All posts by ChicagoAdmin

Enhancing Quality of Life for Locals

Infrastructure, , ,

In an effort to enhance the quality of life for Chicagoans, Mayor Lightfoot has gotten together with the Chicago Departments of Transportation (CDOT) and of Assets, Information and Services (AIS) and developed a Five-Year Capital Plan.  With a commitment to invest in infrastructure and facilities throughout all of the region’s 77 communities, part of the plan’s goal is to get thousands of locals back to work too.

When talking about infrastructure this refers to bridges, sidewalks streetlights, etc.  The plans are to put in $1.4b in General Obligation bond proceeds.  The Mayor explained:

“Our Five-Year Capital Plan is our latest ambitious campaign to invest in Chicago’s residents and businesses,  and lays the groundwork for our future as a premier global destination and the best city in the world to call home. By leading with equity, we are ensuring that this success is not only driven by our historically disinvested communities, but brings our whole city closer together by literally building bridges across neighborhoods and unlocking our full potential for decades to come.”

Gia Biagi, CDOT Commissioner added:

“This Five-Year Capital Plan provides CDOT with the resources to make vital infrastructure investments across the entire city of Chicago, including those prioritized in the Mayor’s Invest South/West Initiative. Through this plan, we will work with our partners to invest in our neighborhoods in a way that emphasizes equity, safety and mobility and lowers the economic and environmental burden of transportation for all of our residents.” 

Covid-Killing-Robots

Environment,

Astronics Corporation aerospace firm has started the building process of its coronavirus-killing robots.  Known as the Xenex LightStrike, the robots – at a cost of $125,000 per piece – are already being used in 700 US healthcare locations, including seven in Chicago. A statement from Astronics Corporation said:

“In a peer-reviewed study, published in the journal, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, researchers report that within two-minutes LightStrike’s pulsed xenon, full-spectrum, ultraviolet rays achieved a 99.99% level of disinfection against the coronavirus.”

It works by using pulsed UV rays to penetrate the virus’ cell walls, eliminating its molecular structure, leading to the eradication of the virus.”  Morris Miller, Xenex’s CEO said:

““This technology is important today because these are the most powerful UV robots that have ever been made. They’re 4,000 times more intense than any other UV robot that has ever been on the market. As a result of that, they’re extremely fast.”

An initial manufacturing agreement of $20 million has been signed between Astronics and Xenex.

Local Drivers Wanted

Employment, , , ,

While many are still grappling with unemployment, there is some good local  news.  The Illinois Central School Bus LLC is hiring!

Now that kids are going back to school, they  need bussing.  According to the Contract Manager at the Illinois Central School Bus company, Cynthia Sosnowski, the firm is looking for between 40 and 50 drivers.  The good news is, you do not even need a bus license to apply, just a driver’s license.  The bus company will do the rest of the work by investing in you and paying for the necessary training and license.

Of this commitment to the people, Sosnowski said:

“I want to see people happy and making money. I mean, the holidays are coming. Let’s bring some joy to this crazy unprecedented time.”

Salary is between $14-21 per hour.

In related news, seven new enterprise zones (region which has gained special tax breaks/public assistance in order to strengthen economic development) have been designated by The Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) effective Jan. 1, 2021.

Such zones are also meant to bolster job growth and investment, in particular in communities that are “economically underserved.” Following the 2019 investment of $657m+, approximately 38,000 jobs were retained and 4,570 new jobs, created.

As DCEO Director and Enterprise Zone Board Chairperson Erin B. Guthrie said:

“Illinois remains open for business, and we are committed to supporting our economically depressed communities with tools proven to attract investment to all corners of our state.  With the renewal of these seven enterprise zones, we look forward to continuing our work with local officials to support new investments and economic growth across our downstate communities.”

Chicago’s Water

Environment, , ,

In this video, Kari K Steele, President of the Metropolitan Water Reclamantion District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) Board of Commissioners, introduces the viewers to Chicago’s WEFTEC 2021. Steele thanks the Water Environment Federation and the Water Professionals of Chicago for its hard work especially during the pandemic.

Help for Small Local Businesses

Business News

Thanks to the BIG Program (Business Interruption Grants), local small businesses are receiving financial assistance for losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

More than $220m is in the BIG funds and will be earmarked for those businesses hardest hit by the pandemic, with a special focus  on Illinois’ most economically-distressed communities.

The State of Illinois has created the Business Interruption Grants (BIG) program for small businesses in Illinois suffering losses as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as communities impacted by the recent civil unrest. Applications are open and will offer over $220 million in funds for small businesses hit hardest by the ongoing pandemic, with a focus on economically distressed communities across Illinois.

