This issue of the Alliance's newsletter highlights new programming called “Quarterly Conversations” and provides an update on all recent activities. The Alliance remains committed to serving as a neutral platform convening leaders from government, academia and the private sector and championing efforts to grow the economy of the mega-region.

The Alliance for Regional Development hosted its first Quarterly Conversations on June 10, 2016, with a focus on the Mega-Region’s transportation needs.  Throughout the day, attendees and panelists gathered to discuss the challenges and opportunities involved with improving the transportation systems in our region. 

Earlier this year, Transportation Team Manager, Steve Schlickman, performed an analysis of the comprehensive plans of each of the three metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs) in the 21 county region.  The MPO’s are the local governing bodies through which federal funds flow for transportation projects.  The analysis shows that the three organization’s all have similar transportation goals, but the areas of most agreement, include addressing the region’s passenger rail and freight needs.  This conclusion directed the June 10 meeting agenda.

The first panel was comprised of top public transportation officials and advocates from the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.  Each panelist discussed their state’s respective current passenger rail services, as well as other service needs and demands.  It was easily concluded that one commonality among each state is the fact that there is far more demand for passenger rail services then what is currently available. Also, the state's projects all fit into the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative. The panelists acknowledged that it was helpful to be brought together and is a beginning step for future collaborations.

The second panel discussed the economic benefits of passenger rail.   Data sets and case studies were used to show that investments in passenger rail have enormous positive impacts on local economies.  Panelists agreed that policy makers often hear from passenger rail users, but do not necessarily understand the multiple benefits to other stakeholders from passenger rail investments. The panelists also expressed the need for more federal funding. Comments were made suggesting that passenger rail advocates should invite the business community, real estate developers, and even rail suppliers and construction companies, to join with passenger rail advocates when they seeking additional investments in passenger rail. 

The third and final panel shifted the conversation to the freight industry and leaders from both the public and private sectors discussed the movement of goods in and around the Mega-Region. The audience was reminded that our region is the freight capital of the nation, and the decisions involving freight here have impacts throughout the North American continent.  The panelists provided evidence that whether by truck, plane, or boat, the continued growth of the region and lack of infrastructure investment is making it more difficult to move goods. The rail and freight congestion throughout the Midwest Region is a huge concern.   When questioned about what else can be done to increase capacity besides additional investments in CREATE, it was suggested that policy makers standardize their permitting processes throughout the region, as well as provide more incentives for off-peak delivery (as compared to punishments for deliveries during high congestion hours of the day).  

The day provided several points for consideration and future action by the Transportation Team. The Alliance for Regional Development would like to thank the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) for agreeing to host the day’s events, as well as the other MPO's, panelists and moderators for providing its content.  To view video of the Quarterly Conversation, please click on the link below.  The Passenger Rail Panel beings at the 0:15 mark, the Economic Development Panel begins at 1:14 mark, and the Freight Panel begins at the 2:23 mark. 

Concluding the Quarterly Conversation, a questionnaire for rating the day's activities was sent to the attendees. Below is part of one of the responses received: 

For more information and to be a part of this exciting work, join the Alliance Transportation Team by contacting Kelly O’Brien at kobrien@alliancerd.org.

Breaking down silos and sharing best practices are key elements of the Alliance Workforce Team agenda.  Anne Edmunds, Workforce Team Manager, recently hosted a meeting, to welcome to the Alliance, the newly confirmed Secretary for Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, Raymond Allen, and introduce him to both his counterpart in Illinois, Jeffrey Mays, Director of the Illinois Department of Employment Security, and Northwest Indiana's workforce leader, Linda Woloshansky, President & CEO of Center of Workforce Innovations.

Later in the meeting, the group was joined by U.S. Department of Labor Region V Administrator Christine Quinn, who brought a federal perspective to the conversation, and shared with everyone federal priorities.  

The group discussed that scarce resources require building relationships across state lines.  As a “mega-region”  we will all benefit from gaining a better understanding of the skills needed for tomorrow’s jobs.  Support was expressed for the upcoming Alliance Quarterly Conversation on July 13th to discuss the implementation of the U.S. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) where Administrator Quinn will be the keynote speaker.

L:R Scott Jansen, Wisconsin Dept. of Workforce Development; Carmel Ruffolo, Marquette University, Rosaura Zibert, Deputy Director, Dept. of Labor; Secretary Raymond Allen, Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development; Dolores Simon, Illinois Department of Employment Security; Administrator Christine Quinn, Department of Labor; Kelly O'Brien, Alliance For Regional Development; Anne Edmunds, Alliance Transportation Team Manager, ManPowerGroup; and Linda Woloshansky, Center of Workforce Innovations. Not Pictured: Jeffrey Mays, Illinois Department of Employment Security and Deborah Davidson, Gateway Technical College

 Department of Labor Region V Administrator Christine Quinn

ManPower, 525 W. Monroe St., Suite 1510, Chicago, Illinois

For more information or to register click here.  

