South Suburban Airport Legislation
Flies Over First Hurdle
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South Suburban Airport legislation, HB 2531, flew over its first hurdle when it passed unanimously out of the House State Government Administration Committee on Wednesday, March 8th. House Bill 2531, legislation introduced by State Representative William “Will” Davis (D-East Hazel Crest), amends the Public-Private Agreements for the South Suburban Airport Act. This bill requires the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to commence prequalification of respondents that seek eligibility to answer the State’s call for proposals to develop, construct, and manage the South Suburban Airport. HB 2531 also expands the permissible types of airport development to include cargo and freight shipment facilities that could meet domestic and global e-commerce shipment demands.
Representative Davis, lead sponsor and key champion for the South Suburban Airport, testified on the need for IDOT to issue an open call to interested parties as there are experienced private sector developers that have expressed interest in building a third airport.
“This airport will serve a diverse constituency, strengthen the economy, leverage the Southland’s transportation assets, and allow the State of Illinois to attract and capitalize on current and future capacity demands,” Davis said. “E-commerce and air cargo are two of the fastest growing segments of the global economy. IDOT’s own commissioned study and others indicate that a South Suburban freight airport is needed and could well produce over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs.”
Davis was joined at the hearing by HB 2531 co-sponsors State Representatives Anthony DeLuca, Debbie Meyers-Martin, and Nickolas K. Smith, as well as key representatives of the south suburban business community. Testifying in favor of the bill, Reggie Greenwood, executive director of the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation, stated that this legislation is supported by mayors and elected officials, as well as business and religious leaders, labor organizations, educational institutions, and community members throughout south Cook and eastern Will Counties.
“The planning for the South Suburban Airport and land acquisition is 90 percent complete. The state has selected a contractor for the design build for the interchange and infrastructure for the Airport and the next step is to begin to seek potential private sector partners to build an environmentally sound airport and industrial park in a P3 process which this bill requires,” said Greenwood, adding “This airport would contribute to the effectiveness of our other airports and enable us to stop the loss of investment to Indiana and Wisconsin.“
HB 2531 now advances to the House floor on Calendar Second Reading and is anticipated to be considered within the next two weeks. More information on the South Suburban Airport bill is available here.
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Upcoming Meetings and Events
SSMMA Business Meeting - March 16 at 6:00pm
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SSMMA's Vendor Fair Member Appreciation Dinner Event is Thursday, March 16, 2023! |
Registration is now closed.
Many thanks to our sponsors: ComEd, Comcast, Nicor Gas, and IBEW.
Vendor Show begins at 4:30pm
SSMMA Meeting begins at 6:00pm
Dinner begins at 6:30pm
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Public Health Information |
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• Check out vaccination events hosted by Cook County Department of Public Health throughout the south suburbs during the month of March.
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• Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH)
announced 18 Behavioral Health Initiative grant awards totaling nearly $15 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding across suburban Cook County to address dramatic increases in anxiety, depression and substance use since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more.
• Governor Pritzker announced the state's public health emergency will end on May 11, 2023, aligning the state with the federal government's decision to end the national public health emergency. Learn more.
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Business & Residential Resources |
• The Illinois Emergency Homeowner Assistance Fund (ILHAF) program is still accepting applications for assistance! Learn more.
• Cook County Announces Call for Community Development Block Grant and Invest in Cook Program Applications. The application deadline is March 17. Learn more.
• Pritzker Administration Relaunches "Opening Doors" Homebuyer Assistance Program With Additional $8 Million. Learn more.
• Illinois Small Business Grants are now open for 2023-2024. Learn more.
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• Illinois Department of Natural Resources offers a list of grants. Learn more.
• Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) offers a list of FY23-24 grant opportunities for eligible organizations. Learn more.
• Check out the latest list of Federal and DCEO grant opportunities here.
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News from Community Partners |
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Prairie State College to Host Veterans Town Hall Meeting |
• On March 24, 2023, Prairie State College invites Southland Veterans to an interactive town hall meeting where you will have the opportunity to hear from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Office of Community Care, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs (IDVA), and Jesse Brown VA Hospital leadership on topics such as the VA’s PACT Act and the Mission Act.
• The meeting will begin at 6:00pm and there will be an open forum for questions. Learn more.
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ComEd Accepting Applications for Future of Energy STEM Scholarships |
• ComEd is encouraging students in Illinois to apply for scholarships of up to $10,000 each and the opportunity to intern with ComEd.
• Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2023.
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• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Chicago District planning team is seeking applicants for its FY24 Floodplain Management Services (FPMS) Interagency Nonstructural Program.
• The application deadline is March 15.
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• Cook County Government will host a virtual job fair for procurement on March 21 from 9am-5pm. Learn more.
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News from Metropolitan Water Reclamation District |
• The Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO) allows for offsite volume control and detention trading to occur throughout Cook County when site constraints or site limitations prevent onsite installation of volume control practices and detention facilities.
• The 2020 amendment to the WMO created a Pilot Program to allow trading to occur in the Des Plaines River and the Little Calumet River Watersheds without having to demonstrate a site constraint or a site limitation.
• Join the live webinar on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2023 at 10:00am to learn more about volume control and detention trading. Learn more.
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Job Postings & Requests for Proposals |
• Municipalities and organizations can send job openings and proposals here to be publicly posted.
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SPC News
Think Spring! SPC Awards Lane Marking Contract Extension with No Price Increases!
• The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) Governing Board has awarded the second of three possible, one-year extensions on Thermoplastic &/or Urethane Lane Marking Material and Labor Contract (#201) with Superior Road Striping. The contract extension runs from April 12 through April 11, 2024, with no price increases, so schedule your projects now! For questions or additional information, please contact staff, Joan Yario or Sandy DeHoyos with Superior Road
SPC Awards Fuel Contract Extension
• The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) Governing Board has awarded the third and final contract extension on Diesel Fuel (Contract #198) to Al Warren Oil, Inc. The extension runs from July 6, 2023 through July 5, 2024 on the following items: Gasoline (87, 89 & 92 Octane), Ethanol 75 & 85, B2 Bio Diesel Fuel. For questions or additional information, please contact staff or Shaleen Okon, 312-881-9324 or sokon@alwarrenoil.com.
SPC Extends Combined Office & Janitorial Supplies Contract
• The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) Governing Board has approved awarding the combined Janitorial Supplies and Office Supplies Contract (#189) by piggybacking onto the National Cooperative Purchasing Alliance (NCPA) agreement with American Office Products Distributors (AOPD), solicited and awarded by lead agency Region XIV Education Service Center, Abilene, TX.
• The contract is effective through May 31, 2024 with one additional one-year contract extension available. If mutually agreed by Region XIV ESC and AOPD, the contract can be renewed annually for an additional five years. For questions or additional information, please contact staff or Warehouse Direct Account Executives, Spencer Touchie, stouchie@warehousedirect.com or 847-631-7188 or Rick Schackle, rickschackle@warehousedirect.com or 847-631-7428.
Click here for more information about the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative and to view the current SPC Catalog.
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