SOUTH SUBURBAN MAYORS & MANAGERS ASSOCIATION

THE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS MEMBER MUNICIPALITIES WITHIN THE SOUTH SUBURBS THROUGH TARGETED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND REGIONAL PLANNING COLLABORATION, WORKING TO SUPPORT COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING DATA-DRIVEN REGIONAL PLANNING TO IMPROVE RESILIENCE AND ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY. WE HAVE BEEN AN INTEGRAL PARTNER IN THE SOUTH SUBURBAN ECONOMIC GROWTH INITIATIVE, A MULTIDISCIPLINARY EFFORT TO STABILIZE AND STRENGTHEN THE SOUTH SUBURBS AND FOSTER EQUITABLE, INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF BUSINESS AND HOUSEHOLDS. THE ASSOCIATION PARTNERS WITH COOK COUNTY, THE CHICAGO SOUTHLAND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE SOUTHLAND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, CHICAGO METROPOLITAN AGENCY FOR PLANNING AND OTHER BUSINESS AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ENSURE THE REGION AND ITS PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO MEET ITS FULL ECONOMIC POTENTIAL. THE ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO ADDRESS INFRASTRUCTURE, LAND USE, BLIGHT, PROPERTY TAX REFORM, AND OTHER ISSUES THAT AFFECT LAND USE AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THE ASSOCIATION PRIORITIZES DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES WHICH FOCUS ON REBUILDING COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMIES AROUND TRANSIT, INTERMODAL FACILITIES AND MANUFACTURING, WHILE COMMITTING TO PRESERVING AND IMPROVING THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. IN ADDITION, THE ASSOCIATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR THE FOLLOWING ENTERPRISE ZONES: CAL-SAG, CALUMET REGION, LINCOLN & 394, AND WILL/COOK I- 57 ZONES, AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITY ZONES WITHIN THE SOUTHLAND. THESE DESIGNATED ZONES WERE ESTABLISHED TO STIMULATE ECONOMIC GROWTH AND NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION IN ECONOMICALLY DEPRESSED AREAS.

IN COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, ILLINOIS ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, AND COOK COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY (CCDES), THE ASSOCIATION HAS OVERSEEN THE IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION OF FORMER INDUSTRIAL OR COMMERCIAL SITES THAT ARE CONSIDERED "BROWNFIELDS" DUE TO ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED CONTAMINATION AND CONTINUES TO PLAY A ROLE IN REVITALIZING FORMER BROWNFIELD SITES, PRIORITIZING THEIR REDEVELOPMENT, WORKING WITH MEMBER MUNICIPALITIES TO BRING UNDERUTILIZED SITES BACK INTO PRODUCTIVE REUSE. SSMMA CURRENTLY IS COLLABORATING WITH COOK COUNTY TO OVERSEE BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION OF A LIMITED NUMBER OF CONTAMINATED SITES UTILIZING DESIGNATED COUNTY ARPA FUNDS FOR PROJECTS WITHIN THE SOUTHLAND.