About CSEDC
The mission of the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation is to identify, organize and mobilize public and private resources that will result in the creation and expansion of manufacturing and logistics companies along with new retail and commercial growth, thereby providing economic growth and sustainable careers in the Southland.
Highlighted below are some of
our most significant contributions:
1.4343 Ascending House - Chicago Southland Business Incubator- CSEDC received a $235,000 grant from the DCEO to work with the South Suburban Land Bank to create an Incubator with the purpose of generating a community around a specific space of innovation. 4343 Ascending House is a 6000 square foot shared office space with unique services to provide e-commerce training. Companies can embrace remote working with access to a safe local office for meetings and access to digital technologies. 4343 Ascending will create a convivial social place for creative people from these companies to mingle and share ideas over a cup of coffee and a ping pong table. In the 4343AH project, CSEDC is also the lead in developing a Center for Smart Intermodal Logistics that would attract companies in autonomous terminal tractors to collaborate with teams centered in Chicago Southland.
2. Chicago Southland Rail-Highway-Air Cluster Development- Developing the Chicago Southland Rail, Highway, and Air Industrial Cluster: We are seeing an Industrial Boom with world-class projects in our region and this is a focus of our work. We continue to market our region and connect the value of South Suburban Airport to this E-commerce cluster.
Industrial Land Development- We have played a significant role in supporting the private redevelopment of significant properties. For example, the 150-acre development in Markham is now assembled and under control by a development team and a vacant hotel has been demolished and a developer is planning a project at the northwest corner of Halsted and I-294.
Investing in Logistics Infrastructure- We have orchestrated several infrastructure investments in rail and highways to support business developments such as the Sterling and LB Steel projects. To build upon our unique logistics assets, CSEDC received an EDA grant to create a business plan to create a Center for Smart Logistics.
Industrial Marketing- CSEDC plays a significant role in increasing the awareness of regional industrial developers about opportunities in the Southland by having booths at industrial trade shows.
3. Integrated Education and Workforce Strategy- CSEDC meets regularly with over 100 businesses to connect them to our regional workforce partners. For example 30 companies recently hosted high school visits for Manufacturing Day. Southworks Robotics is part of integrated education and workforce strategy in partnership with OAI, Inc. Together, we work with manufacturing and logistics companies to connect them to their talent pool development.
4. Invest in Chicago Southland Retail Development- CSEDC is now working with Gene Steinmarch to make development plans for key retail sites in the Southland around Metra Stations and strategic intersections to connect to the local retail community here without ICSC plans.
5. Supporting Manufacturing and Logistics Clusters- CSEDC partners with IMEC, Export Tech colleges, Cook County, CMISP, and other organizations to support companies with technical assistance and stimulus incentives to meet their unique needs in this COVID crisis.
Organizing Financing Incentives and Financial Assistance- CSEDC helps businesses access essential incentives to create successful projects. For example, CSEDC has been selected by the State and County to be the managing director of the new BRIMPA fund and is working to bring Opportunity Zone funding to projects in the Southland.
Networking at Quarterly Forums, Investor Meetings, and with Newsletters- Through our well attended networking events, we provide opportunities to recognize our investors and have dialogue about issues affecting our region such as our recent work at trying to protect our property tax incentives.
Through our quarterly forums, 4343 Ascending House, business clusters support, retail development, integrated workforce, and educational programming, and more, we are committed to aiding a thriving Southland.