Further, an announcement was made by Governor Pritzker regarding the $245m that will be available for small businesses either damaged from looting or from having to close up.  He also referred to the reality that if federal funding does not come through, many businesses will have to shutter for good, resulting in thousands more being unemployed. 

Regarding the BIG Program, Pritzker said:

“It was important to me and to the legislature to alleviate some of the burden that’s carried by these small businesses, particularly those facing long-standing structural barriers.”

The first round of this program offered $49m in funding for small businesses but that was focused on the ones which had to completely shut down in the spring. This next round is going to be open to businesses in all industries, with at least 50% of the grants going to businesses in rural and downstate communities.

Chicago Keeps Going

Education,

All is not lost and there is optimism in the air. Despite the incredible challenges we have all been facing, Chicago is still going.  From new buildings to great educational performances, creative ways of maintaining and even growing local businesses, Chicagoans are trying to stay afloat.

The Pullman National Monument recently conducted a ceremony marking their progress on what will eventually become a new tourist attraction in Chicago’s South Side.   On the spot that passenger railroad cars were being built, the area is being renovated with over $34m in public and private funds.  Once complete it will become a visitors center for the national monument.

In the Southern Illinois University (SIU) system most students are back learning.  Some are in class, others, off and still others are in a hybrid program.  Through this, there is much optimism that there will be an ability to contain the spread of the virus.

When it comes to education it seems that Chicago figures are positive.  Over 82 percent of students graduated in five years last spring – which was 2% higher than last year. The 2019-20 graduation rates are said to have “shown resilience” and according to Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot:

“This is incredibly great news when you consider the challenges we all faced this past year, especially our students.”

Local Job Creation During Tough Times

Employment, ,

There are so many industries that have suffered with the impacts of the coronavirus.  Many thousands have lost their jobs.  Here we take a look at some of the industries that are slowly bouncing back.

While public transportation everywhere has definitely taken a hit during the coronavirus pandemic as people self-isolate and avoid crowds, there is some good news for the industry.  The Chicago Transit Authority is working hard in this area and has recently created more jobs in the industry as the city slowly re-opens.

Currently, the CTA is recruiting mechanics and bus drivers.   Plus, bus operators are also welcome to apply.  The CTA has not had vacancies for the latter position since before the stay at home order went into place in the state of Illinois back in March.

Then there is the Green Era Renewable Energy and Urban Farming Campus which is seeking to build up the South Side of Chicago with job creation, renewable energy and fresh food.  The campus is getting some fiscal aid from the state in the form of $2 million via the Rebuild Illinois program.

This has helped it reach its goal of fundraising for the $32m project it is developing on the brownfield 9-acre land site.

Chicago’s Environmental Optimism

Environment,

While we keep reading and hearing about the negative impacts the coronavirus crisis is having on our economy, our youth and our consumerism, we thought it would be a welcome change to focus on something positive going on in the area with particular reference to the environment.

It shouldn’t come as such a great surprise that we are seeing lower numbers for air pollution and greenhouse emissions.  One way this is seen in Chicago is the increase in river-swimming fish.  This has been happening in recent times irrespective of the coronavirus but now it is further increasing. 

According to a recent Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Report, today there are close to 60 types of fish that can be found swimming in the Calumet and Chicago rivers.  Compare that to figures of four decades ago when there were around 10.  Some of the species that can be found include: bluegill, yellow perch and catfish.  Experts in the field believe that cleaner rivers are playing a huge part in this.

New National Resource in Chicago

Education, , , , , ,

There is a new initiative in Chicago.  The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation (IMSI) launched 4 days ago.  Its mission is: “to apply rigorous mathematics and statistics to urgent, complex scientific and societal problems, and to spur transformational change in the mathematics community and the mathematical sciences. This mission based on a vision with three fundamental elements: innovation, communication, and diversity.”

The entity is a joint venture between UChicago statisticians, Northwestern University, Chicago’s Illinois University and Urbana-Champaign Illinois University’s mathematicians working together to develop ideas that can hopefully impact today’s challenges in the science and technological fields.

With a $15.5 million National Science Foundation grant, the researchers will focus on the following areas: artificial intelligence, climate change, data science, economics, health care, quantum information theory and materials science.  According to UChicago President Robert J. Zimmer:

“The Institute for Mathematical and Statistical Innovation will be a critical national resource for applied mathematics, purposefully connecting mathematical and statistical methods and discoveries to applied science and technology in a way that reaches across disciplines and brings together a wide range of collaborators to address some of the most challenging problems of our time. We are excited to launch the Institute at the University of Chicago and look forward to seeing the impact of its work in the years ahead.”