"Rethinking the Map: How The Lower 48 Could Be Realigned Into Seven Mega-Regions"

A recent column in the New York Times discussed how the nation is reorganizing itself into mega regions (as opposed to 50 distinct states), and that the country's political landscape needs to change with it.  The author states, "The states aren’t about to go away, but economically and socially, the country is drifting toward looser metropolitan and regional formations, anchored by the great cities and urban archipelagos that already lead global economic circuits."  Please click on the above map to read the full article.

The Alliance Board of Directors, committed to identifying projects and initiatives that will grow the regional economy, met on May 26th. Chairman Paul Jones called the meeting to order and provided an update on the Alliance’s activities and funding.  

Transportation Team Manager, Steve Schlickman, updated the Board on the June 10th Quarterly Conversation agenda while answering questions on the composition of each panel and the goals for the day.  Schlickman noted that he is working closely with the leaders of the region's three metropolitan planning organizations (MPO’s): Joe Szabo from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Ty Warner of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) and Ken Yunker of the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (SEWRPC).  He expressed appreciation for their guidance and the support being provided by staff.   

Chairman Jones called on Workforce Development Team Manager Anne Edmunds of ManPower, for a report.  She shared that the team's most immediate focus is the U.S. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and its implementation in the Tri-State Region.  Edmunds noted that after surveying the team’s leadership, its quarterly conversation will be held on July 13th.  The event will be moderated by Purdue University’s Ed Morrison using Strategic Doing and will also feature U.S. Department of Labor Region V Administrator Christine Quinn as a keynote speaker. 

Board member Mark Rust, Chicago Office Managing Partner, Barnes Thornburg, reported that he is spearheading the third Quarterly Conversation in partnership with Dr. Suzet McKinney, Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District.   This Quarterly Conversation will take the opportunity to compare the state of health in our region, the access to health care with relation to consumers and providers  while analyzing the fourth year of the Affordable Care Act’s implementation during the period of 2007-2012.  The Quarterly Conversation panelists, prompted by moderators, will also look ahead to what the near future holds and ways that states and healthcare industry participants might cooperate or work more closely to improve each of these areas.

Several members of the Board expressed interest in participating in the planning for the November 17th Annual Summit.  President & CEO Kelly O’Brien will schedule a meeting for the newly formed sub-committee while continuing to work with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago to finalize the agenda and the stakeholder invitation list.

Chairman Jones concluded the meeting with a reminder about the Alliance funding goals and thanked each member for their continued efforts.

The Alliance appreciates the dedication of the stakeholders that previously and currently participate on the working teams.  To be a part of this exciting work, you are invited to join a call with the Alliance Workforce Team on Tuesday, September 20 from 10:00-11:00 am and the Alliance Transportation Working Team on September 21 from 10:00-11:00 am.

For more information please contact Kelly O'Brien at kobrien@alliancerd.org.  

The Northwest Indiana Forum has been a key stakeholder since the Alliance was created.  In April, Alliance President & CEO, Kelly O’Brien, was invited to update the Forum Board.  

Serving as the regional voice for the business community, the Forum's mission is to increase the broad-based wealth in Northwest Indiana through economic development. The Forum works to create a positive business climate promoting investment and job creation. 

During her presentation, O’Brien reminded the audience about the Alliance’s guiding document, The Chicago Tri-State Metropolitan Area Review,  published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the 21 County Alliance footprint. She provided an overview of the 2016 Working Teams agendas, the new stream-lined goals, as well as an overview of the Alliance Board which includes Forum’s Board Member Ty Warner, Executive Director of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC).

In concluding her remarks, O’Brien encouraged members to share insights into the challenges faced by local businesses operating within and impacted by the regional economy. The Alliance for Regional Development looks forward to continued collaborations and thanks the Northwest Indiana Forum for the opportunity to address its Board.

The German Amercian Chambers of Commerce in collaboration with the Chicago Metro Metal Consortium are hosting a Transatlantic Cluster Conference on Metalworking on July 11, 2016 in Chicago, Ill. 

At the event attendees will learn about best-practices of German and American cluster organizations and gain insight into technological trends, skilled workforce developments, and international collaboration opportunities in the metalworking industry. 

For an agenda and registration information click here.

The third Quarterly Conversation will be organized by Alliance Board Member, and Chicago Office Managing Partner, Barnes Thornburg, Mark Rust and Dr. Suzet McKinney, Executive Director of the Illinois Medical District. This Quarterly Conversation will take the opportunity to compare the state of health care in our region heading into the fourth year of the Affordable Care Act’s implementation against the period 2007-2012. The Quarterly Conversation panelists, prompted by moderators, will also look ahead to what the near future holds and ways that states and healthcare industry participants might cooperate or work more closely to improve each of these areas.

More information will follow.