McCormick Tribune Foundation to Present $300,000 to Metropolitan Planning Council
Grant given in honor of Col. McCormick’s commitment to the city of Chicago
Media Contact:
Pegeen Hopkins
Director of Communications
(312) 222-5022
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CHICAGO, February 23, 2005
The McCormick Tribune Foundation has announced a 2-year, $300,000 grant to Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) for its Regional Action Agenda: Toward a More Livable Future.
The foundation’s grant will support MPC’s leadership efforts in addressing the interconnected challenges urban growth has raised in the past decade.
“This grant directly aligns with the Colonel’s vision to make Chicago a better place to live,” said Richard A. Behrenhausen, president of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. “This grant will assist in strategic planning for growth—including land use, housing, green space, and transportation—all of which will benefit the diverse communities in and around the city.”
In collaboration with key regional coalitions, including Chicago Metropolis 2020, MPC will play a leading role in developing strategies and advancing policies that support sensible growth, community development, and revitalization.
Specifically, during the next two years the grant will allow the MPC to:
- Strengthen its capacity-building assistance to communities and combine local efforts into unified, coordinated programs.
- Continue to partner with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission on the Campaign for Sensible Growth to preserve a balance of economic and infrastructure development and livability.
- Implement Housing for Sensible Growth, which will focus on educating local, state, and federal policymakers on the region’s housing needs.
- Expand the Employer Assisted Housing initiative, incentives designed to encourage employers to help their workers find housing closer to the workplace.
- Continue A+ Illinois, a statewide initiative to improve public education funding through tax reform.
- Promote state and regional policies that increase investments in the transportation system.
About Metropolitan Planning Council
Established in 1934, MPC is an independent group of business, civic, and planning leaders working in the public interest to enhance the vitality and livability of the Chicago metropolitan area. MPC encourages cooperation among the region’s stakeholders, promotes open policy and planning discussions, and advocates for regional solutions to the issues of housing, transportation, land use, and urban development. MPC conducts policy analysis, outreach, and advocacy in partnership with public officials and community leaders with the goal of improving equality of opportunity and quality of life throughout metropolitan Chicago, and to support communities as they work to achieve their unique challenges.
About the McCormick Tribune Foundation
The McCormick Tribune Foundation is one of the nation’s largest charitable organizations, with current combined assets of close to $2 billion. In 2004 the foundation gave more than $90 million in the form of grants designed to invest in communities, address human needs and promote the ideals of a democratic society through innovative partnerships. The foundation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2005, was first established as a charitable trust upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune.
The foundation provides assistance in four program areas — communities, education, journalism and citizenship — and funds a special initiatives program. Through its grants, the foundation seeks to improve the social and economic environment; encourage a free and responsible discussion of issues affecting the nation; enhance the effectiveness of American education; and stimulate responsible citizenship. For more information, visit
http://www.mccormicktribune.org.
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