Andrew Cunningham l Executive Director, Infrastructure Council l 217-520-2345 | | |
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The Infrastructure Council is an initiative of the
Illinois Chamber that brings together Chamber members with a focus on increasing
infrastructure investments in a strategic and thoughtful way to boost the overall business climate in Illinois. Our focus is on the public and private systems that are essential to Illinois businesses.
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Illinois Chamber Joins US Chamber Coalition Letter on Negotiations Between the United Auto Workers and the Detroit Three
On Wednesday, the Illinois Chamber joined the US Chamber's coalition in a letter expressing concern over the possibility of a United Auto Workers strike. Provided below is a copy of the letter.
The undersigned organizations are concerned by the growing possibility of a strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) in their negotiations for a new labor contract with General Motors, Stellantis, and Ford Motor Company (Detroit Three). A UAW strike would impose significant hardship on American families and the economy so we, therefore, urge you and your Administration to provide the support necessary to help the parties reach a new agreement by the September 14 deadline.
The Detroit Three are critical to our economy. They produced 4.8 million vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, alongside 3.5 million engines, and 5.6 million transmissions.[1] A 2020 report[2] shows that the Detroit Three are supported by 238,000 employees at 260 assembly plants, manufacturing facilities, research labs, distribution centers, and other facilities across 31 states. They work with nearly 9,700 dealerships, which employ nearly 660,000 U.S. workers. Additionally, every vehicle that rolls off the assembly line of a Detroit Three automaker contains anywhere from 8,000 to 12,000 different components manufactured by over 5,600 U.S. suppliers. Over 690,000 supplier jobs are estimated to be tied to the Detroit Three, which accounts for anywhere from 20% to 70% of their business. This means a strike will quickly impact large segments of the economy, leading to layoffs and potentially even bankruptcies of U.S. businesses. While UAW’s 40-day strike on General Motors in 2019 forced suppliers to temporarily lay off approximately 75,000 workers, every indication is that a strike today would be significantly more severe for many businesses. Indeed, one analysis estimates a 10-day UAW strike could result in economic losses of more than $5 billion.[3]
No one should want a strike. The Administration has already employed its formal and informal convening power in the past year to help parties reach agreements in the freight railroad, West Coast port terminal, and UPS-Teamster contract negotiations. We urge you to lend similar help here and work with the parties to help reach an agreement by September 14.
To view the coalition members list click here.
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IDOT Announces $11.4 Million for Local Planning Initiatives
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced earlier this week that more than $11.4 million is being invested via 30 grants for local initiatives and activities to support the planning efforts of long-range transportation projects across the state.
Administered by IDOT using $7.3 million in federal funds, with matching funds of $788,000 from the state and $3.3 million from local governments, the grants are designed to advance the objectives of the Illinois Long-Range Transportation Plan. Among the criteria considered were projects that implement asset-management strategies and performance-based planning and programming, as well as activities that grow and support economically distressed areas.
Applicants included local and state agencies, metropolitan planning organizations and regional planning commissions. Nonprofit entities with public sponsors also were eligible to apply.
Selected projects include:
- Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan – Elevates the importance of transit and non-motorized transportation while envisioning new partnerships to guide investments to meet transportation needs for county residents, freight, economic development and equity.
- Lee-Ogle Transportation, Transit for Those in Need – Focuses on identifying and addressing underserved areas to improve quality of life and socioeconomic opportunities.
- Great Egypt Regional Planning and Development Commission, Bicycle Planning in Pinckneyville, Du Quoin and West Frankfort – Devises plans to help develop bicycle networks to expand access, connectivity and mobility while enhancing economic development.
For the full list of awards and breakdown of funding sources, visit IDOT’s Illinois Long-Range Transportation Plan page.
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Kane County Seeking Input on Randall Road Multimodal Improvements Project
The Kane County Division of Transportation (KDOT) is currently conducting a Phase I preliminary engineering and environmental study to analyze existing bicycle, pedestrian and public transit conditions on Randall Road and develop recommended multimodal improvements.
Randall Road is an important County roadway that serves between 35,000 and 50,000 vehicles daily. The corridor is home to a variety of busy commercial centers, recreational facilities, and residential areas.
KDOT is seeking public input as they seek to achieve their goal of creating a more accessible roadway for bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders alike.
Residents and roadway users are invited to attend one of two upcoming public information meetings to learn about and share feedback on Randall Road multimodal improvements. One meeting will be held in each of the two study corridors: south corridor on Thursday, September 14 and north corridor on Wednesday, September 20.
If this project is of concern to your business, learn more here.
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CREATE Program to Host Get On Board: Business-to-Business Networking Event
On November 1st, CREATE will Get on Board: Business-to-Business Networking Event at Kennedy King College in Chicago.
