Sean Glowacz
8/19/09

Fifty-five people came out to the Joliet Historical Museum on Tuesday, August 11th to participate in an Invent the Future Workshop with CMAP.

We discussed how the region might be affected by the estimated 2.8 million new residents that will be living in our region by 2040. What changes do we need to make to better accommodate this anticipated growth? One participant said, “The production of local food should be one of the region’s most important priorities. We need to begin setting aside land for community gardens.” CMAP has been researching food systems as part of the GO TO 2040 process to see how we can better improve the means of food consumption and production throughout the region. The Chicago area has served as a focal point for the production, processing, trading, and consumption of food – as well as home to hundreds of communities with diverse food cultures supporting vibrant food markets and restaurants. But population growth, climate change, development pressures, global trends, economic realities and concerns about the environment, equity, and food safety will all have an impact on Illinois’ ability to continue to meet its own food needs and send farm products to the rest of the world. CMAPs research focuses on ways that the Chicago area can go about creating a “sustainable” food system – one that meets the needs of people today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To read more about CMAPs research on this topic, please read our Food System Strategy Paper.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Joliet, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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by Sean Glowacz
8/19/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Tuesday, August 11th at the Geneva Public Works Department (who created these great signs for our event).

The workshop was used to get the crowd to think more deeply about how the region might look in 2040. What are some of the issues that we need to address so that our ideal region can be realized by 2040? One issue that was brought up by several participants was the need for more affordable housing throughout the region. Our region is expected to have 2.8 million new residents by 2040. There is no doubt that the region will need to experience a significant increase in affordable housing to accommodate this population. CMAP has been researching several strategies to increase the stock of affordable housing throughout our region. One of the strategies that we have been exploring is called housing preservation. In the past, housing preservation strategies have focused either on preserving affordable housing subsidies or preserving historic structures. CMAP’s definition of housing preservation includes all actions that maximize the utility of the region’s pre-existing housing stock to make a variety of housing options available to families at all income levels. It therefore embraces values inherent in both historic preservation and affordable housing preservation. Research shows that preserving and maintaining existing and older housing stock has benefits to the region’s economy, community character, health and environment. To learn more about CMAPs research in this area, please read out Housing Preservation Strategy Report.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Geneva, click here. To see more photos from our Geneva workshop, please visit our Flickr page.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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Numerous Ways to Track Stimulus Spending in Illinois

Track USDA and HUD Stimulus Funds on Interactive Map
Been wondering how much money Illinois received so far in stimulus money related to agriculture or housing?  This is the map for you.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) created an interactive map of the country to track the locations and dollar amounts of ARRA projects funded through USDA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).  You can locate programs by state, county, immediate location, and grant received.  Projects can be searched by agency within USDA and HUD and by funding amounts.  At the time of this blog post, the map shows 349 projects that were funded in Illinois to the amount of $538,972,688.03.

Illinois Recovery Website Redesign Improvement
After Illinois’s main recovery and Transportation websites scored 0 out of 100 by advocacy group Good Jobs First (see  Illinois Recovery in the News: the Good, the Bad, and the Improving ), the sites underwent changes to improve content and transparency related to the spending of stimulus dollars.  On the Illinois Department of Transportation stimulus website you can now search for stimulus money spent by county and congressional district.  Though the main Illinois recovery website still lacks the ability to see specific awarded amounts from the stimulus, the non-profit investigative journalism organization ProPublica website does just that.  Visit their Recovery Tracker website for Illinois to see funding by federal agency, funding received by county, and a list of statewide and non-county specific grants and their award amounts.

by Sean Glowacz
8/18/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Thursday, August 6th at the Prairie Center for the Arts in Schaumburg.

We began the workshop by asking participants to think about how they would like to see the region in 2040. What steps do we need to take to make our region even better than it is now? Several participants mentioned the need to improve the region’s education system. “We need to begin strengthening the region’s schools now if we expect to live in a brighter future“, said one participant. CMAP has been researching this issue as part of the GO TO 2040 process. The continuing vitality of the Chicago Metropolitan region depends on the quality of education available in our communities and institutions. Education is critical to the development of individuals and society, a process that begins at birth and lasts a lifetime. Effective education is key to sustaining a productive workforce, an engaged citizenry and a high quality of life. Critical across the entire seven-county region is access to high quality learning opportunities for all residents, from very young children through adulthood. Although the northeastern counties of Illinois are home to many outstanding early childhood programs, elementary and secondary school districts, as well as institutions of higher learning, access to high quality education and successful completion of degree programs is unevenly distributed in the region. Working together across and within these institutions to envision and achieve access to excellent education in all our communities is indeed the major effort we must undertake. To learn more about CMAPs research in this field, please read our Education Strategy Report.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Schaumburg, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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by Sean Glowacz
8/18/09

Twenty-two people came out to the Harvard Public Library on Wednesday, August 5th to participate in an Invent the Future Workshop with CMAP.

