June - 2020

SOUTH SUBURBAN MAYORS & MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

Chicago Ald. David Moore joins south suburban leaders in push for Peotone airport

Jun 30, 2020

Chicago Ald. David Moore joins south suburban leaders in push for Peotone airport

Image courtesy of Facebook In a release to Politico, Chicago Ald. David Moore (17th) says building a south suburban airport near University Park will address concerns about disparities in the African American community at a time when it needs it most. “We need to throw everything we have at the South Side to address the myriad problems residents are facing. The South Suburban Airport is 90 percent complete and community leaders need to support its completion,” he said in a re

Cook County’s broadband grant to help further expansion of CSFN

Jun 30, 2020

Cook County’s broadband grant to help further expansion of CSFN

Currently, CSFN serves a variety of customers including Cook County courthouses, south suburban regional hospitals and clinics, municipal governments, public safety agencies, community colleges and universities, and economic development organizations. Over the past seven years, CSFN’s business model targeted anchor institutions within communities, supplementing later operations through fiber adoption in the business community. Business and municipal customers facilitated the

Funding opportunity: Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program

Jun 30, 2020

Funding opportunity: Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Grant Program

FRA has published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to make funds available for implementing suicide prevention projects. The purpose of the Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Program is to implement an outreach campaign to reduce the number of rail–related suicides that involve or result from railroad trespassing. The Railroad Trespassing Suicide Prevention Program NOFO was published in the Federal Register, giving applicants 60 days to apply. Applications are du

Southland Development Authority resource website is now live

Amazon to build two distribution warehouses in south suburbs, but local officials want more — an air

Jun 23, 2020

Amazon to build two distribution warehouses in south suburbs, but local officials want more — an air

Amazon “is in all respects on the cutting edge of e-commerce. And with so many Amazon facilities emerging in the Chicago metro area, I am certain that we’re going to need a more accessible airport … that isn’t on the other side of Chicago,” said U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a Matteson Democrat…Please click here to read Rick Pearson’s story in the Tribune. Related stories include: Crain’s – Amazon hiring 2,000 people in south suburbs Chicago Tribune – Southtown: Pritzker touts new A

New feature! Member Community Spotlight: Calumet Park

Jun 18, 2020

New feature! Member Community Spotlight: Calumet Park

Mayor Ronald Denson congratulated some of the graduation class of 2020 from Calumet Park. The principals from Richards High School and Shepard High School attended as well. See photos. Mayor Ronald Denson and the elected officials of Calumet Park joined together to hand out 300 $50.00 gift cards and face masks to the residents on June 5, 2020. See photos. Mayor Ronald Denson has served as the village president since 2013. He upholds the village’s top three priorities (3 Cs):

UIC’s Department of Public Administration seeks fall capstone projects

Jun 17, 2020

UIC’s Department of Public Administration seeks fall capstone projects

The MPA program is always looking for new agencies or municipalities that it can partner with on capstone projects. Project proposals are generally accepted up to six weeks in advance of the spring (January start date) and the fall (August start date) semesters. If you have a project-worthy proposal and want to take advantage of graduate student skill and collaboration, contact Prof. James Thompson at jthomp@uic.edu. The fall 2020 Capstone project proposal deadline is July 1

Homeowner tax assistance from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

Jun 17, 2020

Homeowner tax assistance from Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas

Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas may be able to relieve some stress for homeowners by lowering their property taxes, applying for missing exemptions which means a refund, waiving interest fees on late payments, and pushing the tax sale back indefinitely. Cook County homeowners are missing out on: $79 million in available property tax refunds $44 million in unclaimed tax exemptions for senior citizens, veterans, and disabled persons This money belongs to the people, not th

Sheriff’s police help clean up businesses damaged by looters, but they can’t fix inequality

Jun 16, 2020

Sheriff’s police help clean up businesses damaged by looters, but they can’t fix inequality

Image courtesy of Facebook Sheriff Tom Dart wants to provide resources to help businesses reopen in the south suburbs, said Tisa Morris, director of community engagement for the sheriff’s office. The sheriff’s office is able to provide resources from various programs, she said. The Restoring Neighborhoods Workforce, or RENEW program, for example, allows jail detainees to work on demolition and deconstruction projects while supervised by sheriff’s officers. South suburban busi

Funding opportunity: Community rebuilding grant for cleanup

Jun 12, 2020

Funding opportunity: Community rebuilding grant for cleanup

The National Association of Realtors is working with the Mainstreet Associations of Realtors to assist local communities damaged by recent civil unrest. If your municipality has damaged properties, please contact Thomas H. Joseph, Government Affairs Director – Illinois Realtors at Tjoseph@illinoisrealtors.org or 630-324-8424. The grants of about $3,000 are for clean-up of “public” areas. Mr. Joseph will fill out an original application on your community’s behalf based on your

