On July 25, the mayors of Gary, Ind., and Milwaukee, Wis., traveled to Chicago to discuss the assets, challenges and economic opportunities that connect the tri-state region anchored by their cities, at MPC’s 2012 Annual Luncheon, “The Cities That Work.” At the luncheon, MPC also presented the 2012 Burnham Award for Excellence in Planning to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning for GO TO 2040, and the Jean Allard Regional Trailblazer Award to Frank Clark, former chairman and CEO of ComEd.
Where We Stand
Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, and MPC President MarySue Barrett discuss the challenges and opportunities of regional collaboration at MPC's 2012 Annual Luncheon. Photo by Karen Kring
Historically, the cities in our mega-region have succumbed to zero sum thinking: You win, we lose, and vice versa. But in this global economy, Gary, Chicago, Milwaukee, and their suburbs comprise one mega-region. Indeed, when the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) last year conducted a competitiveness analysis of our regional economy, it included a 21-county area encompassing not only Chicago, but also Milwaukee, Gary and 470-plus suburbs.
The resulting 300-page Territorial Review of the Chicago Tri-State Metropolitan Area, published in March 2012, identified a number of ways our mega-region has been sabotaging itself – and the cities and suburbs it encompasses – by limiting its boundaries when it comes to planning our economic future.
At our luncheon, MPC President MarySue Barrett asked Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett (no relation), and Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson to describe how they can work together to support the tri-state region’s existing and emerging industry clusters and supplier networks, protect Lake Michigan and leverage it as an economic asset, preserve our position as the nation’s transportation hub, and strengthen the local workforce. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel was invited but unable to attend due to a late-running City Council meeting. However, along with Mayors Barrett and Freeman-Wilson, he has committed to actively participate in the new Tri-State Alliance, being formed by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to pursue strategies recommended in OECD’s analysis. MPC also has pledged to be an active contributor to the Alliance as it identifies early wins.
The three leaders took a running start on that agenda, prioritizing our enviable access to Lake Michigan as the mega-region’s calling card to attract private investment in water-intensive industries. Other near-term actions include bringing key stakeholders from the transportation and logistics sectors together to align intermodal plans and priorities, and meeting sector-specific workforce training needs across the mega-region.
The old zero-sum frame is anachronistic to our economic reality and counterproductive to our economic future. To stay relevant in a global economy, we must break down the boundaries of competition and capitalize on each city’s assets to benefit the greater whole.
Blog Series: The Cities That Work
Leading up to the Annual Luncheon, MPC’s blog, The Connector, featured “The Cities That Work” series. Guest authors from across the mega-region, as well as members of our staff contributed their thoughts on issues that unite the tri-state region. Read their perspectives at www.metroplanning.org/thecitiesthatworkseries. |
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