chicojobsplanfinal

8/8/2019 ChicoJobsPlanFINAL

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THECHICOJOBSPLAN



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Weneedacitygovernmentthatappreciatesbusinesses,aMayorwholeadswithasense

ofurgencyandamissionthatisfocusedonbringingbusinesses—small,mediumand

large—toourcitytocreatejobsforallChicagoresidentsinneighborhoodsthroughout

thecity.

Thefutureofourcitydependsonwhetherornotourresidentshavejobs.Residentswith

jobsmeanssaferandmoreprosperousneighborhoods,taxdollarssavedfromlesssocial

servicesandadditionalcityrevenueasmorepeoplespendmoney,buyhomesandearn

income.Theimpactofeachnewjobripplesoutwardthroughtheeconomy,creating

secondaryandadditionalbenefits.

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillcreateacitygovernmentthatisnimble,proactive

andcreative,andoperateswithasenseofurgency.



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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Break Down the Brick Wall of Bureaucracy

EliminateunnecessarycitybureaucracytocreatealeanerCityHallthatsupports

businessgrowth.

• AppointaDeputyMayorforBusinessDevelopmentandJobCreationtoplacetheresponsibilityforbusinessdevelopmentandjobcreationclearlyanddirectlyinthe

handsofoneindividual.

• EliminatetheHeadTaximmediatelyandcompletely.

Bring the World’s Business to Chicago

CreateaproactiveCityHalltobringbusinessandinvestmenttoourcity.

•

CreateaJobsCabinetwithleadersfrombusiness,labor,universitiesandotherstocreatealong-termbusinessdevelopmentplanandjobcreationplanwith

measurablegoalsandtasks.

• Maximizeuseofincentivesavailabletoattractbusinessesandcreatejobs.

• ShifttheOfficeofInternationalRelationsundertheDeputyMayorforBusiness

DevelopmentandJobCreation.Increasethecity’seffortstoattractinternational

businessandinvestment.TheMayorwillundertakeInternationalTradeMissions

withapurposeandreturnhomewithquantifiableresults.

• MarketChicagoasabusiness-friendlycitythatoffersavailablespace,supportive

government,incentives,apreparedworkforceandalivablecity.

Make Things in Chicago Again

MakeChicagoaleaderinmanufacturingonceagain.

• Promotethere-toolingofvacantfactoriestoproductiveuse.

• Makevacantsites“shovel-ready”andmoreattractivetoprospectivemanufacturers.

• Deployhigh-speedinternetthroughouteveryindustrialcorridor.



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Revitalize Neighborhood Businesses

Rebuildourneighborhoodsbygrowingsmallbusinesses.

• Takeaservice-orientedapproachtodealingwithsmallbusinesses.Increasefocus

onattracting,retainingandgrowingsmallbusinesses.

• Bringvacant,underdevelopedcommercialcorridorstolifeinourneighborhoods.

• Increasestart-upandsmallbusinessaccesstomicro-financeloans.

• CreatetheChicagoCityCollegesEntrepreneurialCenter.

• Encouragethegrowthofminority-ownedandwomen-ownedbusinesses(M/WBE).

Strategic Industries for a New Economy KeepChicagoastepaheadinacompetitiveglobaleconomy.

• WemustcultivatethefollowingsectorstoensurethatChicagoiscompetitivein

the21stCenturyglobaleconomy:CleanEnergy,InformationTechnology,Health

ServicesandTradingandRiskManagement.

Build the Talent Pipeline

Connectresidentstojobsbybringingemployerstothetable.

• Createtwonewworkforcedevelopmentpositions:DirectorforBusiness

PartnershipsandDirectorofCareerAdvisingandJobPlacement.TheseDirectors

willberesponsibleforcollectingdatametrics.

• Workwiththebusinesscommunitytoprovideuniversalwork-studyprogramsfor

high-schoolstudentsinChicagoPublicSchools.



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Break Down the Brick Wall Of Bureaucracy

EliminateunnecessarycitybureaucracytocreatealeanerCityHallthatsupports

businessgrowth.

Today,thenumberoneimpedimentfor jobgrowthinChicagoisChicagocitygovernment

itself.Insteadofarationalsystemdesignedtoensurethatbusinessesmeetnecessary

safetyandhealthstandards-therules,regulations,feesandprocedureshavegrownover

timetocreateaconfusing,burdensomesystemthatmakesrunningorstartingabusiness

inChicagoextremelydifficult.

