SEARCH RESULTS

here to read the full story by Gregory Tejeda in the Times.

From sick leave to medical expenses, the health of your employees directly affects the performance of your organization. Every day, insurance rates are climbing, resources are shrinking, and many employees are not taking the proper steps to protect their health risks. Horton Health Initiatives, a division of The Horton Group, offers SSMMA members Health Risk Management and Wellness Services, including health risk and culture assessments, benefit plan design, biometric screenings, on-site workshops and promotional events. Their programs include incentive-driven solutions to increase employee participation. Return on investment is measurable, often occurring within the first plan year and continues to grow as employees become healthier, productivity increases and healthcare costs are controlled. For more information, click here.

Participants discussed using open data in apps to get information that describes an area’s or a property’s foreclosure activity, water capacity, nearby natural areas or parks, crime statistics, historical data, nearby schools and more…information that is most desirable to potential developers or investors. Examples of open data include building permits, city budgets, inspections, land use, capital improvements, fire and police calls and zoning. The event was modeled after a competition held last year in Chicago: Apps 4 Metro Chicago Illinois (A4MC). The State of Illinois, Cook County and the City of Chicago participated. This was the first government-sponsored apps competition in Chicago, and the first anywhere that included collaboration among three different units of government. The multi-month initiative aims to make Illinois’ open data platform, Data.Illinois.Gov, available statewide, and host government trainings, community meetings and hackathons that will bring together developers in technology with civic-minded individuals and organizations. The goal is to help develop a real community where sustainable civic results occur and economic development is spurred. Some of the apps developed thus far include public transit schedules, crime viewers, recycle helpers, vacant building finders, a TIF viewer, a street parking finder, nearby children’s activities going on at the moment and more. Apps can also be used by people in certain professions or circumstances. For instance, the IFindIt app for social workers, case managers, providers and residents provides quick information regarding access to food, shelter and medical care in their area. At least $75K in total prize money will be awarded to any individual, or team of individuals for developing innovative software applications that utilize open government data to best address the challenges in one of the four communities.

University Park Mayor Vivian Covington hosted the event and shared news about some of the town’s economic development projects. One is new university housing projects for Governors State University 2014 transition into a four year institution (click here to read a related story). Others are the economic growth potential of the I-57/-Stuenkel Road Interchange and the University Park Transportation Program. The new Southland Community Loan Fund and the South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority were other topics discussed. Oak Forest Community Development Director Adam Dotson provided a definition of land banks: • They can acquire property through purchase or it can receive property. • They can hold property and manage it. • They can sell for profit so other properties can be acquired and managed with the returns. Land banks exist to administer a regional economic development tool for municipalities with limited manpower and financial resources to manage and rehabilitate abandoned, vacant or foreclosed properties. Thus far, the bank’s charter communities include Oak Forest, Park Forest and Blue Island, and they invite other towns to participate. The new Southland Community Loan Fund is positioning itself to offer low-interest loans to help support development or redevelopment projects from the land bank and other housing inventory, as well as mixed-use, industrial or manufacturing projects, particularly those along transit hubs, said Andy Geer at the forum. He is the vice president and market leader of Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. The $6 million loan fund that Geer hopes to grow to $15 million provides low-cost, flexible loans and hands-on technical assistance to community development organizations for affordable housing and economic/ commercial development. In addition, the fund supports challenging projects that help revitalize low- and moderate-income neighborhoods and suburban communities throughout metropolitan Chicago, aiding families and communities along the path toward economic stability, prosperity and sustainability. Also speaking at the forum was Rubin Kuznitsky. The vice president of operations for Esmark Steel Group promoted manufacturing as a career choice to help fill a gaping skills gap in the industry where there are far more jobs than there are trained and capable workers. Edward Warbick of Paine/Wetzel World Wide Real Estate Services provided a verbal tour of the Southland industrial market, pointing out new developments such as Winpak packaging company in South Chicago Heights and Sauk Village, a Clorax bleach facility in University Park and the M. Block distribution facility in Tinley Park. Finally, SSMMA and CSEDC Director of Economic Development Reggie Greenwood wrapped up the forum with a request for participation and investment in the CSEDC’s work to build upon the Southland. Click here to read a related story on NWI.com. [box type=”info” border=”full”]Download: The CSEDC Forum presentation in PDF The South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority presentation in PowerPoint The Southland Fund presentation in PowerPoint[/box]

