O'Hare Modernization Needs YOU!

Our economic growth requires "weatherproofing" O'Hare with a new parallel-runway configuration. Our ability to compete nationally and globally depends on O'Hare Modernization, which will also create tens of thousands of new jobs.

Proof: The recent decision of BP's new $13-billion petrochemical business to locate its global headquarters in Chicago was tied directly to O'Hare capabilities. Without modernization we lose, period.

Having given O'Hare Modernization preliminary approval, the FAA has called three public hearings to record business and workforce support -- as well as predictably histrionic opposition -- Feb. 22 in Elk Grove, Feb. 23 in Elmhurst, and Feb. 24 in Niles.

To reserve a 3-minute time slot to testify -- ideally between 4 and 6 PM -- call the FAA's Mike MacMullen at 847-294-8339. If you can't make it, please designate someone. It matters.

SME Health Insurance

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has committed to researching health insurance options that could lower costs for its members. The newly launched effort comes on the heels of yet another year in which the majority of Chamber members experienced double-digit health insurance premium hikes. The goal is to reduce insurance costs for smaller companies while creating predictability to spur their growth and success.

In an effort to support small businesses, the Chamber will be working with the State to explore ways to offer members a suite of health insurance plans, at reduced costs, without decreasing the scope of services to which they have access.

"It is imperative that small businesses, the segment of our economy that will create the majority of net new jobs, be able to offer comprehensive healthcare benefits at a comparable cost to their counterparts in large corporations," said Chamber CEO, Jerry Roper.

"We applaud the Governor's vision on this issue," remarked Roper. "The goal is to reduce insurance costs for smaller companies while creating predictability to spur their growth and success."

The Chamber has already garnered the support of the Governor and other key State officials who are working with the Chamber in hopes of supporting the state's small business economyThe Chamber was identified in Governor Blagojevich's State of the State address as being a lead partner on this issue.

In the next twelve months, this initiative hopes to create a suite of health insurance offerings for small businesses that would lower costs and promote multi-year predictability. If you are a business owner or make health insurance decisions for a business that employs between 2 - 150 people and feel that rising health insurance costs are prohibiting the growth of your business, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey.

The information you fill out will only be viewed by Chamber staff members, who will aggregate the data (without referring to any specific names or companies) and may choose to share the aggregated data with partners and underwriters of insurance.

For more information, contact Michael Fields at mfields@chicagolandchamber.org or 312-494-6779.

An Employer-Assisted American Dream

Happier Homes Closer to Work.

Companies find that employees who live closer to work spend more time with their families and less time commuting, resulting in a happier, more productive workforce.

Employer-Assisted Housing (EAH) is an initiative that helps businesses provide their employees with financial incentives to buy or rent homes closer to work. The employers' ROI is savings from reduced turnover, recruitment, and security costs.

At a recent gathering of business leaders, Mayor Daley recognized long-standing EAH programs such as those at University of Chicago and Advocate Bethany Hospital for their leadership. He also announced new EAH programs at the real estate firm of Draper and Kramer and at three financial institutions -- MB Financial, First Midwest Bank, and Charter One Bank.

The Mayor encouraged EAH, spearheaded by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), to support the Chicago Housing Authority's Plan for Transformation.

Organizations including IIT, Illinois College of Optometry, and De La Salle Institute have put EAH programs in place specifically to support Park Boulevard, a nearby mixed-income community that will replace the CHA's former Stateway Gardens public housing site.

IIT is offering a $7,500 forgivable loan to employees who purchase a home at Park Boulevard. The loan is forgivable after five years, if the employee stays at IIT.

Over the past two ears, MPC has helped more than 20 Chicago-area businesses launch EAH programs that have assisted more than 200 employees buy homes.

With the help of the Mayor's office, the Chicago Department of Housing, and the CHA, MPC is now focusing on businesses in Chicago that can use EAH to support 10 new mixed-income communities being built to replace the CHA's high-rise public housing developments. Mixed-income communities are the core of CHA's $1.5-billion Plan for Transformation that blends market-rate, affordable-rate, and public housing units for rental and purchase.

"This is a historic opportunity to revitalize Chicago neighborhoods to benefit people of all incomes," said Robin Snyderman, housing director at MPC. "We want to see the Plan for Transformation succeed, and we want to improve those communities for everyone who lives there."

For more information, please contact Jane Hornstein at (312) 863-6040.

Chicago by the Numbers

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Chicago, Illinois 60601

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