Whetherit’sacompanyunabletohaveabasictruckroutedesignationchanged,a

businessforcedtoobtainmultipleliquorlicensesforonelocation,orpayfeesfor

decorativelightsthatoverhangitsfaçade(nottomentionthehaphazardand

intermittentwayinspectionsareconducted),thecomplaintmostfrequentlyheardfrombusinessesisthatthecomplicatedmazeofcostlyrulesandregulationsisstranglingtheir

growth.

Itisoftensaidthatthingsgetdone“inspiteofthecity.”AsMayorofChicago,GeryChico

willcreateacitygovernmentwherethingsgetdone“withthesupportofthecity.”

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

AppointaDeputyMayorforBusinessDevelopmentandJobCreation.

TheDeputyMayorwillbeclearlyanddirectlyresponsiblefordevelopingandgrowing

businessesandcreatingnewjobsinChicago.ThefirstjoboftheDeputyMayorwillbeto

makeCityHallaleaner,moreflexibleentitythatsupportsandmaximizesbusiness

developmentandjobcreation.TheDeputyMayorwill:

• Auditandrestructure.

o Auditeverycitydepartmentthatdealswithbusinessdevelopmentandjobcreation,andrestructurekeydepartmentstobettermeetthemissionofjob

retention,attractionandgrowth.

o Examineallfees,taxesandassociatedpaperworktoreducetheburdenon

businesstoonlythatwhichisabsolutelynecessary.



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o Ensurethatthehealth,safetyandwelfareofcitizensareprotected.

• Proposethereorganizationofcitydepartmentstomeetthemissionofjob

retentionandgrowth.

• Coordinatethepermitreviewandinspectionprocessessothatasingle,

understandablestandardisapplied.

• Havethepowertorespondquicklytoanylog-jamsthatthreatenabusiness’s

abilitytolocateinChicago.

CreateanOfficeofJobCreationandBusinessDevelopmentintheMayor’sOfficewitha

focusedmissionofcreating,attractingandretainingjobsinChicago.

TheremustbeanofficeinCityHallthatissolelyfocusedonbusinessdevelopmentand jobcreation.ThisofficewillbeundertheDeputyMayorforBusinessDevelopmentand

JobCreationandwillbetheoneplacethatallbusinessesseekingtoexpandorlocatein

Chicagowillknowtheymaycontactforassistance.

EliminatetheHeadTax.

TheHeadTax—taxingbusinesseswithmorethan50employees$4peremployeeper

month—isoneofthemostodioussymbolsofhowwefeelaboutcreatingjobs. AsChief

ofStafftotheMayor,GeryhelpedreducetheHeadTaxtoeasethefinancialburdenon

businesses.AsMayor,GerywilleliminatetheHeadTaxcompletelyandimmediately.



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Bring the World’s Business To Chicago

CreateaproactiveCityHalltobringbusinessandinvestmenttoourcity.

OurcityneedsaMayorwhomakesjobcreationapriorityintheMayor’soffice,notonly

byusingexistingtools,butalsobyidentifyingnewopportunitiesforjobcreationand

businessdevelopment.

Chicagoisawonderfulcity,buttokeepupinacompetitiveworld,we’vegotsomework

todo.Sittinginourchairswaitingforcompaniestoapproachuswillnotgetthejobdone.

Citygovernmentmustbeproactiveinidentifying,courtingandbringingbothAmerican

andinternationalbusinessesandinvestmenttoourcity.

WemusthaveaCityHallthatisflexible,innovative,andactivelyfocusedonretaining,

attractingandexpandingbusinessesandjobsinourcity.


CreateaJobsCabinet.

AssemblingtheJobsCabinetwillfallunderthepurviewandleadershipoftheDeputy

MayorforBusinessDevelopmentandJobCreation.TheCabinetwillincludebusiness

leaders,leadersfromorganizedlabor,thehigher-educationcommunity,WorldBusiness

Chicago,CityCouncilmembers,delegateagencies,ChambersofCommerceandotherkey

constituents.ThefirsttaskoftheCabinetwillbetodevelopalong-termjobcreationand

economicdevelopmentplanforChicagopriortoGerytakingoffice.TheCabinetwill

convenequarterlyto:

• Conductongoinganalysisofthestrengths,opportunitiesandtargetsforeconomic

development.

• Createanactionplanforlinkingjobopportunitiestomarketpotentials.

