Some of you will recall that when I took over as CEO of the Center for Neighborhood Technology this Fall, I noted that our team was expecting a Cubs World Series victory this year.  Now that we’ve achieved that historic goal in Chicago, reaching our other organizational strategic goals are taking center-stage. We feel inspired by what this city can accomplish, when we put our hearts and minds to something. At CNT, our mission for 38 years has been to ensure urban economic development... Continue reading »

That old adage about things looking too good to be true applies to the Transportation Lockbox Constitutional Amendment. At first glance, the opportunity to assure more transportation funds to repair Illinois’ crumbling infrastructure was just that! Closer examination reveals a number of deficiencies. Ordinarily constitutional amendments emerge out of a broad civic discussion where their impacts can be evaluated from many perspectives and the wording revised to achieve the intended objective... Continue reading »

New data released by the US Census shows good news on many economic fronts. The middle class has seen income increases, poverty is down nationally, and many groups that had been left behind by the economic recovery are seeing rising incomes.    But the news is not universally good. CNT’s Urban Opportunity Agenda has taken a close look at poverty and opportunity in a dozen cities across the country. The latest update of Census data for those cities shows mixed progress on... Continue reading »

Frustrated motorists and transit commuters are among the many who should take a look at the transportation plan unveiled in July by Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle. The Connecting Cook County 2040 Long-Range Transportation Plan offers a five-point framework to build on what we have and serve growing demand in the future. Shaped by 42 experts, the plan is bold and forward looking. It prioritizes transit, bikes, and pedestrians, recognizing that younger people and our growing senior... Continue reading »

Effective strategies include reducing costs for businesses and families, improving access to jobs and services, and targeting job creation programs Chicago, Ill.—On Thursday, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) announced a new framework for economic development that turns the traditional job creation model on its head, generating economic growth from the ground up by reducing costs for families and businesses. In communities across the country, high poverty rates, stagnant wages... Continue reading »

CNT is excited to release our Urban Opportunity Agenda today. This new framework for economic development turns the traditional job creation model on its head, generating economic growth from the ground up by systemically reducing the cost of living and doing business in a place. In communities across the country, high poverty rates, stagnant wages, and the rising cost of living are dragging down local economies. In contrast, new efficiencies and targeted investments can provide a win-win,... Continue reading »

California communities now have a tool to help them design and site buildings that promote less driving, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and greater affordability. GreenTRIP Connect, conceptualized by TransForm and developed by CNT, quantifies how much space and resources can be saved by using GreenTRIP strategies like building near transit, right-sized parking, transit passes, and access to car and bike share.     GreenTRIP Connect lets users enter the location of a... Continue reading »

The Center for Neighborhood Technology Offers New Strategies for Revitalizing Chicago’s Industrial Sector This election cycle, the dearth of American manufacturing jobs has taken a central role in the debate about the shrinking American middle class. With cheap labor abroad and the seemingly unstoppable march of automation, can manufacturing jobs ever return to American cities? Today, the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) unveiled a new strategy for revitalizing Chicago’s Central... Continue reading »

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.—The Center for Neighborhood Technology’s RainReady program, based in Chicago, received national recognition for its new and unique approach to address the front lines of floodplain management. The Association of State Floodplain Managers, the world's leading voice for sound floodplain management, science and policy, presented RainReady with its 2016 James Lee Witt Local Award for Excellence in Floodplain Management June 23 during its national conference in Grand Rapids,... Continue reading »

After 11 years as CNT’s CEO, I’m stepping down this week. It’s been a remarkable journey. In 1978, I was a recent college graduate looking for a way to reinvent cities. I was fortunate to  discover Scott Bernstein, only a few years older, who was just founding a new organization aimed at promoting neighborhood innovation and empowerment. I came on board. Remarkably, CNT’s core DNA was established at that early date and has continued to drive the organization for 38 years. To pursue... Continue reading »