Regional Development/Sensible Growth Alliance for Public Technology
APT is concerned with fostering access to affordable and useful information and communication services and technologies by all people, including the elderly, minorities, low income groups and people with disabilities. American Planning Association
The American Planning Association works to advance the art and science of planning and to foster the activity of planning. The Web site includes research, public information, events, a legislative toolkit and information about the American Institute of Certified Planners. Benton Foundation
Through its projects, the foundation seeks to shape the emerging communications environment in the public interest by bridging the worlds of philanthropy, public policy and community action. Business and Professional People for the Public Interest
Works to achieve public policy goals in the Chicago area (under construction). Campaign for Sensible Growth
An action-oriented coalition of government, civic and business leaders in northeastern Illinois' six counties (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will) working to promote economic development while preserving open space, minimizing the need for costly new infrastructure and improving the livability of our communities.
Center for Neighborhood Technology
Works to acheive sustainable development and for the efficient use of resources. Centers for New Horizons
A multi-centered community organization providing a range of services to the State Street Corridor and a member of the Connecting Chicago's Communities project. Chicago CivicNet
Information about the program that seeks to develop a broadband infrastructure covering all of the City of Chicago. Chicago Commons
Since 1894, Commons has partnered with individuals, families and communities to overcome poverty, discrimination and isolation; a partner in Connecting Chicago's Communities. Chicago Metropolis 2020
A leading voice of business in the Chicago region on regional issues and a co-leader of Business Leaders for Transportation Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning
As the region continues to grow, effective planning strategies are necessary for combating traffic congestion and conserving important land resources. The creation of a new regional planning agency provides a new opportunity for consolidated planning in northeastern Illinois, in that it will guide future growth and development in the region. The primary aim behind CMAP's creation was to integrate the region's transportation and land-use agencies – the Chicago Area Transportation Study (CATS), the federally designated metropolitan planning organization, and the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission (NIPC), the region's comprehensive planning agency – into one regional planning body. Chicago Urban League
Established in 1916, the League's work is focused in three primary areas: education, economic development and community empowerment. The Web site includes information on their events, projects and programs, including scholarships, business assistance, neighborhood technology, health care and many others. Chicago Wilderness
Chicago Wilderness is dedicated to the protection, restoration and stewardship of the natural communities of the Chicago region through fostering their compatibility with human communities whose lives they enrich.
City of Chicago
Home page for the City of Chicago, including a link to CivicNet, Chicago's new broadband infrastructure. City of Elgin
Elgin's "e-Elgin" initiative is a regional model for communities embracing technology to enhance development in their communities. Cook County Assessor's Office
The Assessor’s Office is responsible for setting values for 1.6 million parcels of Cook County property. Cook County Clerk's Office
Along with serving as the chief election authority in suburban Cook County, the Clerk's Office provides a number of services to the public and other units of government. Cook County Information Center
Provides a wide variety of information for residents. Cook County Tax Policy Forum
View impacts of Assessor James Houlihan's proposed assessment level changes on representative school districts and municipalities. Cyburbia
This site contains Internet resources for the built environment. descrit
descrit's mission is to critique the everyday designs, objects and patterns which may be habitually overlooked to elevate awareness and critical thought regarding all of the designed universe.
DuPage County Government
Provides information about DuPage county government departments and services. Education Funding Advisory Board
Created to make recommendations for Illinois school funding. El Valor
El Valor is a multi-center social service agency serving the Chicago Latino community with services such as day care, education, training for persons with disabilities and after school programs. The community technology center offers computer literacy and music classes for children, Internet training and youth programs. El Valor is a partner in Connecting Chicago's Communities. Elm Street Writers Group
The Michigan Land Use Institute hosts this site featuring new articles about smart growth issues each month. It also includes publications, 'tools for action' and other resources. Federal Communications Commission
Regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
The site of Chicago's Federal Reserve Bank includes general information on economics, banking and finances for consumers, as well as news, publications, reports, and Chicago Fed resources. Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation Chicago Region Arts Scan
The Donnelley Foundation's mission honors the values and legacy of its founders by focusing on two of the conditions crucial to vital human communities: a healthy natural environment and artistic vitality. Approaching the 10-year anniversary of its focus on small arts groups, the foundation’s staff sought but did not find comprehensive current data on the nonprofit arts sector in the Chicago region. To be more effective in its own grantmaking, and in the belief that others would find the information useful, Donnelley conducted the Chicago Region Arts Scan, a project designed to build a fact-based picture of the nonprofit arts community in the greater Chicago region. The study was released in early 2007. Global Chicago
Global Chicago is a collaborative project whose mission is to enhance Chicago's strengths as a global city and raise awareness — both here and abroad — of Chicago's global connections. GreatIllinois.com
A directory of information about Illinois Growth at the Ballot Box: Electing the Shape of Communities in November 2000
A Brookings Institution report describing growth related ballot measures in recent elections. Illinois Business Roundtable
A voluntary nonprofit nonpartisan association of 53 CEOs of Illinois' leading businesses, formed in 1989 to study, make recommendations and take action on critical public policy issues facing Illinois, especially education. The Web site lists its members, current legislative issues and bills and links to related organizations. Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs
DCCA provides a wide array of programs and services designed to help Illinois businesses thrive in the global economy. Illinois Department of Natural Resources Technical Assistance for Balanced Growth
A site for individuals and organizations interested in studying how growth affects their communities' quality of life, and in protecting Illinois' natural and cultural resources potentially impacted by urban growth. The site includes reports conducted by and for the Department on various topics related to urban growth, information on DNR projects related to urban growth and natural resource protection, and tools available to landowners and communities for protecting natural resources. Illinois Department of Revenue
Illinois Environmental Protection Agency
Pursues the state's environmental interests. Illinois Farm Bureau
The Farm Bureau provides information on events and legislative issues organized by audience type for farmers, teachers and students, legislators, young people, and consumers who are interested in farm and consumer issues, agricultural education, and policy. Illinois General Assembly
The Illinois General Assembly Web site offers pending and passed legislation, and includes information on the Senate, House of Representatives and Illinois state agencies. Also includes compiled statutes. Illinois Intergovernmental Cooperation Commission
The Commission assists members of the General Assembly in the areas of federal/state/local governmental relations, and helps advance cooperation between the State of Illinois and other units of government.