• Establishmeasurablegoalsandobjectivestoquantifyprogressintermsofbusiness

development,investmentandjobcreation.

• Assesstheimplicationsofglobaltrendsintrade,investmentandeconomic

developments.



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• AssisttheMayor,DeputyMayor,andCityCouncilinimplementingplansand

reachinggoalssetbytheCabinet.

Maximizetheuseofincentivesavailabletoattractbusinessesandcreatejobs.

Thecitywilluseavarietyofavailableincentivesinstrategicandcreativewaystomeet

thegoalsandplandevelopedbytheJobsCabinet.Examplesinclude:

• TIFFunds-TIFshaveproveninmanycasestobeeffectiveeconomicdevelopment

andjobcreationtoolsforthecity,andshouldbemuchmorefocusedonjob

creationthaninthepast.ToimprovetheeffectiveuseofTIFfunds,thecitywill:

o EnhanceoveralltransparencyandaccountabilityintheinvestmentofTIF

dollars.1

o

UseTIFdollarsinastrategicwaythatgrowscurrentindustriesandattractsnewindustriestothecity.

o Putprocedures,suchasjobaudits,inplacetoensurethatjobspromisedare

jobsdelivered.

• IndustrialDevelopmentRevenueBonds-UseIndustrialDevelopmentRevenueBonds,

orotherlow-costfinancevehicles,incoordinationwithotherincentivessuchas6(b)

andotherpropertytaxreductiontools.

• Cityland-TheCityofChicagoisthelargestlandownerinChicago.Wemustusethis

landstrategicallyandcreativelytobringthegreatestbenefittotheresidentsofour

city.Somelandcanbemadeavailabletopotentialbusinessesonattractivetermsto

bringaboutnewjobs.

ImprovecoordinationofStateandFederalincentives.

TheDeputyMayorwillestablishconnectionswithkeypersonnelatthestateandfederal

levelanduseexistingCityandStateOfficestoseekoutandobtainsupportfrom

SpringfieldandWashingtonincreatingnewjobsinChicago.

ShifttheOfficeofInternationalRelationsundertheDeputyMayorforBusiness

DevelopmentandJobCreation.

1SeeGeryChico’sSunshineChicagotransparencyinitiativeatgerychico.com



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Chicago’sfutureisnecessarilylinkedtotheworldeconomy.Ifweintendtobeaglobally

competitivecity,wemustincreasethecity’seffortstoattractglobaltradeand

investment.Thisofficewillfocuson:

• Establishingamorestrategicfocusindevelopingstrongereconomictiesand

partnershipswithforeigncountries.

• RecruitingforeignbusinessestoChicago.

• AttractingforeigncapitalforinvestmentinChicago.

• WorkingwiththeJobsCabinet,MayorandDeputyMayorforBusiness

DevelopmentandJobCreationtoimplementthelong-termbusinessdevelopment

andjobcreationplan.

•

Coordinatingwithfederalandstateagenciestomaximizetoolsavailabletoattractinternationalinvestment,suchastheEB-5programthatprovidesnaturalizationto

thosewillingtoinvestmorethan$500,000.

MarketChicagoasabusiness-friendlycitythatoffersavailablespace,supportive

government,incentives,apreparedworkforce,andalivablecity .

EnhanceCoordinationwithWorldBusinessChicago(WBC).

WBCisavaluablepublic-privatepartnership.Thisorganizationservesasatrade,

investmentandeconomicdevelopmentagency,linkingChicagowithopportunities

aroundtheworld.Potentialemployersaroundtheworlddonothaveenough

informationaboutthegoodbusinesssenseofopeningfactories,plants,callcenters,high

techhubs,warehousesandotherbusinessesinChicago.UnderGeryChico’sleadership,

WBCwill:

• Managethecity’sinternationaloffices.IfChicagoexpectstoattractinternational

investment,wemustworktoincreaseourinternationalpresence.

• AdvanceandplantheMayor’sInternationaltrademissionstoensurethattheMayortravelswithapurposeandreturnshomewithquantifiableresults-jobs

forChicagoans.

• Provideannualdisclosureofresults.



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• Monitoranddevelopthecity’swebresourcesforpotentialinternationalinvestors.

• Coordinateeffortswithotherstateandfederalagencieschargedwithattracting

tradeandinvestment.

•

Provideinformationservicestopotentialforeigninvestors.

