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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Economic Vitality, County Nikki Way Economic Vitality, County Nikki Way

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.

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Economic Vitality Nikki Way Economic Vitality Nikki Way

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.

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Health, Economic Vitality Nikki Way Health, Economic Vitality Nikki Way

West Side United Food Access Strategy

In 2017, Civic Consulting Alliance provided foundational support to bring together a collaborative of healthcare providers to build West Side United (WSU), an organization committed to eradicating the 16-year life expectancy gap between residents on Chicago’s West Side and the Loop. One of WSU’s primary strategies is to address the social determinants of health by removing barriers to accessing healthy food.

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Education Nikki Way Education Nikki Way

CPS Arts Education Plan

Chicago Public Schools’ (CPS) groundbreaking citywide Arts Plan, launched in 2012, yielded tangible results, including robust arts partnerships, and recommendations around instructional minutes. In a post-COVID world, student needs have changed dramatically, putting CPS at a critical point in time to build upon the success of the previous plan while identifying opportunities to improve and expand the arts education experience and address current challenges.

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Economic Vitality Nikki Way Economic Vitality Nikki Way

City Workforce Strategy Alignment

Meaningful employment and career opportunities are foundational to the Johnson Administration’s ambition to invest in and create pathways to wealth for marginalized populations and underserved communities. While the private sector is responsible for most of the employment base, the City of Chicago government plays a multi-faceted role in the workforce space through the resources deployed by its Departments and Sister Agencies, policy activities, and the power of its influence.

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Economic Vitality HALT Creative Economic Vitality HALT Creative

Cook County Property Tax System Reform

Cook County property taxes provide over $16B annually for the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the many school districts, special districts, and municipalities. The current tax system is complex and difficult to navigate. In 2023, Civic Consulting Alliance supported the creation of the Cook County Property Tax Reform Group (PTAX) to ensure that the property assessment and tax system produces predictable, accurate, fair, and equitable results in a timely and efficient manner.

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“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