Invest in Cook grants help municipalities further their transportation projects by covering the cost of planning, engineering, right-of-way acquisition and construction associated with transportation improvements sponsored by local governments and private partners. In January, the County put out the call and received 58 Invest in Cook grant applications from local governments and transit agencies. Invest in Cook is an initiative that’s part of Connecting Cook County, the Coun

From the US Department of Labor: The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced the availability of $150 million in the H-1B One Workforce Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number: FOA-ETA-20-13) to invest in training for middle- to high-skilled H-1B occupations within key sectors in the U.S. economy, including information technology and cyber security, advanced manufacturing and transportation, to upskill the present workforce and train a new generation of workers to grow

The preliminary injunction issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in the Northern District of California requires the Census Bureau to keep trying to tally the country’s residents through Oct. 31. The ruling is the latest development in a federal lawsuit over the administration’s decision to shorten the timeline for the national head count. The Justice Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, is expected to appeal the order, further com

There is plenty of time to inventory vehicles and equipment for disposal in the NWMC auction, where a portion of the proceeds help support the operations of the organization. If you can’t make the October event, America’s Auto Auction hosts online sales on par with other government surplus Internet auctions. For questions or additional information, please contact staff or Berry Ellis, berry.ellis@americasautoauction.com or 312-371-5993. SPC Extends Ford F-550 XL Chassis Cab C

Although many have not survived the stay-at-home orders and reduced revenue caused by the pandemic, Lansing continues to welcome newcomers to its business landscape. “New businesses and development opportunities are flourishing in Lansing,” said Village Administrator Dan Podgorski. “A number of vacant Ridge Road storefronts will soon be housing new businesses, and developers are actively looking at sites throughout the Village of Lansing.” Additionally, some businesses have p

As part of the State of Illinois’ holistic response to COVID-19 and the racial disparities its impact revealed, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has launched the Healing Illinois project in partnership with The Chicago Community Trust (the Trust). Healing Illinois is a step towards racial healing and the larger mission of fighting poverty and ending racial inequality for all Illinoisans. Current events speak to the need of why our country, our state, our neigh

Image courtesy of Openlands Openlands and partner organizations in the Chicago region have been working for years to improve the enjoyment and quality of local rivers. That work includes designating more than 500 miles of “water trails” on the Calumet, Chicago, Des Plaines, Fox and other rivers, and creating an online guide to canoeing or kayaking on those waterways. Now, Openlands and regional friends are making its first attempt at creating a historical tour on a waterway:

Both will be in jeopardy if Congress doesn’t provide more COVID relief funds, transit officials say. In an interview taped as part of Crain’s Transportation Series: Chicago’s Public Transportation Challenge, CTA President Dorval Carter and Regional Transportation Authority Chairman Kirk Dillard both warned of very difficult times ahead if Washington does nothing to at least partially renew the $1.4 billion that will be exhausted by March. “We’re in a world of hurt,” with ride

The organizations Comcast is distributing the grants to are Cornerstone Community Development Corporation in Ford Heights, Mentoring Youth Through Technology (MYTT) in Harvey and New Star in Chicago Heights, according to Comcast…Please click here to read Yasmeen Sheikah’s story in the Patch.

The discussion centered on how COVID-19 has impacted transit and highlighted the importance of making transportation accessible to essential workers, who are predominantly people of color. See the video. Mayor Reinbold, a Richton Park resident since 1952, has served as village president since 2001. Previously, he served as a village trustee from 1993-2001. He is the owner of Reinbold Properties, general manager of Englund Properties, and president of the Chicago Cart Company.

From Flossmoor Mayor Paul Braun, who announced on Facebook today that he will not seek a fourth term as Flossmoor mayor: Today I announce that I will not be seeking a fourth term as Mayor of the Village of Flossmoor when my current term ends in May, 2021. As others have said, being mayor is a job of a lifetime but it is not a job for a lifetime. Having been elected Mayor of Flossmoor in April, 2009 it has been my pleasure and honor to serve this wonderful community for the pa

The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA) and the Southland Development Authority recently announced grant awards totaling more than $400,000 to fund innovative initiatives that further strengthen the economy and communities of Chicago’s South Suburbs. The Southland Economic Transformation (SET) Fund, generously supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and managed by SSMMA, received nearly 60 proposals. The 10 winners include a technolog

“The longer that it keeps going, the more revenue that we’re out,” said Chicago Heights Mayor David Gonzalez. The crux of the dispute stems from how utility taxes are collected. Towns are allowed to levy their own taxes on utilities such as phones and electricity. Those local charges show up on consumers’ monthly bills, and ComEd collects the tax and distributes the money to the individual towns…Please click here to read Ray Long’s story in the Tribune/Daily Southtown.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has responded to concerns about the lottery that will be used to award new marijuana retail licenses, telling Black and Latino lawmakers in a letter that “before the lottery takes place, we will take the necessary time to ensure that the process is fair and equitable.“ When it announced the finalists for the lottery, the state said it would hold the lottery in late September, but it now appears the process could take longer than that. “The final date for th

Defaulting renter with facemask receives letter giving notice of eviction from home on wooden table A young mother’s dream to provide a home for her daughter was crushed by COVID-19, and they have been left homeless. CBS2 Investigator Dorothy Tucker discovered that new rules designed to prevent homelessness are actually causing some landlords to lose their homes. Jillesa Willis showed off the blankets and clothes stored in her trunk in case the weather turns colder. They are

South suburban projects include the communities of Dolton, Frankfort and Matteson. Student Award Village of Dolton Comprehensive Plan –The project submitted was created during the Plan Making Studio course at the University of Illinois at Chicago and showcases the team’s ability to develop a high quality comprehensive plan for the South Suburban community of Dolton, Illinois. See the video. Daniel Burnham Award for a Comprehensive Plan Award Your Future Your Frankfort 2040 Co

IDOT’s virtual event will consist of their traditional welcome session followed by a series of five webinars. Topics for the sessions are COVID-19, active transportation, equity, sustainability, and planning and environmental linkages. They are being developed like their typical conference breakout sessions and will include panels as well as presentations by your peers. The webinars will be available during the first three weeks of October. Registration links are provided bel

Cook County Requests Proposals from Suburban Community-Based Organizations $5.4M available for COVID-19 outreach, education, support services and access to testing As part of its contact tracing initiative, Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH), together with the Hektoen Institute of Medicine, released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for community-based organizations (CBOs) serving in suburban Cook County areas most affected by COVID-19. As much as $5.4M in funds wil

There is plenty of time to inventory vehicles and equipment for disposal in the NWMC auction, where a portion of the proceeds help support the operations of the organization. If you can’t make the October event, America’s Auto Auction hosts online sales on par with other government surplus Internet auctions. For questions or additional information, please contact staff or Berry Ellis, berry.ellis@americasautoauction.com or 312-371-5993. Warehouse Direct Has PPE in Stock As p

September 22, 2020, 9:30 am CT Leveraging & Layering Illinois Brownfield Resources Speakers include: South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association, Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation, Southland Development Authority, Illinois EPA, US EPA, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. See the agenda. More details can be found at  https://www.ksutab.org/education/workshops/Illinois September 29, 2020, 9:30 am CT Innovative Strategies for Brownfield Redevelopment i