Cook County Bureau of Economic Development
Michael Jasso, Bureau Chief
 
January 2017


As we begin the year, we want to highlight some of the late 2016 events that will help chart our way forward in 2017.
The South Suburban Region
A Major Focus for Us

We joined Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims on December 12, 2016 to kick off the South Suburban Safe and Thriving Communities Project, a grant-funded collaborative initiative intended to ensure that local youth and their families can live safe and healthy lives through addressing the trauma caused by violence.  The event was spearheaded by the Justice Advisory Council and held at the Ford Heights Community Center. For more information, contact the Cook County Justice Advisory Council. 

Late in 2016, we also moved forward on some projects in the south suburbs.  Michael Jasso, our Bureau Chief,  spoke at the 17th Annual Calumet Heritage Confernce on the project to make the Calumet Region a National Heritage Area.  Susan Campbell attended a ribbon cutting for President Preckwinkle at the  Thorn Creek Senior Living Center in Thornton, Illinois.   

This year along with other stakeholders, we will be moving forward on the South Suburban Study. Cook County's south suburbs are asset-rich and critical to the health of the regional economy, but are increasingly facing strong challenges. The goal of the study is to think strategically and "outside of the box" on action-oriented solutions to spur jobs and economic growth in the south suburbs.  We will make more information available on the study as it becomes available this year. 
Construction Begins on New Cook County Central Campus Health Center
President Preckwinkle and Commissioners Cut Ribbon

Groundbreaking on December 1, 2016
December 1, 2016 Groundbreaking
The Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, and the Cook County Board of Commissioners broke ground on a new state-of-the-art health center in Chicago. This project, along with the redevelopment of the Old Cook County Hospital and adjacent parcels will provide true urban transformation in the heart of Cook County.   View release . 
Building and Zoning Online Application Launched - Improves Speed and Efficiency
Permit Application for the unincorporated areas now available on-line

In order to improve customer service and efficiency for businesses and residents who reside in the unincorporated areas of Cook County, the Department of Building and Zoning, working jointly with the Department of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has launched a new on-line permitting system. In addition to being an important management tool, the online application will allow businesses and residents in the unincorporated areas to receive permits faster and more efficiently. The permit tracking application has automated the entire permitting process from beginning to end and adds much more than a public interface. The new application also streamlines the workflow for staff.  

If you are a business owner or a resident in the unincorporated areas of Cook County and wish to apply for a permit, go to the Department of Building and Zoning Website at: www.cookcountyil.gov/buildingzoning. You can apply on-line using your personal computer, but you can check the status of your application and pay for it using your smart phone. For answers to your questions while using the application, please email:[email protected].

Metals Consortium Achieves Re-Designation as a Manufacturing Community By U.S. Department of Commerce 
New Designation Runs until 2018

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Chicago region is one of 12 communities nationwide re-designated under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative.

The new designation for the Chicago Metro Metal Consortium (CMMC) runs until 2018. The Chicago region was first designated in the inaugural round of IMCP in 2014.

Resources and Links

 
Set Targets. Achieve Results. 
The STAR Report features performance measures for each office and agency of Cook County. Read the latest STAR report.







 
Would you like someone from our Bureau to speak at your Chamber or community organization? If so, please contact Barbara Maloof, Public Information Officer at:


Cook County Bureau of Economic Development - About Us

Mission

  • Stimulate Job and Economic Growth
  • Plan and Invest Strategically in Communities
  • Promote Regional Collaboration
  • Build Partnerships to Leverage Resources
  • Streamline Operations to Improve Services and Efficiency

Departments

  • Building and Zoning - Tim Bleuher, Director
  • Planning and Development - Susan Campbell, Director
  • Zoning Board of Appeals, - James Wilson, Secretary

69 W. Washington, Suite 3000

Chicago, Illinois  60602

Phone: 312-603-1077

E-mail us at: [email protected] 

www.cookcountyil.gov/economicdevelopment