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Monthly Update is the newsletter of the Alliance for Regional Development. For more information or to inquire about submitting content, please contact Kelly O'Brien at 312-602-5148, or kobrien@alliancerd.org.
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| THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! The Alliance would like to welcome our newest sponsors: Boeing; Snap-on Incorporated; and Weaver Boos Consultants! Click the logos below to learn more about them and the other generous organizations that support the goal of regional competitiveness. T o explore sponsorship opportunities, we invite you to visit our Sponsorship page, download our Sponsorship Opportunities PDF, or contact Kelly O'Brien at 312-602 5148, or kobrien@alliancerd.org.
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Last Chance to Register for December 19 Summit on Regional Competitiveness!
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The Alliance in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago will host the second annual Summit on Regional Competitiveness on Friday, December 19, 2014. The Summit–an invitation-only event–will serve as an opportunity to brief stakeholders about the progress of the Alliance Working Teams and will have high level key note speakers discussing regional economic development. In addition to the presentations by the working teams, there will also be a “Strategic Doing” workshop led by Purdue University’s Ed Morrison.
Confirmed speakers include: - Charles L. Evans, President, Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
- Matt Erskine, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Economic Development Administration
- William Tompson, Urban Development Program Head, Regional Development Policy Division, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Nicholas Pinchuk, President & CEO, Snap-on Inc., “The Importance of Advanced Manufacturing”
- William King, Chief Technology Officer, DMDII
- Caralynn Nowinski, Executive Director, UI Labs
- Larry Schook, Vice President for Research, University of Illinois
- and others.
This high-level event will serve as a showcase for the power of cross-jurisdictional cooperation to move regional strategies forward. Sponsorship opportunities are available. - REGISTRATION: We are nearly sold out--please register as soon as possible! The Federal Reserve Bank has emailed invitees directly with instructions to register online. If you need assistance please contact Michael Benami Doyle at mdoyle@alliancerd.org.
- WEBCAST: If you are unable to be with us in person, you may virtually attend the Summit online via our webcast feed. >">Click to register for the webcast
- ACCOMMODATIONS: Accommodations at the J.W. Marriott Chicago at 151 West Adams Street at our specially negotiated base rate of $129 are now sold out. However, we may be able to accommodate last-minute requests. Please email mdoyle@alliancerd.org.
- SPONSORSHIP: To inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please email Kelly O’Brien at kobrien@alliancerd.org.
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Alliance Marks First Anniversary as an Independent Organization
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December 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of the Alliance for Regional Development's decision to incorporate as a stand-alone 501(c)(3) organization. The change in our organizational status allowed the Alliance to better serve as a neutral platform for participants from the 21-county Milwaukee—Chicagoland—Northwest Indiana corridor to convene and collaborate on initiatives to grow the regional economy. The Alliance is proud to serve as a model for other US regions. As we complete a highly productive year of Working Team progress and approach our Second Annual Summit on Regional Competitiveness on December 19, the Alliance leadership wants to thank our new and continuing sponsors and the committed working team members. We will convene a special strategy meeting in the first quarter of 2015 to determine what’s next.
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Alliance Regional Water Summit a Success with Tri-State Stakeholders
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As part of its continued focus on the water sector and ways to regionalize the growing water cluster, the Alliance Green Growth working team in collaboration with Alliance partner Loyola University hosted a Water Summit for regional water technology companies on November 24 at Loyola University's Water Tower Campus in downtown Chicago.
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Seth Snyder, Kirk Allen, Jose Ramirez, Dean Amhaus, Hon. Jon Dickert | |
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The program included information about the strengths of the water tech companies in the region, the gains made by The Water Council organized in Milwaukee, the opportunity to make connections with other water technology firms and leaders, as well the as opportunities that working together can provide to help expand business, find talent, and speed technology development.
