News & Projects
Our work Is expansive, and so are the stories that shape the Chicago region’s civic ecosystem.
This space is designed to inform, inspire, and celebrate the collective efforts to create a more vibrant, equitable, and prosperous Chicago region for all.
From partner spotlights and project updates to deep dives on key initiatives, we share the moments, milestones, and ideas that reflect our collaborative approach.
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Commercial Property Tax Report Implementation
Civic Consulting Alliance has been a partner in advancing Cook County's property tax reform efforts, leveraging deep system knowledge and cross-agency expertise built over years of related work. When the County released a report on commercial valuation practices in December 2024, CCA was tapped to turn roughly 20 recommendations into a workable plan.
CCA developed detailed initiative charters with clear ownership, milestones, and timelines, facilitated a structured prioritization process to sequence reforms around the upcoming assessment cycle, and designed a PMO framework to keep stakeholders aligned and progress on track. The result is a credible implementation plan that makes Cook County's property tax system more accurate, transparent, and equitable — reducing appeals, stabilizing revenues, and protecting historically overburdened communities.
Cook County’s Digital Equity Plan Implementation
In October 2023, Cook County released the first Digital Equity Action Plan, a crucial step to address the digital divide that impacts communities in suburban Cook County, which results in barriers to economic opportunities, social connections, and community wellbeing. The plan identifies Cook County’s path to digital equity through accessibility, confidence, safety and security, and affordability.
Cook County Pretrial Stakeholders Group
Since 2014, Civic Consulting Alliance has facilitated the Cook County Pretrial Stakeholders’ Group, tasked with promoting community safety and reducing reliance on incarceration. This includes mitigating the destabilizing effects of the system at every contact point, with a particular focus on helping those disproportionately impacted during the pretrial stages of criminal prosecution.
“Civic Consulting Alliance was instrumental in getting the Cut the Tape initiative off the ground quickly. Their in-depth research on peer cities and insightful stakeholder engagement helped us identify ways to streamline the City’s real estate development process. This not only saved us valuable time but also ensured we targeted the highest-impact solutions that will lead to more affordable housing and vibrant commercial corridors throughout Chicago.”
Kenya Merritt, Deputy Mayor of Business and Neighborhood Development, City of Chicago