The CREATE Program’s Get On Board events foster networking for certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and other MBE or WBE businesses with rail-industry contractors specializing in engineering, design and construction. At this half-day event, you will have the opportunity to:
- Learn about DBE success stories from business owners working on the CREATE Program.
- Connect your company with experienced business owners partnering with major rail industry firms and learn about bid opportunities.
- Attend a workshop on how to become a certified railroad contractor/consultant and how to become DBE certified
Participants can register here.
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Release: Chicago’s Jane Byrne Interchange Reconstruction Competing for America’s Top Transportation Project
The reconstruction and modernization of the Jane Byrne Interchange is a finalist for the grand prize in the America’s Transportation Awards, the top honor for state departments of transportation. The project was recognized for delivering one of the biggest projects in state history while improving safety, mobility and quality of life across the region and at the neighborhood level.
The Byrne now competes for the national Grand Prize and the People's Choice Award. Both come with $10,000 in prize money for a charity or not-for-profit chosen by the winning states. An independent panel of transportation industry experts will select the Grand Prize winner, while the general public will decide the People's Choice Award through an online vote.
The winning projects will be announced Nov. 15 in Indianapolis. Online voting began yesterday for the People’s Choice Award at americastransportationawards.org and continues through Nov. 14. Individuals can cast no more than one vote per day per project.
Revitalization of the aged Byrne turned one of the nation’s slowest, most congested highway freight bottlenecks into a multifaceted, multimodal transportation hub for businesses, residences and other local attractions. The more than $800 million project involved rebuilding multiple bridges over the interchange to accommodate wider sidewalks for pedestrians, bike accommodations and a bus-only lane. Additionally, the project transformed Peoria Street into an expansive walkway and rehabilitated the Chicago Transit Authority’s Blue Line station – adding an elevator for customers with disabilities.
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Bills of Interest
No bills of interest were introduced, passed, or signed into law in the past week.
Rulemaking
There was no rulemaking of note for this Council in the September 15th edition of the Illinois Register.
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Session Update
The General Assembly adjourned in the early morning of Saturday, May 27th. Per SJR 42, the House and Senate have adjourned until the call of the Speaker and the Senate President.
The 2023 fall veto session has been announced for October 24th-26th and November 7th-9th. View the calendar here.
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Two Weeks Until 2023 Annual Meeting and Council Reception - Register Today!
The Illinois Chamber 2023 annual luncheon is now less than two weeks away. It is our biggest event of the year and I can't wait to see many of you there.
The 2023 annual luncheon and pre-event reception will be held on September 28 at the Doubletree Hotel in Oak Brook. Just like every year, we invite you to join us for a wonderful lineup of speakers and activity in support of the Illinois business community.
We are thrilled that Illinois State Comptroller Susana Mendoza will help us kick off the annual meeting with a fireside chat with Secretary of the Chamber Board, Kelly Edwards - State Counsel for Illinois and Indiana at State Farm Insurance Companies. After lunch has been plated, our keynote speaker, Vice Chair of Inland Real Estate Group and President of Inland Real Estate Acquisitions, Joe Cosenza will address attendees. The event will conclude with a time of remembrance and a tribute to Illinois Chamber President and CEO Todd Maisch who we sadly lost earlier this summer.
Register HERE!
Please reach out to me for further event information and sponsorship details at acunningham@ilchamber.org
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BIPA Is Turning 15 - Register Today
Date/Time: Friday, October 6, 2023 | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: The Security Innovation Hub | 1302 South Kilbourn Ave. Chicago, IL 60623
What will you learn? Delve into the present legal, political, scientific, ethical, and technological aspects of BIPA. Acquire insights from industry experts on how to proactively maintain and oversee your onboarding, access control, data and compliance protocols, ensuring their ongoing effectiveness to help avert a BIPA lawsuit.
Who should attend? Businesses of all sizes – small, medium, enterprise, and mega-tech – can gain valuable insights into BIPA compliance. We suggest that individuals with the following roles consider attending: Owners, CISOs, CSOs, Human Resources personnel, Legal departments, Accounting professionals, IAM staff, Operations and Facility Managers.
Why participate? With class-action payouts surpassing 1 BILLION dollars (and still rising), Illinois has earned the reputation of being “a cottage industry for BIPA lawsuits.” Now is a pivotal juncture for businesses across diverse sizes and sectors to grasp the significance of BIPA and actively engage in discussions. BIPA's impact has been felt across a wide spectrum, cases range from chicken processors, roofing distributors, retailers, restaurants, and amusement parks to mega tech corporations. It's imperative for all of these entities to comprehend the intricacies of the BIPA law, which encompasses both digital and physical implications.
More information here: bipabuzz.com (squarespace.com)
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Not a member and want to learn more about the Illinois Chamber - click here to contact Danielle Blake. Click here to contact Jack Bernhardt. | | | | |
