CMAP meetings.  At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010, the CMAP Board will meet. Click here for Board meeting materials. Prior to the Board, CMAP's Programming Coordinating Committee will meet at 8:00 a.m. Click here for committee materials.

Water in the Trib.  This week the Chicago Tribune featured the Northeastern Illinois Water Supply/Demand Plan, which was unanimously approved by the Regional Water Supply Planning Group on Tuesday, January 26.  In a sign of the media times, a central story by Jeff Long was accompanied in targeted suburban editions with an article of local interest.  Check out the versions for north and west suburbs and the city.  The Wheaton Sun's Cindy Cain also had a story on the water plan and what it means for Will County.

Recovery blog. Want to know the latest stimulus news?  Check out this week's Economic Recovery Update.  We also blogged about the latest stimulus report from Illinois and guidelines for the new Cash for Appliances rebate program in Illinois.  See our Economic Recovery Update archive for past newsletters.

Economic development summit.  Over 100 professional planners, community and economic developers, and city and village administrators attended a summit held by CMAP at the ComEd Commercial Center in Oak Brook on Monday, January 25.  The event, "Process, Pitfalls, and Profit:  Effective Market Analysis Techniques," included workshops designed to offer practical advice on best practices in planning and economic development in order to coordinate local and regional planning efforts.  See our website forpresentations and a meeting summary.   

Public comments for TIP.  I wanted to remind you that the CMAP Transportation Committee released a conformity amendment to the 2007 to 2012 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).  This amendment is open for a public comment period of 45 days, from January 6 until February 20, 2010.  Conformity analysis is part of the transportation modeling process that evaluates the impact of projects on air quality.  On-road vehicle emissions are reviewed in certain years (currently 2010, 2020, and 2030) to determine whether the region will reach national air quality goals.  Click here for the cover memo and a list of conformity amendments.  Comments can be made via e-mail, phone at (312) 386-8780, in person at the CMAP offices (800 S Wacker Drive, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60606), or by mail to the same address.

CMAQ buses.  The Illinois EPA (IEPA) has been awarded $1 million in federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funds from CMAP for the purchase and installation of equipment to reduce diesel emissions from school district-owned school buses in the greater Chicago area.  Eligible equipment includes diesel oxidation catalysts, closed crankcase ventilation units, diesel particulate filters, and direct-fired heaters.  Additional information and application materials can be found at www.illinoisgreenfleets.org in the Clean School Bus section.  For more information, contact Mike Rogers at IEPA (217-524-4408).  

Cash for appliances.  The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) released guidelines for the Illinois Energy Star Appliance Rebate program, which is being funded with $12.4 million in stimulus funds.  The program provides "point of purchase rebates" for individuals to replace older appliances with specific residential Energy Star qualified appliances, water heaters, and HVAC equipment.  Read more about the program on our Recovery blog. 

Upcoming workshops/conferences.  On Wednesday, March 3, 2010, two conferences are being held.  "Natural Lawn Care Basics" will be at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and How to Write a Fundable 319 Grant will be at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.  Experts from the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District, Safer Pest Control Project, and Integrated Lakes Management will help individuals learn how to grow a healthy, sustainable, natural lawn at the first workshop.  At the second workshop, representatives from IEPA, U.S. EPA, CMAP, and Prairie Rivers Network will present information about the Clean Water Act "Section 319" Nonpoint Source Pollution Control grant program and provide tips and insights for developing well-prepared grant applications.  Arboretum staff will also be leading a tour of their successful 319 grant applications.  Registration for both events must be completed by February 15 through the Illinois Lake Management Association (ILMA), and there is a $15 registration fee for both events. 

ILMA is also hosting its 25th annual conference from March 4-5 at the Holiday Inn Select in Naperville. Join lake enthusiasts and experts from across the state to learn, share, and discuss lake watershed management approaches and techniques.  For conference call, hotel information, and a registration form, visit www.ilma-lakes.org or call ILMA at (800) 338-6976, access code 01. 

Urbanophile.   See blogger Aaron Renn's interesting take on how to promote transit ridership. 

CMBOC event.  It was an honor to speak at the Chicago Minority Business Opportunity Center's annual "Corporate Bridges" event last November, where I moderated a panel of representatives from government agencies that are directly or indirectly using funds from both stimulus and other government sources.  This week the center posted a recap of the event.

In the GO TO 2040 blog.  We featured a simple but elegant photo of a bicyclist for our Monday Flickr Photo.  Also, we recapped our opening event for the photo show in Oak Park featuring our 12 Images of Northeastern Illinois Photo Contest winners at the Prairie Bread Kitchen.  The show will be up at the bakery through the month of February. 

Energy webinar. CMAP will be conducting a webinar on geothermal energy on February 26, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. Mark your calendars to hear three panelists discuss the design, applicability, and benefits of geothermal heating and cooling, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says is the cleanest alternative energy source.  More details will be available soon.