Illinois Municipal League
The Illinois Municipal League is an association that promotes competence and integrity in the administration of municipal government. Membership is open to any city, village, or incorporated town in the State of Illinois. Illinois School Improvement
A project that aims to improve Illinois schools. A joint effort of the Illinois State Board of Education, North Central Regional Educational Laboratroy and the Illinois Business Roundtable. Illinois State Board of Education
Institute on Race and Poverty
Investigates and conducts research on policy to understand how it will affect low-income and minority communties. International Telecommunications Union
The ITU, headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland is an international organization within which governments and the
private sector coordinate global telecom networks and services. IT Resource Center
The IT Resource Center seeks to lead nonprofit organizations to harness the power of technology.
Kane County
Provides information about services and departments in Kane County government. Lake County
Virtual government center League of Women Voters of Illinois
A nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation of citizens in government and influencing public policy through education and advocacy. The Web site provides election coverage, action alerts, links, a calendar of events, positions on issues and publications. LincolnNet
LincolnNet is a public network for the greater Chicago area, including parts of Cook, Will, and Kankakee county libraries.
McHenry County
Government site with information for McHenry county citizens. National Assocation of Counties
NACO advocates for the interests of the nation's 3,067 counties in the U.S. Congress. National Association of Regional Councils
NARC is a national, nonprofit, membership organization of public agencies in the U.S. that are engaged in substate and interstate regional planning and policy coordination for local governments.
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
Works to provide consumers with telecommunication choices and to close the "digital divide." National Trust for Historic Preservation
The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America's
diverse historic places and revitalize our communities.
Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission
NIPC is a government regional planning organization. Northwest Municipal Conference
Organization guided by members from the municipalities to the north and northwest of Chicago. Oakland Citizen's Committe for Urban Renewal (OCCUR)
Works to close the digital divide. Openlands Project
Works to preserve open space in the Chicago region. Policy Link
Policy Link is a a national advocacy, research, capacity building and communications organization that works to achieve equity in low-income communities through partnerships with national non-profits and community organizations. Renacer Westside Community Network
A community based organization located on the Near West Side providing a range of community and technology services; a partner in Connecting Chicago's Communities. Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America is a nationwide coalition promoting better growth that protects farmland and open space, revitalizes neighborhoods, keeps housing affordable, and makes communities more livable.
Smart Growth Network
The Smart Growth Network encourages development that is environmentally, fiscally, and economically smart and helps create national, regional, and local coalitions to support smart growth. Sprawl City
U.S. Bureau of the Census data on urbanized areas: A Web site about consumption growth and population growth and their roles in urban sprawl. Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse
The Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse identifies, collects, compiles and disseminates information on land use best practices. Its mission is to make growth management tools, techniques and strategies accessible. Sprawl Watch Newsletter
A weekly newsletter covering current state and national events related to sprawl and housing issues. State and Local Government on the Net - Resource Guide
A resource guide to individual state and local governments as well as information on shared state areas and organizations. State of Illinois
News and services from the Illinois state government Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois
The Taxpayers' Federation of Illinois was established in 1940 to promote the general welfare and protect taxpayers by fostering knowledge, efficiency and economy in governmental functions and services so Illinoisans can receive greater value for their tax The Brookings Institution
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, D. C. Its mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, to provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals:
--Strengthen American democracy;
--Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans; and
--Secure a more open, safe, prosperous, and cooperative international system.
Through its Blueprint for American Prosperity, The Brookings Institution is recommending a new federal-metro compact to unleash the power of metropolitan economies. One idea is to create a Strategic Transportation Investment Commission to map, prioritize and finance critical national investments in key freight rail, intermodal port, and inter-metro rail opportunities. MPC is an active Brookings partner on the Blueprint initiative.
The Civic Federation
Promotes efficiency in public business and seeks to guard against excessive taxation. The National Assocation of Industrial and Office Properties
The National Assocation of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) has recently added a Growth management section to its "Government Affairs" division. The new section features several areas related to smart growth issues and resources, such as an overview of smart growth initiatives in 15 major markets and legislation tracking. NAIOP is a trade group comprised of developers, owners and investors in office and industrial properties. Thomas
Legislative information for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives including committee information, pending legislation and the Senate schedule. U.S. Census Bureau
Includes U.S. Census news as well as statistics and information on residents, housing and geographic regions. U.S. Conference of Mayors
News about mayors and mayoral issues around the nation. Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute works to provide leadership in the
responsible use of land to enhance the total environment. Voices for Illinois Children
Voices for Illinois Children is a statewide, nonprofit, nonpartisan group that works with families, communities and policy makers to ensure that all children grow up healthy, nurtured, safe and well educated. The Web site includes action alerts, publications and information on policies and resources for children. Will County
Listings of offices and information for Will County government. World Business Chicago
Information about Chicago for companies interested in relocating. | 
