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Updated on March 08, 2013

CMAP Weekly Update, 3-1-13

Among the highlights from CMAP executive director Randy Blankenhorn, CMAP releases Metropolitan Chicago’s Manufacturing Cluster: A Drill-Down Report on Innovation, Workforce, and Infrastructure, the second report in our cluster series, updates on LTA projects including Homes for a Changing Region, Northlake, Morton Grove, and Hinsdale, and transit funding discussions at the Active Transportation Alliance transportation summit. Subscribe to get Weekly Updates by e-mail.

 

First Off...

Manufacturing cluster report. On Tuesday, February 26, CMAP released Metropolitan Chicago’s Manufacturing Cluster: A Drill-Down Report on Innovation, Workforce, and Infrastructure, the second report in our cluster series. The report was launched at an event with stakeholders from throughout the region at Harper College. I'd like to thank our panel of experts, who discussed how the region can address some of the manufacturing cluster's challenges related to innovation, workforce, and infrastructure. Visit www.cmap.illinois.gov/policy/drill-downs/manufacturing for the summary report, a more-detailed technical report, and an interactive version of CMAP’s Advanced Manufacturing Scorecard and occupational analysis.

Read more in the press release, and see related coverage from Crain's Chicago Business, including a column from Joe Cahill; WBEZ, including a blog focused on impacts manufacturing could have on infill and energy efficiency; the Chicago Tribune; and Medill Reports Chicago. Over the coming weeks, a series of Policy Updates will discuss key findings from the report.

 

Other News and Announcements

LTA updates. The Daily Herald wrote a second editorial about the Homes for a Changing Region project involving the Northwest Suburban Housing Collaborative (Arlington Heights, Buffalo Grove, Mount Prospect, Palatine, and Rolling Meadows). In case you missed it, the first editorial was published in January. The housing plan was produced in partnership with the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC). The Franklin Park Herald-Journal covered next week's open house for the draft Northlake comprehensive plan, which will be held March 6 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the City's public library (231 N. Wolf Road, Northlake). The Niles-Morton Grove Patch described efforts to create a plan for Morton Grove's industrial areas. The Hinsdale Patch covered efforts by the Village to develop a parking strategies study. Residents can provide input on several strategies and priorities to improve the livability and vitality of the community's historic downtown at http://www.hinsdale.metroquest.com/.
 
More manufacturing. In follow-up to the drill-down report, Argonne National Laboratory director Dr. Eric Isaacs will appear at around 9:00 a.m. on Monday, March 4, to discuss R&D with WBEZ host Niala Boodhoo and an official with local manufacturer zuChem.

Congestion pricing. New express toll lanes recently opened in the Los Angeles area. Visit our congestion pricing microsite, www.cmap.illinois.gov/congestion-pricing, to learn more about the many places that congestion pricing is already underway across the country, as well as the benefits of implementing express toll lanes in our own region. To support our congestion pricing effort, please contact CMAP principal planner Erin Aleman (312-386-8816 or ealeman@cmap.illinois.gov).

Transportation in the news. On Monday, I spoke as part of a panel about transit funding at the Active Transportation Alliance's summit "Riders for Better Transit: Building a 21st Century System." Read more about the event at DNA Info. Also, the Daily Herald described proposed legislation on merging CMAP and the Regional Transportation Authority.

Illinois Innovation Index. Loans to small businesses in Illinois are on the rise, as described in the latest Illinois Innovation Index. CMAP led the research and analysis on this month's newsletter. Learn more about the now-quarterly Index at our Policy Updates blog.

Chaddick Municipal Development Award. DePaul University's Chaddick Institute requests nominations for its 2013 Municipal Development Award. Applications are due March 18. To learn more, contact Kate Witherspoon (563-505-6826 or kkwitherspoon@gmail.com).

Water documentary screening. The Village of Oak Park's One Earth Film Festival will include a screening of Last Call at the Oasis, a documentary about the role water plays in our daily lives, tomorrow, March 2 at the Carleton Hotel in Oak Park from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. CMAP's Tim Loftus will help facilitate a post-screening discussion.

Food conference. The Good Food Festival and Conference will be held at the University of Illinois at Chicago Forum (725 W. Roosevelt, Chicago) from March 14 to 16. To learn more about supporting sustainable local food, view a video and related materials at www.cmap.illinois.gov/food.

 

CMAP Blogs

Soles and Spokes. CMAP’s bike-ped planning blog highlighted a white paper examining automated enforcement systems and their potential for improving bicyclist and pedestrian safety. This is the second in a series of white papers from the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC). We also alerted readers to a new League of American Bicyclists resource that compiles all state laws that directly affect bicyclists.

 

Reminders

GO TO 2040 implementation report. CMAP has released Moving Forward: Implementation Report, 2012, our second annual GO TO 2040 implementation report. In conjunction with the report, we printed a combination poster-brochure and would love to see it on walls across the region. Please grab a copy or two the next time you visit us, and we can make a box available for distribution by partner organizations. Contact Hillary Green (hgreen@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8619).

Stormwater BMP seminar. The Conservation Foundation will hold its fourth "Beyond the Basics: Stormwater Best Management Practices seminar" on March 13 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Bobak's Signature Events (6440 Double Eagle Drive, Woodridge). In related news, a new CMAP publication describes how local governments can use stormwater utilities to address local flooding and drainage problems. For additional information on the publication, contact Jesse Elam (jelam@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8688).
 
EI2 in the news. Energy Impact Illinois (EI2) is offering rebates up to $1,750 (an estimated 70-percent cost savings) for upgrades you can make to improve the comfort of your home. For more information, contact Emily Plagman at eplagman@cmap.illinois.gov. To see if you qualify for the rebate, please call 1-855-9-IMPACT.

ArcView workshops. CMAP periodically offers a Two-Day Basic ArcView 10 Workshop, and dates are set for June 5 to 6, July 10 to 11, and August 28 to 29. Attendance at each workshop is limited to five people, so register early. The cost is $350. To register, please contact Jan Drennan (jdrennan@cmap.illinois.gov).

Full-cost water pricing. CMAP, in partnership with the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, developed the Full-Cost Water Pricing Guidebook for Sustainable Community Water Systems. For additional information and printed copies, contact Margaret Schneemann (mschneemann@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-676-7456).
 
 

Events

Northlake open house
March 6, 2013
5:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Northlake Public Library: 231 N. Wolf Road, Northlake
Hosted by the City of Northlake and CMAP
More information

Elmwood Park open house
March 7, 2013
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Elmwood Park Recreation Center: 2 Conti Parkway, Elmwood Park
Hosted by the Village of Elmwood Park and CMAP


Big Rock planning meeting
March 11, 2013
6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
Village Fire Department: 48W863 E. 2nd Street, Big Rock
Hosted by the Village of Big Rock, Kane County, and CMAP
More information

 

 

 

 

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Local Technical Assistance Program

The LTA home page has details of activities sponsored by the HUD Sustainable Communities grant to CMAP for support of community projects that advance the principles of GO TO 2040.  In our second call for projects through the Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program, CMAP received over 100 proposals from more than 80 applicants. View the press release and summary of selected projects.
 

CASE STUDIES

An interactive map of local case studies describes projects and people that exemplify the goals and objectives of GO TO 2040. 
 

CMAP's Local Ordinances and Toolkits program provides resources to municipalities interested in pursuing policies that are aligned with GO TO 2040 recommendations.