Economic innovation plays a major role in producing sustained regional prosperity, yet measuring such a broad concept is often difficult to accomplish. GO TO 2040 recommends improving data and information systems on innovation so that policymakers, investors, and business leaders can make better-informed decisions. One year ago, CMAP joined the collaborative Illinois Innovation Index... Read More

On September 17-18, 2012, CMAP hosted a peer exchange of transportation implementers from across the region to discuss their agencies’ approaches to capital programming.  Participating agencies included the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) District 1, Illinois Tollway, county transportation departments, North Shore Council of Mayors, CMAP, City of Chicago, City of... Read More

Manufacturing is one of our region's key economic drivers. According to preliminary CMAP research, metropolitan Chicago's manufacturing cluster provided almost $40 billion in personal income last year, and the cluster is expected to grow more in the coming year. Every county in northeastern Illinois has a strong concentration of manufacturing, which includes a variety of industries, from... Read More

Illinois has some of the most fertile soils in the country. While Illinois farmers grow only six percent of the produce consumed in the state, they could grow much more. If local food production were increased in the seven counties of metropolitan Chicago, it could create over 5,000 jobs and generate $6.5 billion of economic activity per year, according to an Iowa State University study .... Read More

The U.S. Census has released an analysis of the population changes in Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical areas (MSAs) between 2000 and 2010. The analysis discusses changes in population density, population near the center of MSAs, racial and ethnic composition, age groups, and gender. The report provides many cross-MSA comparisons and highlights national trends such as the overall... Read More