Grant opportunity: MWRD Green Infrastructure Partnership Opportunity Program

Jun 12, 2020

Grant opportunity: MWRD Green Infrastructure Partnership Opportunity Program

The MWRD’s goals for the Green Infrastructure Partnership Opportunity Program are: Build GI to reduce stormwater flows to local sewer systems and prevent combined sewer overflows; Use GI to address local flooding and draining problems; Promote GI as a complimentary way to manage stormwater with natural systems; Aesthetically enhance public areas and increase a community’s “green space”; and Provide improvements in water quality.

Site once eyed for big Country Club Hills mall sprouts warehouses

Jun 10, 2020

Site once eyed for big Country Club Hills mall sprouts warehouses

More than 1 million square feet of warehouse and distribution space is expected to be ready for occupants by year’s end at LogiPark 57-80, being built on more than 100 acres a stone’s throw from where Interstates 57 and 80 meet. The development is among millions of square feet of similar logistics space, much of it designed to accommodate the needs of e-commerce retail, sprouting in the Southland and tapping into the region’s proximity to major interstates. “This is an incred

Employment opportunities: Midlothian full-time Building Inspector and part-time Inspector / Code Enf

Employment opportunity: Alsip Finance Intern

DCEO seeks input from businesses that have been negatively impacted by recent civil unrest

Jun 8, 2020

DCEO seeks input from businesses that have been negatively impacted by recent civil unrest

They are working with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) who can provide targeted, low-interest loans to small businesses and non-profits that have been severely impacted by civil unrest in counties that have received a disaster declaration through SBA. As a part of this process, they need to collect information from businesses that have been negatively impacted. The information submitted through this form will assist them in requesting a disaster declaration from

Applications are open for the Community Recovery Fund through June 17

Jun 8, 2020

Applications are open for the Community Recovery Fund through June 17

This loan fund offers one-time, zero-interest loans of up to $20,000 for small businesses and up to $10,000 for independent contractors in suburban Cook County. Loans will be administered by the Chicago Community Loan Fund and provided by a network of community lenders. The application deadline is Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at 11:59 pm. Who can apply? Small Businesses are eligible if they are: Employing 25 or fewer employees, Earning less than $3 million in annual revenue, Loca

Will County Executive Larry Walsh Sr. passes away

Jun 8, 2020

Will County Executive Larry Walsh Sr. passes away

A public visitation will be Thursday, June 11, 2020 at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home in Manhattan, Illinois from 2 PM – 8 PM. Face masks will be required. Due to restrictions, a private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima Church in Wilmington on Friday, June 12, 2020. The public is invited to safely line the processional route (Kankakee Street between Rt. 53 and St. Rose Church) following Mass at 11:15 AM to pay tribute to Larry. Interment, M

Southland leaders honor George Floyd, decry racism/violence and demand police support

Jun 5, 2020

Southland leaders honor George Floyd, decry racism/violence and demand police support

Southland mayors gathered to speak about George Floyd’s recent death at the hands of Minneapolis police and offer prayers and condolences for his family. In addition, they called for regional unity and support for their police departments from state and county officials. That support was simply not there on May 31, a day that Calumet Park Mayor Ronald Denson described as the worst in his eight years on the job. It was the day after peaceful protests devolved into riots, looti

South suburban leaders condemn violence, pledge to strengthen communities

Jun 5, 2020

South suburban leaders condemn violence, pledge to strengthen communities

Some remarks addressed the distinction between demonstrators exercising their rights to express free speech and criminals taking advantage of volatile situations to rob businesses. “I support peaceful protest as a method of expression,” Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, D-Lynwood, said in a statement issued Tuesday. “I do not condone the looting and violence that has occurred…” Please click here to read Ted Slowik’s column in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.

Southland communities receive grants to combat health and financial disparities magnified by COVID-1

Jun 4, 2020

Southland communities receive grants to combat health and financial disparities magnified by COVID-1

In response to COVID-19’s continuous impact on Chicago residents and the local economy, the Chicago Community COVID-19 Respond Fund announced an additional $9.5 million in grants. Funds will support 194 nonprofit organizations in Chicago and the surrounding collar counties, providing emergency resources to residents hardest hit by the health and financial crisis. For the third round of grants, 739 nonprofit organizations submitted applications seeking financial support. This