|
Advancing Economic Opportunity |
|
LOCAL ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL |
|
About Us: 25 Years of “LEEDing” Founded in 1982 as an affiliate of the New City YMCA, LEED Council became an independent not-for-profit community development corporation in 2001. As a delegate agency of the Chicago Department of Planning & Development, we serve businesses in the North River Industrial Corridor from Milwaukee, Kinzie & Desplaines (southeast) to Belmont & the Kennedy Expressway (northwest). We have worked with hundreds of companies in the North River Industrial Corridor on identifying solutions to problems that impact their operations, such as balanced land use and development, and better access to city services and programs. LEED Council was instrumental in creating Planned Manufacturing Districts (PMDs) to maintain affordable industrial land to retain Chicago’s employment based. The Clybourn corridor was Chicago’s first PMD in 1988. The Elston and Goose Island PMDs followed in 1991. The Chicago-Halsted PMD in 1998. LEED Council integrates economic and employment development by proactively negotiating hiring agreements with companies (such as Federal Express, Jetro Carry & Cash, and Costco) relocating into the industrial corridor, linking new job creation and resulting in well-paying jobs for local residents. Over the last 6 years, LEED Council assisted over 250 in our Entry-Level Industrial Skills Training [ELIST] and job placement programs. Since 1992, LEED Council has assisted more than 325 entrepreneurs to start or expand their small business by providing business planning classes, counseling, and referrals for micro-loans, legal and accounting assistance. In 2005, we began to offer financial education for parent groups, public housing residents and trainees in our skills classes. Since 2003, LEED Council has been pursuing sustainable development objectives and has assisted 50 businesses to voluntarily reduce their pollution emissions through strategies such as purchasing energy-efficient equipment and lighting, using low-VOC paints and cleaners, and promoting public transit for employees. We are currently researching the production and delivery of alternative fuels and the skills training needed for emerging “green collar” jobs.
|