• Receivefundingfromthecitybaseduponperformancemetricsthatwillbe

monitoredundertheauthorityoftheDeputyMayorofBusinessDevelopmentJob

Creation.

BetterdeployandcoordinateexistingresourceswiththeChicagoConventionand

TourismBureau.

Tourismisavitalpartofoureconomyandakeyindustrythatmustnotbeneglected.Itis

importantasweleverageexistingresourcessuchastheConventionandTourismBureautodevelopournationalandinternationalprofile.Werecognizetheneedtocoordinate

andworkeffectivelywithMcCormickPlace,NavyPierandouriconicculturalinstitutions

toincreasethenumberofvisitorstoChicago.



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Make Things in Chicago Again

MakeChicagoamanufacturingleaderonceagain.

Chicagowasonceagreatleaderinmanufacturing.Weneedtousethatspritthat

transformedthiscityfromstockyardstoindustrialplantstorevitalizeourmanufacturing

base.Chicagoishometo18windenergycompanies,butnoneofthesecompanies

manufactureinChicago.WearehometoBoeing,yetenginesandpartsare

manufacturedelsewhere.Whetheryou’reanentrepreneurstart-uporacompanydoing

businessaroundtheglobelookingforahome,Chicagoshouldbeonthetopofyourlist.

Wecanmakethiscityamanufacturingleaderonceagain.


Promotethere-toolingofvacantfactoriestoproductiveuse,includinggreen

manufacturing.

Emptyfactoriescanbefoundthroughoutthecity.Currentlyblightsandeyesores,many

ofthesecanberenovatedandretrofittedasproductivefactoriesandwarehouses.

Makevacantsites“shovel-ready.”

Wemustbeproactiveinmarketingtractsofland,whereappropriate,bymakingthem

moreattractivetoprospectivebusinesses.

Deployhigh-speedinternetthroughouteveryindustrialcorridor.Wemusthavethetechnologyinfrastructureinplacesothatcompanies,largeorsmall,

canengageinglobalcommerceusinghigh-speedinternetineveryindustrialcorridor.

Thiscanbedonebyleveragingthecity’sexistingfiber-opticlinesincityrights-of-way.

FillourPlannedManufacturingDistricts.

PlannedManufacturingDistrictsareuniqueareasoflandgovernedbylanduserulesand

zoningclassificationsthatprotectmanufacturingusesinChicago.Thesedistrictsensure

thatthereisavailableandaffordablelandformanufacturingandthatindustrial

companiesareprotectedfromencroachingresidentialandcommercialdevelopment.Wemustpromoteandimprovethesedistrictstomakethemattractiveformanufacturers

byfocusingonsuchthingsasaccessibletransportation,goodpublicinfrastructure,access

tohigh-speedtechnologyanddelegateagencysupport.



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EngageNeighborhoodDelegateAgencies.

Delegateagenciesplayavaluableroleinbringingmanufacturersandbusinessestotheir

communities.GeryChicowill:

• Conveneandleadameeting,withinthefirst30daysofhisterm,withtheDeputy

MayorforBusinessDevelopmentJobCreation,theJobsCabinet,andalldelegate

agenciestoassistsindevelopinganactionplantobringmanufacturerstoChicago.

• Providesteadyandreliablefundingtodelegateagenciesusingmechanismsto

ensureaccountabilityandmaximumreturnforeachtaxdollarinvested.

Useandexpanduniquetrainingprograms.

ProgramssuchastheDaleyCollege’sManufacturingTechnologyandLogisticalInstitute

(MTLI)canbeusedtoattractmanufacturerstolocateinourcity.

Promoteandexpandthe“WastetoProfit”Program.

Thereareinnovativewaysindustrialbusinessescanmaximizeefficiencyandminimize

environmentalimpact.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillpromoteandexpandthe

“WastetoProfitProgram”sothatonebusinesscanusebyproductsofanotherasraw

material.



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Revitalize Neighborhood Businesses

Rebuildourneighborhoodsbygrowingsmallbusinesses.

Smallbusinessesarethebackboneofoureconomy.TheaveragesizeofaChicago

businessis20employeesandsmallbusinessesmakeupover80%ofemployersin

Chicago.Chicagoisacityofneighborhoods,eachwithitsownuniquecharacter.Partof

whatcontributestothatcharacteristhesmall,localbusinessesthatpopulateeach

neighborhoodaddingtothevibrancyofourcommunities.Ourcitymustencouragelocal

neighborhoodenterprise,especiallyinthiseconomicclimate.

