Expediting New Community Initiatives (ENCI)
A joint venture between CCA, the City of Chicago and Local Initiatives Support Corporation, ENCI aims to expedite the processes by which community organizations work with the City. The goal of this ongoing effort is two-fold: (1) to help expedite community projects that require working across multiple City agencies; and (2) to develop a handbook that would help subsequent projects unfold more quickly.

Working as a team, LISC and its lead agencies, the City (311 City Services), and CCA have helped to expedite projects in two communities (the 27th Ward and Greater Auburn Gresham) and in the process have:

• Improved city efficiency, by helping community organizations prepare fully before submitting applications to the City
• Helped the City (311 City Services) develop its innovative "neighborhood project manager" model
• Began to change how the City is viewed in the eyes of community leaders we worked with, from "an obstacle to overcome," to "colleagues to solve problems with"

During the fall of 2007, a third project, a 203 unit development in the Woodlawn area, was added.

Navy Pier
Navy Pier in its current incarnation was developed in 1995. With top leaders from the City, State, and Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, CCA has been working with Navy Pier to continue to explore options for its next generation. Throughout much of 2007, CCA worked with numerous experts and interested parties to generate creative ideas and to analyze their viability and fit for the Pier. Simultaneously, CCA has been managing an extensive process to solicit community and neighborhood input into the overall project goals and specific ideas.

Partners

• AT Kearney
• Earth Tech
• Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
• Scott-Balice

Chicago LEADS: Leading Economic Advancement Development and Sustainability in the 21st Century
In July of 2007, CCA launched an initiative that built on its previous work with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Career and Technical Education and the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC). The initiative, which is still in its initial phases, will align the vocational education programs offered through CPS and CCC and the many workforce development programs administered by the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (MOWD) to better meet the needs of existing and potential businesses. The goal of the initiative is to build wealth in Chicago communities by helping residents to access career pathways that lead to increased wages. These efforts will position Chicago as a leader in developing a 21st century economy.

In order to accomplish these objectives, CCA plans to pilot alignment strategies that build on existing resources in key job sectors. The pilot projects will allow the City to increase the employment opportunities for Chicago residents while streamlining resources and developing methods for performance management.

Partners:

• Boston Consulting Group
• Bain and Company