Eight Chicago universities have agreed to engage with the city and local communities as they invest in their neighborhoods. The hope is to increase opportunities for employment and economic growth.
A piece from the Urban Institute details how Chicago "anchor institutions" are working with the city to promote neighborhood economic opportunity. The schools include the University of Chicago, DePaul University, the Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University, Northwestern University, Rush University, the School of the Art Institute, and the University of Illinois-Chicago.
From the article: "The universities each entered into separate Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that outlined anticipated investments in local neighborhoods and a mutual commitment for universities to further engage with city leadership and local communities to bolster economic growth and opportunity." A press release from the City of Chicago further outlines the specific private investments each university plans to make.
The Urban Institute has prepared a related report entitled Striking a (Local) Grand Bargain. According to the authors, the paper presents the "best ways to align cities and local anchors—universities, hospitals, and medical centers—around shared interests and large scale economic and community development."
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