We discussed how the region might be affected by the estimated 2.8 million new residents that will be living in our region by 2040. What changes do we need to make to better accommodate this anticipated growth? Participants were mostly concerned with the rate of land consumption within the region. One participant seemed to sum up the majority opinion with this comment: “Residential and commercial growth should be restricted to municipalities – keep people out of the countryside.” CMAP has been exploring strategies to address the need to preserve agricultural land throughout the region as part of the GO TO 2040 process. As the threats of food security and global climate change gain momentum, agricultural preservation is becoming increasingly popular, even in headlines of major newspapers. We need to find a way to prioritize the most valuable agricultural soils for preservation and promote balanced growth and conservation design principles in new Greenfield developments. To learn more about CMAPs efforts, read our Agriculture Preservation Strategy Report.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Harvard, click here. To see more pictures from the workshop, please see our CMAP Flickr page.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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by Sean Glowacz
8/18/09

CMAP held an Invent the Future workshop on Tuesday, August 11th at the South Central Community Services Building in Chicago’s Chatham neighborhood.

We began the workshop by asking people to imagine what 2040 should look like. What changes would they like to see in the region so that a more ideal future can be realized? The majority of participants present at the workshop were business owners that reside within the Chatham community. As a result, it was not surprising to here that there primary concerns were in regard to strengthening the condition of existing communities throughout the region. Participants wished to see more investment poured into existing communities to make them more “livable”.

As part of the GO TO 2040 process, CMAP has used a technique called scenario evaluation to explore how different policy choices may affect how our region develops toward 2040. Scenario evaluation is commonly used in long-range land use and Transportation plans. It allows several alternative futures to be created and compared, illustrating the consequences of different policy and investment decisions. Three alternative scenarios were created using examples from around the nation and consultation with CMAP’s working committees. One of the three alternatives, the Reinvest Scenario, closely resembles policy choices that were supported by participants at the Chatham workshop. In the Reinvest Scenario, instead of developing in areas that have never had development before, we could focus growth in existing communities that already have roads, water and sewer lines to support them. Homes and businesses could be more compact, near to Transportation stations, and within walking distance of commercial districts. We could invest in rebuilding and improving our roads, rail lines, and other infrastructure to support growth and overall economic development. To learn more, please visit the Reinvest Scenario webpage.

If you’d like to see the unique scenario participants created in Chatham, click here.

To register to participate in a free Invent the Future workshop near you, simply visit our workshops page.

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by Anne Holub
8/17/09

This week's photo comes from Flickr user baldwinm16 in our Explore Northeastern Illinois pool. It was taken at the Gross Point lighthouse in Evanston, IL. We'll be holding a free Invent the Future workshop in Evanston, at the Evanston Civic Center this coming Thursday, August 20th. Details on it, and the rest of our workshops, here.

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Chicago Gets Green with Stimulus Money
Chicago will see 80 new green jobs coming to the city thanks to funding from ARRA. According to an article from Examiner.com, OAI, Inc. received a $500,000 grant to train new workers for green jobs through the EPA Brownfield Job Training Program. On July 23, the U.S. EPA awarded $7.4 million in stimulus money to Illinois for clean-up of underground petroleum leaks in the state.

The Chicago Department of Community Development (DCD) is accepting proposals for a year-round training/work experience program targeting the formerly incarcerated. The Deconstruction Work Services and Training Program project period runs from October 1 through March 31, 2012. Eligible applicants must be able to design their own comprehensive job training program that includes both work experience and exposure to the deconstruction field for the formerly incarcerated program participants. Respondents to this request for proposals will train program participants in deconstruction techniques, safety standards and operation of major tools like pallet jacks and reciprocating saws. The work experience expected from each proposal can include processing building materials for recycling and reuse and the salvaging of surface items from buildings scheduled for destruction, among other deconstruction tasks. RFP submissions are due by September 10.