Cook County Economic Development

Our Draft Annual Action Plan

barbara.maloof — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:55:26 +0000

We’re preparing our Draft 2013 Annual Action Plan, which summarizes proposed activities designed to meet community, housing, and economic development needs in suburban Cook County. The public comment period is: May 30, 2013 through June 30, 2013. We will have an online version available for review on our website, (www.cookcountyil.gov/economicdevelopment) and a printed copy available for review in our Bureau Office from May 30, 2013 through June 30, 2013.

Click here to view the public notice and scroll to Item Two.

Looking for Work?

barbara.maloof — Mon, 20 May 2013 21:35:12 +0000

If you’re looking for work, and you live in Cook County, the Chicago-Cook Workforce Partnership wants to help.

For more details, go to: http://www.workforceboard.org/

View some of our calendars for this month:

One Stop Center Locations

*Chicago Heights – 1010 South Dixie Highway
Chicago Heights, IL 60411
(708) 898-5100
May 2013 Calendar

*Maywood – 35 South 19th Avenue
Maywood, IL 60153
(708) 223-2652
May 2013 Calendar

*Oak Forest – Oak Forest Hospital
15900 South Cicero Avenue – Human Resource Building
Oak Forest, IL 60452
(708) 633-2760
May 2013 Calendar

*Cicero – 2138 South 61st Court, 3rd Fl.
Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 222-3100
May 2013 Calendar

*Mid-South workNet Center
4314 S. Cottage Grove
Oak Forest, IL 60452
Chicago, IL 60653
773-538-5627
May 2013 Calendar

For other announcements and information, go to:http://www.workforceboard.org/ and www.eesforjobs.com

Meeting Notice – May 23 – Cook County Land Bank Board of Directors Meeting

barbara.maloof — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:34:17 +0000

Meeting Notice

There will be a meeting of the Cook County Land Bank Authority Board of Directors on Thursday, May 23, 2013 at the hour of 8:00 AM, at the
Metropolitan Planning Council located at 140 S Dearborn, Fourteenth Floor, Chicago IL.

CCLBA Board Meeting Agenda and Back-Up Materials for May 23, 2013 meeting:
http://www.cookcountylandbank.org/board-meeting-4252013/

To register as a public speaker, email Info@CookCountyLandBank.org

We want to hear from you! Public Comment Notice: Draft 2013 Funding Allocations & Distributions for CDBG, ESG and HOME

barbara.maloof — Wed, 15 May 2013 17:19:07 +0000

We’ve published a notice about the Draft 2013 Funding Allocations & Distribution, which includes a summary of anticipated/actual 2013 funding from HUD for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG), and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) initiatives along with related proposed activities designed to meet community, housing, and economic development needs in suburban Cook County. To view the full notice with more details, please to go: http://blog.cookcountyil.gov/economicdevelopment/legal-public-notices/

Public Comment Opportunities
An important part of the process is to promote citizen participation and input. All interested parties are encouraged to attend an initial meeting and provide comments. This item will be reviewed and considered for approval by the Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC) at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 in the Cook County Board Chambers located at 118 North Clark, 5th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602.

Please direct any questions or comments to Jennifer Miller, Program Manager, Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, 69 West Washington, Suite 2900, Chicago, IL 60602, Jennifer.miller@cookcountyil.gov.

Download PDF of Public Notice

Public Notice – Cook County Land Bank Authority Search Committee

barbara.maloof — Tue, 14 May 2013 15:30:04 +0000

Public Notice

There will be a meeting of the Search Committee of the Cook County Land Bank Authority on Monday, May 20, 2013 at the hour of 3:00 PM, at the
Metropolitan Planning Council located at 140 S Dearborn, Fourteenth Floor, Chicago, IL.

CCLBA Search Committee Notice & Agenda for May 20, 2013 meeting: http://www.cookcountylandbank.org/board-meeting-4252013/

Vacant Building Ordinance – Cook County and Village of Robbins

barbara.maloof — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:45:37 +0000

Intergovernmental Agreement Passed between Cook County and Village of Robbins

The Cook County Board of Commissioners has passed an Intergovernmental Agreement between Cook County and the Village of Robbins to participate in the County’s Vacant Building Ordinance. The Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) passed on May 8, 2013.

The agreement is the result of the efforts undertaken by the Bureau of Economic Development, the Department of Building and Zoning, the Department of Administrative Hearings and representatives of the Village of Robbins. Under the agreement, the Cook County Department of Building and Zoning will work with Village of Robbins employees to determine if buildings within the village are vacant and have not been registered with the County. Building and Zoning will then institute the administrative hearing process where necessary. The stakeholders will also work closely together to register vacant buildings with the County.

The Vacant Building Ordinance will work alongside the Village of Robbin’s municipal property maintenance ordinances. The Vacant Building Ordinance, which came into effect last year was co-sponsored by President Preckwinkle and Commissioner Bridget Gainer (D-10th). It seeks to eliminate blight in communities hit hard by the foreclosure crisis. The Ordinance requires owners and mortgagees to register their properties with the County and maintain the interior and exterior of the buildings to certain standards. Additionally, it expedites the adjudication process that continues to clog up the County’s court system.

For more information, please contact Cook County Building and Zoning/Bureau of Economic Development at: (312) 603-0500 or go to their website at: www.cookcountyil.gov/BuildingZoning.

Bureau of Economic Development Represented at Events in Cook County

barbara.maloof — Wed, 08 May 2013 21:08:48 +0000

In order to further promote President Preckwinkle’s pro-growth economic agenda, staff from the Bureau of Economic Development have been on the road recently with two success stories.