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, green infrastructure planning is an approach that communities can choose to maintain healthy waters, provide multiple environmental benefits and support sustainable communities. Unlike single-purpose gray stormwater infrastructure, which uses pipes to dispose of rainwater, green infrastructure uses vegetation and soil to manage rainwater where it falls. By weaving natural processes into the built environment, green infrastructure provides not only stormwater management, but also flood mitigation, air quality management, and much more. Other topics discussed at the workshop included reducing flooding, saving infrastructure costs, economic development, beautification, trails, open space and more. The Midlothian Creek Green Infrastructure Plan is a Millennium Reserve conservation project. Here, Chicago Wilderness’ Sustainable Watershed Action Team (SWAT) of Weaver Boos Consultants, SSMMA GIS Atlas, the Field Museum, and IDNR all work together to identify green infrastructure elements within the Midlothian Creek watershed, a tributary to the Little Calumet River.

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the Illinois Finance Authority, will make $1 billion available in low-cost loans for municipalities to to address critical wastewater and drinking water infrastructure needs.  To learn more about Governor Quinn’s Clean Water Initiative, visit www.CleanWater.Illinois.gov.

By Paul Merrion, Crain’s Chicago Bysiness A long-stymied effort to build an airport near Peotone—U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s single-minded goal during his 17 years in Congress—may finally be making progress without him. While the embattled Chicago Democrat has been in health-related seclusion since June, state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Olympia Fields, has been trying to broker a peace treaty between the two political sides at war over who will control the airport. Click here to read the full story.

Many aren’t aware of it, but there is a committed group of people working quietly behind the scenes to renew and restore Chicago’s south suburban region in more ways than you can imagine. Picture this: A new I-294/I-57 interchange between Midlothian, Dixmoor, Harvey, Markham and Posen. New Metra stations in Robbins, Tinley Park and Oak Forest. The site of the former Dixie Square Mall now leveled, cleaned up and ready for redevelopment. Former brownfields in Markham, Riverdale, Lansing, Robbins, South Chicago Heights, Harvey, Dixmoor, Burnham and Posen are cleaned and ready for redevelopment. Crews are poised to install miles of fiber broadband throughout the southland region for lightning fast Internet service. More than $50 million for road projects in nearly two dozen communities. These are just some results of the work done by the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association. They are mayors working with mayors, city managers and administrators working with each other, who work collectively with other intergovernmental organizations as well as county, state and federal officials to effect change for not just their own towns, but the whole region. Click here to read Ed Paesel’s editorial in the Times of Northwest Indiana.

Metra CEO Pete Muscarella, Alex Clifford, SSMMA Executive Director Edward Paesel, State Sen. Maggie Crotty, Oak Forest Mayor Hank Kuspa, Oak Forest City Administrator Troy Ishler, Oak Forest City Clerk Scott Burkhardt, Oak Forest Community Development Director Adam Dotson and Legat Architect Ted Haug. After more than three years of applications, planning and fundraising, officials from Oak Forest, the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, Metra and the state legislature broke ground on a new $3.3 million Metra train station on Oct. 25, 2012. “I was hoping to break ground at the end of July, but here we are,” said Oak Forest Mayor Hank Kuspa. “We’re probably the last out here to get a new station, “ added Oak Forest Director of Community Development Adam Dotson. The new 1700-square-foot station is expected to be completed in April 2013. It is funded in part by $1.3 million from Metra via Federal Transit Authority grants, $1 million from the City of Oak Forest and $1 million from SSMMA’s Surface Transportation Program (STP). The station will replace the existing one which has a leaky roof, antiquated rest room fixtures and inadequate space to keep many winter time commuters warm and dry. This and other transit-related projects are a part of SSMMA’s  Green TIME Zone strategy, a philosophy that drives much of SSMMA’s programs and partnerships to achieve a robust, sustainable southland region that attracts global investment and thriving communities. To achieve this, development or redevelopment plans are oriented around new and existing  Transit, Intermodal, and Manufacturing structures to support Environmental sustainability. Click here to read a related story in the Southtown Star. Or here to read about the potential economic impact for Oak Forest in the Southtown Star.

