University of Illinois at Chicago, Great Cities Institute

Founded in 1995, the Great Cities Institute (GCI) at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) was the primary vehicle for active research engagement with the various neighborhood constituencies in the Chicago region. GCI's work focuses on employment and economic development, local and regional governance, dynamics of global mobility, energy and the environment, and community well-being. GCI develops strategic partnerships that leverage the university's intellectual capital with local knowledge of neighborhood residents, and government, non-profit, foundation, business, and civic organizations. This award supports the development of in-depth research profiles of a sampling of Chicago communities, including those contained within the MacArthur Foundation's Vital Communities portfolio. GCI produces up-to-date, neighborhood-specific information that will provide critical insights on local economic conditions, social indicators, and cultural assets that can guide future investments, policymaking, and community-based initiatives. The goal of the project is to establish updated baselines that indicate changes within the local economies and reflect shifts that have occurred since COVID-19, the addition of federal recovery funds, and new concerns that communities face in the current environment.

To improve workforce development in the Chicago region and nationally (over two years).

To assess the feasibility of establishing a center on urban environmental issues.

To provide technical assistance and management consultation to two community-based initiatives.

To support the attendance of leaders from U.S. nongovernmental organizations at the Summit of the Peoples of the Americas.