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Hon. John Dickert, Mayor, Racine, Wisconsin and President, Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, served as emcee, with participants including:
- Kirk Allen, President and CEO, Sloan Valve Company
- Dean Amhaus, President and CEO, The Water Council
- Rita Athas, Advisor on the Board, World Business Chicago
- Dr. Jose A. Ramirez, Founder, Mikroflot Technologies
- Dr. Seth Snyder, Argonne National Laboratory
- Nancy C. Tuchman, Professor & Founding Director of the Institute of Environmental Sustainability, Loyola University, and
- Sammis White, Interim Dean and Director of Workforce Development—School of Continuing Education, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
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Many attendees expressed interest in the Alliance and the Green Growth team's work to regionalize the water cluster, and thanked the Alliance for moving the regional discussion forward.
"Very impressed with this evening’s event," said Eric Neagu, Senior Project Manager, Weaver Boos Consultants, and Green Growth Working Team member. "It was honestly one of the better networking events I’ve been to this year. Keep up the great effort!"
In addition, Alliance and Green Growth team leadership met with City of Chicago and World Business Chicago officials immediately prior to the Water Summit to explore opportunities for collaboration on regional water issues. A follow-up call will be scheduled for December.
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Alliance Asks Federal Railroad Administration to Include Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Coalition in Regional Rail Planning Process
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In November, the Alliance, in partnership with the UIC Urban Transportation Center, sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) in support of the application of the Midwest Interstate Passenger Rail Commission (MIPRC) for the Midwest to participate in an FRA-led regional rail planning process.
Enacted in 2000, MIPRC is an interstate compact commission among nine member states–Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wisconsin. Its purpose is to promote, coordinate, and support regional improvements to passenger rail service.
MIPRC has taken a primary role in working to ensure that the federal government develops an enduring collaboration with the states for passenger rail development similar to other modes of transportation and that Midwestern states have the support and interstate coordination they need to proceed with the region’s passenger rail improvement plans. MIPRC has worked closely with the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative (MWRRI) to promote the build-out of the plan it has been developing for almost 20 years.
MIPRC and Midwestern state departments of transportation have identified the need to update the plan to encompass additional states, new and potential routes, work completed on existing corridors and studies undertaken by various groups in the region. The MIPRC-led proposal also identifies the critical need to evolve the region’s passenger rail governance structure to coordinate ongoing regional planning, oversight, political and educational efforts.
The Alliance asked the FRA to give the Midwest and the MIPRC-led submission priority in the next decision for a FRA-led regional rail planning project.
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Alliance Manager of Economic Development Initiatives Michael Benami Doyle Interviewed by Pew Charitable Trusts Stateline Blog
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Alliance Manager of Economic Development Initiatives Michael Benami Doyle was interviewed by The Pew Charitable Trusts this month regarding the trending rise in transit use and reduction in vehicle miles traveled in American cities including Chicago. Doyle, who formerly served as Associate Director of the New York City Transit Riders Council, noted that coordinated planning decisions, good marketing, and political will make it easier for urban residents to lessen their reliance on personal vehicles. Doyle's comments appeared on Pew's national Stateline blog on November 14.
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Eno Center for Transportation to Hold Regional Transit Governance Seminar in Chicago on January 6
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This event will bring together transportation experts and public officials to discuss regional transit governance challenges and best practices that shape the development and growth of some of the nation’s most vibrant urban landscapes. Speakers and panelists will address vital transportation governance issues: What strategies have worked for urban transit agencies to secure adequate funding, to sustain equitable and effective service patterns, and to encourage economic growth? How does metropolitan Chicago compare to its national transit peers?
Speakers Include:
- Mayor Rahm Emanuel (Invited)
- Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President (Invited)
- Dan Cronin, DuPage County Board Chairman (Invited)
- Joshua Schank, Eno Center for Transportation
- Stephen E. Schlickman, Urban Transportation Center
- Grace Gallucci, Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency
- Daniel Biss, Illinois State Senator
- Kirk Dillard, Chicago’s Regional Transportation Authority Board Chairman
- Michael W. Tryon, Illinois State Representative
- William Ankner, Transportation Solutions
- Kathy Tholin, Center for Neighborhood Technology
EVENT DETAILS
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
8:30 AM – 12:00 Noon
UIC Student Center East, Illinois Rooms B & C
750 S. Halsted Street
Chicago, IL 60607
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