Entrepreneurshipbreatheslifeintoourneighborhoods,openingthedoorsfor

opportunityandinnovation.Whenasmallbusinesssucceedsitbenefitstheentire

community--theownersandemployees,theirfamiliesandneighboringresidentsand

customers.Theentrepreneurialzealofsuchsmallbusinessownersisvitaltothefuture

ofourcity.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillcreateanewcultureingovernmentthat

pushesformoresmallbusinessgrowth.


Takeaservice-orientedapproachtodealingwithsmallbusinesses.

Giventheirimportancetooureconomy,CityHallmustincreaseitsfocusonattracting,

growingandsupportingsmallbusinesses.TheDeputyMayorforBusinessDevelopment

andJobCreationwillbechargedwiththemissionofhelpingtogrowjobsandeconomic

developmentatthelocallevels.

WorkcloselywithLocalAldermen.

Aldermenarekeyleadersintheirwardsandprovideinvaluableinsightintolocalneeds,

issuesandopportunities.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillworkwithaldermento

maximizebusinessdevelopmentandjobcreationinallwardsofthecity.

SupportNeighborhoodChambersofCommerce.

ChambersofCommerceareasignificantforcetohelpgrowjobsinourneighborhoods.Theyareclosetotherootsofthecommunityandknowwhattheirlocalbusinessesneed.

Theyhavepartneredwithuniversitiestodevelopsurroundingcommunities,andfought

tosavelocalbusinesses-savingmanyjobsintheprocess.GeryChicowill:

• Supporttheireffortsasthefirstlineofjobcreationinourneighborhoods.



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• ProvidesteadyandreliablefundingtoChambersofCommerceusingmechanisms

toensureaccountabilityandmaximumreturnforeachtaxdollarinvested.

• Conveneandleadameeting,withinthefirst30daysoftakingoffice,withthe

DeputyMayorforBusinessDevelopmentandJobCreation,CityCouncilmembers

andallLocalChambersofCommerceforbusinessdevelopment.

Revitalizecommercialcorridorsinourneighborhoods.

Wemustbepro-activeaboutbringingourneighborhoodcommercialcorridorsbackto

life.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillstrategicallyuseTIFfundstoreducerentsand

payforbuildingimprovementstoputvacantstorefrontsinunderdevelopedareasbackto

productiveuse.

ExpandtheuseofNewMarketTaxCredits.

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillseektoincreasethecity’sallocationofthesecredits,whichprovideanadditionalfundingtooltopromotedevelopmentinlow-income

communitiesinthecity.

Increasestart-upandsmallbusinessaccesstomicro-financeloans.

Inthiseconomicclimate,manyentrepreneurshavedifficultyobtainingbusinesscredit

fromlargefinancialinstitutions.Fortypercentofsmallbusinesseswereunabletofind

adequatefinancingin2010.Thesebusinessesmusthaveaccesstoworkingcapitalifthey

aretosucceedandgrow.Non-profitorganizations,suchasAccionandWomen’s

Initiative,offersmallloansrangingfrom$500-$50,000tobusinesseswithfiveorfeweremployeesandareoneofthefewsourcesofcapitalavailabletostart-upandsmall

businesses.TherearethousandsofbusinessesinChicagowithfiveorfeweremployees.

However,mostareunawareofthesemicroloanopportunities.AsMayor,GeryChicowill:

• PartnerwithorganizationssuchasAccionandWomen’sInitiativetoprovidemore

microloanstobusinessesinChicago.

• Workwithlargebankstoinstituteloanprogramswithsmallbusinessesthrough

theirlocalneighborhoodbranches.

CreatetheChicagoCityCollegesEntrepreneurialCenter.

Largecorporationsknowthevalueofsmallbusinessand,incitiessuchasLosAngeles,

haveusedtheirresourcestoencourageandsupportsmallbusinessdevelopment.As

Mayor,GeryChicowill:



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• WorkwithcorporationssuchasGoldmanSachs,andtheCityCollegestostartthe

ChicagoCityCollegesEntrepreneurialCentertoprovidetrainingandstart-upfunds

toindividualsseekingtostarttheirownbusinessesinourneighborhoods.

Encouragethegrowthofminority-ownedandwomen-ownedbusinesses(M/WBE).