Ronald Lanz of Land Visions facilitates discussion at the kickoff meeting Representatives from towns, the county, state, transit and intergovernmental organizations met Oct. 10, 2012, to kickoff land use and economic development planning of the area surrounding the new I-294/I-57 interchange. The project’s steering committee included representatives from Dixmoor, Harvey, Markham, Midlothian and Posen as well as South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation (CSEDC), Cook County, IDOT, Illinois Tollway, RTA and Pace. A consultant team – led by Land Vision and including Baxter and Woodman, TranSystems and Business Districts, Inc. – will analyze and provide recommendations for improving corridors and sites in the study area. This land use and economic development planning project is being undertaken through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program. CMAP is able to provide this assistance through a federal grant at no cost to any of the five communities. The I-294 and I-57 interchange is one of the major transportation capital projects recommended in the Chicago region’s “GO TO 2040” comprehensive plan. The $719 million capital project is now under construction and expected to be completed by 2014. It is funded through a January 2012 toll increase. The current intersection of I-294 and I-57 is one of the only points in the nation where interstates cross, but do not connect. The interchange was first proposed in 1993 to relieve pressure on the 163rd Street Toll Plaza and to accommodate a possible third airport in Peotone. But access, environmental, geometric, technical and groundwater studies along with years of I-294 road widening construction delayed the project for nearly two decades. Major corridors surrounding the new interchange are Dixie Highway, Kedzie Avenue, 147th and 159th Streets. The impact of a new highway interchange on these corridors represents a unique opportunity for Midlothian, Dixmoor, Harvey, Markham and Posen to plan together for land use and economic prosperity.

Ronald Lanz of Land Visions facilitates discussion at the kickoff meeting Representatives from towns, the county, state, transit and intergovernmental organizations met Oct. 10, 2012, to kickoff land use and economic development planning of the area surrounding the new I-294/I-57 interchange. The project’s steering committee included representatives from Dixmoor, Harvey, Markham, Midlothian and Posen as well as South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation (CSEDC), Cook County, IDOT, Illinois Tollway, RTA and Pace. A consultant team – led by Land Vision and including Baxter and Woodman, TranSystems and Business Districts, Inc. – will analyze and provide recommendations for improving corridors and sites in the study area. This land use and economic development planning project is being undertaken through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s (CMAP) Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program. CMAP is able to provide this assistance through a federal grant at no cost to any of the five communities. The interchange was first proposed in 1993 to relieve pressure on the 163rd Street Toll Plaza and to accommodate a possible third airport in Peotone. But access, environmental, geometric, technical and groundwater studies along with years of I-294 road widening construction delayed the project for nearly two decades. Major corridors surrounding the new interchange are Dixie Highway, Kedzie Avenue, 147th and 159th Streets. The impact of a new highway interchange on these corridors represents a unique opportunity for Midlothian, Dixmoor, Harvey, Markham and Posen to plan together for land use and economic prosperity.

PEOTONE – September 27, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Illinois has reached another major milestone toward approval of the South Suburban Airport by submitting to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) a draft Airport Layout Plan for review. The Airport Layout Plan is the sixth of the nine key elements that make up the project’s Master Plan and further demonstrates Governor Quinn’s commitment to building the critical airport as soon as possible. Click here to read the full press release.