CMAP funding.  To bring you up-to-date with our on-going funding issue, we've received word that IDOT will match our federal transportation planning funds for all four quarters of FY10.  This will allow us to continue work as scheduled on the GO TO 2040 plan and other projects, but it still leaves a significant shortfall for our important non-transportation planning, including water and other natural resources.  See our comprehensive budget and work plan.

Invent the Future workshops.  This week, we held successful workshops in Berkeley, Arlington Heights, Elmwood Park, Lansing, Lilydale Progressive MB Church (Chicago), Evanston, and Fox Lake.  In the following list of pending workshops, please note that we've added a few new dates.  As always, see our complete workshop schedule, and registration is requested but not required. You can register online, via email, or by calling Joey-Lin Silberhorn at 312-386-8814. 

• Grayslake Village Hall, Tuesday, August 25, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Moraine Valley Community College, Palos Hills, Wednesday, August 26, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Montgomery Village Hall, Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Hegewisch Public Library, Chicago, Thursday, August 27, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
• Morton Arboretum, Lisle, Thursday, August 27, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
• Cicero Community Center, Monday, August 31, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Prisco Community Center, Aurora, Tuesday, September 1, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
• University of Illinois at Chicago, Thursday, September 3, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
• Arturo Velasquez Institute, Chicago, Thursday, September 3, (time TBD)
• Crerar Presbyterian Church, Chicago, Thursday, September 10, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Palos Hills workshop. To clarify some confusion over the address of Moraine Valley Community College, here is a map that may be easier to navigate than one that we had sent earlier.  The address of 8838 W 111th St, Palos Hills, Illinois 60465 works better with Google Maps and Mapquest, taking you to the main entrance.  On Wednesday, August 26, our Invent the Future workshop will run from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. 

Media coverage.  The Chicago Tribune ran a nice story by Kristen Kridel about Invent the Future, emphasizing our outreach in the northwest suburbs.  Other news links included the Pioneer Press (Oak Park), Evanston Roundtable, and Lake County News- Sun.

Stimulus in the news.  Also this week, Paul Merrion in Crain's Chicago Business gave CMAP a couple of mentions when he wrote about how Illinois is aggressively seeking its share of stimulus funding, including dollars designated for economically distressed areas.  In related news, RTA will be receiving $33 million in stimulus funding to buy up fixed-route buses and up to 190 paratransit vehicles, according to the Associated Press.  The New York Times reported on the "green" economy's continued success in creating jobs, including a Chicago home weatherization program targeted at lower-income households.

Recovery blog.  Don't forget to check out the latest developments in stimulus spending for the region and state at our Recovery blog. Recent posts include a commendation CMAP and the ARRA Coordinating Council received for their work on the stimulus, a look at workforce investment competitive grants and their deadlines, new green jobs coming to the Chicago region, the best websites to check for the mapping of stimulus funds, and updates in workforce development opportunities and ARRA reporting requirements. Also, read about the new Green for All Capital Access Program, designed to assist the private sector and non-profits work with ARRA green programs. Be sure to check out the City of Chicago's new recovery website to monitor stimulus funds and job creation.

In the GO TO 2040 blog. We started out the week featuring a tranquil photo from Evanston's Gross Point lighthouse. We also recapped many of our recent Invent the Future workshops in Chatham, Harvard, Schaumburg, Geneva, Joliet, Yorkville, at Bethel New Life in Chicago, and in Barrington.

Twittering.  We had another week of lots of activity in our Twitter feed, along with three very nice #FollowFriday mentions. You should definitely be following us!

REMINDER:  Upper Fox River meeting.  Tuesday, August 25 at 6:00 p.m. is when a public meeting will be held by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to present information and receive comments on two draft Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Stage 1 Reports. One report addresses the Upper Fox River/Chain O'Lakes Watershed and the other report covers the Upper Fox River/Flint Creek Watershed. The meeting location is the University Center of Lake County, 1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake, IL 60030. Click here for an IEPA page with links to the reports.

Green roundtable.  "The New Green Economy: Tax Savings and Transit" will be hosted by the Center for Neighborhood Technology (with co-sponsors including CMAP) on Monday, September 14, 2009 at 8:00 a.m. in the Omni Hotel, Downtown Chicago.  The event is free, but RSVP is required.  Please register on-line or by contacting Jim Drew of CNT (jdrew@cnt.org) by September 1.  

More CNT.  In other CNT news, congratulations to Jacky Grimshaw on her appointment by Governor Quinn to serve on the CTA board. 

FLIP applications due on August 31.  CMAP staff have been working hard contacting our partners, high schools and youth development organizations all over the region to get the word out about the Future Leaders In Planning (FLIP) program. If you have not done so already, please take a moment to download an application and email it to a student that is interested and engaged in making his or her community a better place. Please also consider submitting a reference form on his or her behalf (part of the application you just downloaded). Both are due on August 31.

Water event.  The newly formed Illinois Section of the American Water Works Association (ISAWWA) Water Efficiency Committee invites you to participate in the September 1, 2009 seminar held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Schaumburg.  A diverse group of speakers will share their expertise on a variety of topics aimed to introduce and incorporate water efficiency in your utility and community. Topics include Water Efficiency Basics, Demand Management Options, EPA's WaterSense program, and Utility Best Practices and Case Studies.  Featured speakers include Andre Dieffenthaller (Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.), Mary Ann Dickinson (Alliance for Water Efficiency), and Catherine Hurley (MWH). The cost is $40.00 for AWWA members, $60.00 for non-AWWA members and $70.00 on-site registration. Continental Breakfast and Lunch are included. Location: Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. Office, 1515 E. Woodfield Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173. For more information please contact Amy Talbot (atalbot@cmap.illinois.gov or 312-386-8646).

Vote for the region's "best public place."  The nominations are complete, and now you can vote through September 14 on the entries in the Metropolitan Planning Council's "What Makes Your Place Great?" photo and video contest.  For more info, contact Karin Sommer (312-863-6044 or ksommer@metroplanning.org).

TAFKAIAA.  The former Illinois Arts Alliance has changed its name to Arts Alliance Illinois.  You can let them know what you think by commenting on their Facebook page.  While you’re on Facebook, don’t forget to become a fan of GO TO 2040 as well.