Chicagoenjoysadiversepopulation.Minority-andwomen-ownedbusinesseshave

historicallybeendisadvantaged.ThecitycreateditsM/WBEprogramtopromote

opportunitiesforminorityandwomen-ownedbusinesses.Toooften,however,thegoals

oftheprogramarediminishedbyexcessiveregulationandtime-consumingprocessing.

GeryChicovaluestheimportanceofencouraginggrowthamongM/WBEbusinesses.

UnderhisleadershipasPresidentoftheChicagoBoardofEducation,halfthevalueofthe

SchoolBoard’sconstructioncontractswasawardedtowomen-andminority-owned

businesses-wellover$1billion.TheM/WBEprogrammustbemaintainedandimproved.


• Expeditetheprocessingofapplications,certifications,andpaymentsforworkfor

M/WBEcompanies.

• ShifttheresponsibilitiesfortheM/WBEcertificationprocesstotheInspector

Generaltoprotectagainstfraudorabuse,andensurethatlegitimatecompanies

aretreatedfairly.2

•

EncouragemoreM/WBEstobidasprimecontractorsratherthanmerelysub-contractors.

• CreateaneffectiveMentor-ProtégéProgramthatincreasessubcontracting

opportunitiesthroughmentors,givesM/WBEprotégéstheopportunitytolearn

andgrow,andprovidesopportunityforcreditstomentors.

• SeektogrowthepoolofqualifiedM/WBEcompaniesinspecialtyareaswherethe

demandisgreatest,andpromotetheuseofunder-representedM/WBEsto

increaserepresentation.

2SeeGeryChico’sEthicsPlanatgerychico.com.



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Strategic Industries for a New Economy

KeepChicagoastepaheadinacompetitiveglobaleconomy.

Intheemergingglobaleconomy,severalkeyindustriesthathavebeenidentifiedas

economicsectorsareexpectedtobeingreatdemandinthedecadesahead.Wemust

cultivatethesesectorstoensurethatChicagoiscompetitiveinthis21stCenturyglobal

economy.

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillfocusonexpanding,amongothers,thefollowing

industriesinChicago:

CleanEnergy

ThecleanenergyeconomyisemergingasavitalcomponentofAmerica’sneweconomic

landscape.Astrongcleanenergyeconomygeneratesjobs,businessesandinvestment

whileexpandingcleanenergyproduction,increasingenergyefficiencyandreducing

greenhousegasemissions.Wind,solarandothercleanenergytechnologiesproducejobs

andareessentialforthecountry'senvironmentandeconomy . Chicagoishometo18

windenergycompanies,andisaleaderintermsofthenumberofLEED(Leadershipin

EnergyandEnvironmentalDesign)certifiedbuildings.Thisisagoodstart,butwemust

domoretosecureChicago’spositionasaleadingcleanenergycity.AsMayorofChicago,

GeryChicowill:

• Enhancebuildingcodes,requiringbuildingpracticesthatfollowLEEDdesignor

EnergyStarstandards.

• Growthegreenbusinessmarketbyuseofthecity’spowertopurchasegoodsand

services.

• Developcollaborativeprogramswithuniversities,medicalcenters,thebusiness

communityandtheCityCounciltomakeChicagoagloballeaderinresearch,

commercialization,production,anddeploymentofcleantechnologies.

•

Incorporatecleanenergyknowledgeinworkforcetraining.

• DeveloptaxincentivestoencouragecleanenergycompaniestolocateinChicago.

• ExpandtheimplementationoftheClimateActionPlanRecommendations.



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InformationTechnology

Informationtechnologyhasspreadacrosstheworldatanextraordinaryrate,

revolutionizingthousandsofindustries,governmentandevenourpersonallives.This

revolutioncontinues.Chicago,withitsuniversities,technologycompaniesandfinancial

institutionsiswellpositionedtocontinueasaleaderinInformationTechnology.

Amongthemanywaystocontinuethisprogress,asMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

• CreateaTechVentureFundtoprovideseedmoneytoITstart-ups.Thisfundwill

supplyneededcapitalforstart-upfirms,andalsohelpleverageadditionalprivate

investmenttoexpandthecapitalavailableforinnovativestart-upsinthecity.

• Investinandenhanceinformationtechnologyinfrastructure.

•

StrengthenthetiebetweentheChicagoCityCollegesworkforcedevelopmentprogramsandITemployers.

