CMAP HOSTS REGIONAL SUMMIT ON ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
New planning agency has responsibility for
coordinating efforts across the seven counties of metropolitan Chicago
CHICAGO,
August 15, 2006 -- On Thursday, August 17, the Chicago Metropolitan Planning
Agency (CMAP) will host an economic summit titled “Working Together in the 21st
Century.” The event will feature presentations and panel discussions on topics
related to regional coordination of economic and community development, which is
a major thrust of the new agency.
Breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m., with the program beginning 8:00 a.m. at
the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), Illinois Rooms A&B in the Student
Center East, 750 S Halsted St. The agenda is at
http://www.chicagoareaplanning.org/summit/.
CMAP was recently formed to consolidate planning for land use and
transportation, functions that had not previously been integrated in
northeastern Illinois. Due to the economic implications of CMAP's mission --
which includes oversight of critical infrastructure investments -- the new
agency has also been charged with engaging the business sector to help keep the
region prosperous.
Summit participants will discuss the potential roles of CMAP as a regional
agency in economic development planning. Attendees will include economic and
community development practitioners, business leaders, public officials, and
transportation and land-use planners.
Speakers include George Lofton, Commonwealth Edison vice president of external
affairs; Randy Blankenhorn, CMAP executive director; Joe DiJohn, director of
the UIC Metropolitan Transportation Support Initiative; Bob Koepke, director of
the Illinois Basic Economic Development Course; Roxanne Nava, deputy director
of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Paul O'Connor,
president of World Business Chicago; Jerry Roper, president of the Chicagoland
Chamber of Commerce; and Doug Whitley, president of the Illinois Chamber of
Commerce.
The CMAP board has issued a preliminary draft of its strategic report on the
agency’s vision, governance, and funding is now available for comment. (See
http://www.chicagoareaplanning.org/docs/ to download the document.) Public
feedback is being solicited through August 28, after which the report will be
submitted to the General Assembly and Governor in September.