Artist Rendering of New Anixter Building in Glenview, Illinois

Herman Brewer, Bureau Chief for Economic Development, along with other distinguished guests, attended the May 6th ribbon cutting for Anixter’ new corporate annex in Glenview, Illinois. In June, 2012, a Class 7b incentive was approved for them. Anixter proposed construction of a new two-story 61,000 square foot office building located in Glenview, Illinois, designed to meet LEED standards. The proposal included site preparation work such as remediation and/or removal of building debris, as well as clearing and grading to address storm water drainage. The incentive is designed to generate additional property taxes and promote job growth. Following the expiration of the incentive, the Property is estimated to generate approximately $426,971 in annual taxes. For more information on Anixter, go to their website: http://www.anixter.com

Darryl Holmes (standing) and Byron Steele (seated to the left) at the American Wind Energy Association Exhibition & Conference at McCormick Place.

The American Wind Energy Association Exhibition & Conference at McCormick Place took place May 6-8, 2013. Darryl Holmes represented our Bureau. Byron Steele represented the Department of Environmental Control. This international Trade Show attracted approximately 25,000 attendees. For more information, go their website: http://www.windpowerexpo.org/exhibition.

Last year, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle announced the completion of the Lynwood Wind Study Project, a unique partnership between the U.S. Department of Energy, Cook County and the Village of Lynwood that led to the construction of two different models of wind turbine, as well as a data center. A celebration took place in Lynwood. Click here to read more.

Important News for Job Seekers from the Chicago-Cook Workforce Partnership

barbara.maloof — Tue, 07 May 2013 19:38:17 +0000

Important News – National Program Addressing Needs of Unemployed and Veterans Opens Platform to Applications

Platform to Employment (P2E), a national program addressing the specific needs of unemployed workers over 50 and military veterans, has opened its on-line application for residents of Chicago/Cook County. Those interested in the program can apply at the Platform to Employment website, http://www.platformtoemployment.com, and click on the Platform to Employment Application button on the homepage.

The program is accepting applications from those who are unemployed and have exhausted 26 weeks or more of unemployment. Applicants must be 50 years old or older or veterans who are 30 years old or younger. If you meet these criteria you are encourage to apply now as seating is limited and applications will not be accepted after May 10th. Classes are scheduled to begin in late May.

P2E, which began in Southwest Connecticut in 2011, and has been featured on 60 Minutes and other national news programs, combines job readiness training, personal and family support services, and financial counseling. The program in Connecticut has placed nearly 80 percent of its participants into work experience programs with local employers. 90 percent subsequently moved to full-time employment.

For more information on this program, along with other training opportunities and classes for job seekers, contact:
Dunni T. Cosey Gay
dcgay@workforceboard.org
69 W. Washington, Suite 2860
Chicago, IL 60602
Tel: (312) 833-8973

Economic Development Helps Celebrate Department of Transportation and Highways

barbara.maloof — Thu, 02 May 2013 21:16:26 +0000

Surrounded by elected officials, President Preckwinkle Announces 2013 Roadway Projects.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today kicked off the 2013 roadway construction season and celebrated the 100th year anniversary of the County’s Department of Transportation and Highways. This year the department plans to allocate $35 million to improve nearly 49 lane miles of roadway in 19 municipalities across Cook County. The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development was on hand for the annoncement and celebration. View press release.

There is a direct, positive relationship between economic development and transportation improvements.

Recently, our Bureau announced our BUILT in Cook Program, a $30 million loan guarantee program to finance four types of sustainable development with a relationship to transportation. They are: transit-oriented, mixed-use developments within a half-mile of passenger rail; cargo-oriented projects near freight rail lines and terminals; mixed-use hospitality/service sector projects near transit lines and business development loans. Click here for more details.

Congratulations to the Department of Transportation and Highways!

View photos from the event:

Bureau of Economic Development Attends Affordable Housing Conference – Promotes Asset Management and Good Governance

barbara.maloof — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:23:51 +0000

Jennifer Miller (far right in photo) is introduced as part of the panel.

The Bureau of Economic Development was represented at the 2013 Illinois Governor’s Conference on Affordable Housing last week. It was co-hosted by the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) and the Illinois Housing Council (IHC).

This year, Jennifer Miller, Program Manager for the Department of Planning and Development / Cook County Bureau of Economic Development, served on an Asset Management Initiatives panel, representing our Bureau. Jennifer’s remarks included a summary of Cook County’s asset management practices for rental housing assisted with Federal grant funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Others on the panel included:

Moderator: Tony Hernandez, Managing Director of Asset Management Services, IHDA

Speakers (in addition to Jennifer Miller):

Diane Smith, Assistant Director of Asset Management Services, IHDA
Tony Augustine, President, Prairie Management and Development
Polly Kuehl, Senior Vice President, Evergreen Real Estate Services
Fred Daniels, Senior Program Manager, Franklin Energy

Governor Quinn was the keynote speaker for the conference.

A working group composed of representatives from IHDA, the County, and the City of Chicago meet regularly to discuss current operations, best practices, and opportunities for consolidation and improvement as it relates to portfolio and asset management. Staff from the Preservation Compact support and facilitate these discussions. HUD, which provides financing to all three public agencies, has also expressed support for this work.

Recently, all three agencies implemented a universal tenant income certification (TIC) form which ensures comprehensiveness and consistency of data collection and eases the administrative burden for property owners and managers receiving funding from multiple public sources. A pilot program for joint inspections and file reviews is currently underway.

The Cook County Bureau of Economic Development is pleased to participate in professional conferences that promote President Preckwinkle’s vision and leadership of good governance, professional collaboration and greater transparency.

Professionals in attendance for the panel included many from the world of affordable housing, and colleagues from our Bureau.