HealthServices

Withasolidfoundationofmorethan5,000medicalanddentalresidents,numerous

teachinghospitalsand6medicalschools,healthservicesconstituteanindustrythatis

vitaltoChicago.AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowill:

• Leverageourgreatuniversitiesandmedicalcenterstocontinuethedevelopment

ofthehealthservicesindustryinChicagoinwaysthatbringunprecedentedgrowthandnotorietytoourcity.

TradingandRiskManagement

Chicagoisconsideredthe“RiskManagementCapitaloftheWorld.”WiththeChicago

BoardofOptionsExchangeandtheChicagoMercantileExchange,ourcityistheglobal

centerofthetradingindustryandhometonearlyone-quarteroftheworld'strading

activityforfutures,optionsandderivatives.

Chicago'sexchangeshavemorethantwicethetradingvolumeofNewYorkandalmostasmuchtradingvolumeasalloftheEuropeanexchangescombined.Whileotherindustries

andsegmentsoftheeconomyhavebeencontractingnationwide,Chicago'strading

industryhasgrownandaddedcountlessjobs.



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Wemustremaincommittedtothecontinuedgrowthofthissector.AsMayorofChicago,

GeryChicowill:

• Betterengagethisindustrytofurthernurtureitsgrowthinourcity.

•

ReviewbuildingcodestokeepupwithtechnologyandensurethatChicagoisthecityofchoiceforthisgrowingsegment.

• Workcloselywiththeindustrytoensurethatitisnotharmedbyexcessive

regulationortaxationfromWashingtonD.C.orSpringfield.

• DevelopafinancialtechnologyinitiativetoexpandChicago’sreputationasthe

“fintech”centeroftheworld.



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Build the Talent Pipeline

Connectingresidentstojobsbybringingemployerstothetable.

Competingintheglobaleconomyrequiresawell-trained,competentworkforcethatis

attractivetobusiness.ArecentChicagoMetropolitanAgencyforPlanning(CMAP)study

concludedthatthemoststatisticallysignificantindicatorofanarea’seconomicprosperity

isaskilledworkforce.Moreindustriestodayrequireagreaterdegreeofknowledgeand

skillsintheirworkforce.

TheCityCollegesofChicagoplayanintegralroleinworkforcedevelopment.Wemust

makesurethattheirjobtrainingeffortsarematchingtheneedsofemployers.As

ChairmanoftheCityColleges,GeryChicobegantheprocessofrevisingcurriculato

specificbusinessneedsandfocusedonincreasedprogramcompletionandjobplacement.

Heimplementedstronger,formalizedlinksbetweenthegraduatesproducedandtheneedsofemployersbybringingbusinessleaderstothetable.

AsMayorofChicago,GeryChicowillredoubleandexpandhisfocustoensurethatthe

CPS,CityCollegesandlocaluniversitiesareactivelyengagedincreatingthebestpossible

workforceforChicago’sfuture.


Createtwonewworkforcedevelopmentpositionsateachofthe7CityColleges .Thesenewpositions,aDirectorofBusinessPartnershipsandaDirectorofCareer

AdvisingandJobPlacement,willworkinconjunctionwithoneanotherandbe

accountabletotheChancellor’sOffice.Thetwonewdirectorswillhavethetaskof

developingspecificplansattheircollegesandtrackingannuallythenumberoflocal

business/communitycollegepartnershipscreatedandthenumberofnewjobpositions

securedbyapplicants.

Workwiththebusinesscommunitytoprovideuniversalwork-studyprogramsforhigh-

schoolstudentsinChicagoPublicSchools. Thisprogramwillenableolderstudentstousetheirtimeproductively,learninglifeskills

andgivingthemexposuretotheworkforce,experienceandavisionforthefuture.



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TransformtheChicagoPublicSchoolSystemtoprovideallstudentswithaquality

education.

Thefoundationofahighly-skilledworkforceisaqualityeducationsystemthatgivesall

studentsthetoolstheyneedtocompeteinaglobaleconomy.Dropoutratesare

staggering,andworkerswithlessthanahighschooldiplomaarenearlyfourtimesless

likelytobeemployedthanworkerswithanadvanceddegree.Usinga“CradletoJobs”

approach,GeryChicowilltransformCPSintoasystemthatpreparesallstudentsforthe

jobsoftomorrow.3

3See Gery Chico’s Education Plan at gerychico.com.

chicojobsplanfinal

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