SSMMA Kicks Off Holiday Season with Annual Holiday Jingle & Mingle

The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association extends our heartfelt thanks to all elected officials, associate members, partners, and friends who joined us at last week’s Jingle & Mingle Holiday Dinner. We were delighted to kick off the 2025 holiday season together and celebrate another year of collaboration and progress across the Southland.

A special thank-you goes to Mayor Tom Brown and the Village of East Hazel Crest, as well as Mayor Rich Hofeld and the Village of Homewood, for co-hosting this year’s celebration.

We were thrilled to welcome 275 attendees for an evening of great food, camaraderie, and conversation with colleagues from across the region. Guests were treated to a festive musical performance by the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, whose seasonal selections added warmth and cheer to the night.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to our Premiere event sponsors Comcast, ComEd, CORE Construction, Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino, and Calumet City Plumbing. Our Partner-level sponsors, including the Illinois State Treasurer, Nicor Gas, and Robinson Engineering, Ltd., and for our Collaborator-level sponsors: AT&T, Baxter & Woodman, Inc., Farnsworth Group, Inc., Hera Registry, Homewood Disposal Service, HR Green, Inc., IngenAE, LLC, Marsh McLennan Agency and True Heights Treatment. Thank you all for your continued support of SSMMA and our communities.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Jingle & Mingle a memorable kickoff to the holiday season. We look forward to celebrating with you again next year!

 Find additional photos from the event here.

The South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association (SSMMA), in partnership with the City of Calumet City and the Villages of Lansing and South Holland, is pleased to announce the formal adoption of the Calumet Triangle Area Planning Study by all three participating municipalities.

Following presentations to each respective City Council and Village Board in November and December 2025, elected officials unanimously approved resolutions endorsing the Study as a guiding framework for future transportation, land use, and placemaking investments within the 4.7-square-mile Calumet Triangle corridor serving approximately 18,000 residents.

Developed through an 18-month planning process led by SSMMA and funded by IDOT’s Statewide Planning and Research program, the Calumet Triangle Area Planning Study reflects extensive community and intergovernmental input, with more than 500 residents and stakeholders shaping its vision. The Study includes strategies to improve transportation safety, fill pedestrian and bicycle network gaps, support economic revitalization, and expand access to open space. Key recommendations include 32 intersection and roadway projects; 12 miles of on-street bike accommodations; 9 miles of sidepaths; 13 miles of new sidewalks; 6 miles of riverfront trail with 10 kayak launches; and a range of placemaking improvements—positioning the corridor to pursue roughly $32.7 million in potential funding.

With adoption now complete in Calumet City, Lansing, and South Holland, the focus turns to implementation. The approved Study provides a shared blueprint to strengthen grant applications, align capital improvement priorities, and advance coordinated investments that improve safety, mobility, and economic opportunity across municipal boundaries. The adoption does not obligate immediate municipal expenditures but provides a framework for integrating Study recommendations into local comprehensive plans, capital improvement programming, and infrastructure investment decisions as opportunities arise.

SSMMA looks forward to continuing its partnership with each community as this Plan is translated into on-the-ground projects that deliver lasting benefits for Southland residents, businesses, and future generations. SSMMA extends its sincere appreciation to the elected officials, municipal administrators, and professional staff in Calumet City, Lansing, and South Holland whose leadership and collaboration made this milestone possible; and to the municipal planning, public works, economic development, and administrative teams across all three communities for their sustained engagement throughout the planning process. Find more news and information on SSMMA's website here.