Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and County Commissioners Richard Boykin and Jesus “Chuy” Garcia announced today that they will join forces to implement a pilot workforce development and jobs program for 16-24 year olds who are at risk of violence or criminal justice system involvement.  

They were joined in the announcement by community service providers and advocates in support of the proposal.  President Preckwinkle has committed $1 million of her proposed budgeted $3 million increase in public safety grant funds for the effort.

Proposal would close budget shortfall and avoid cuts to public safety services through staffing reductions & additional revenue, but commit to no new tax hikes for at least the next two years

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today presented a proposed $4.4 billion Executive Operating Budget Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2017 that confronts the County’s financial challenges while avoiding major cuts to public safety and public health services and programs.  Preckwinkle also separately proposed a $475.7 million capital budget to fund critical invest

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the Chicago region is one of 12 communities nationwide re-designated under the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership (IMCP) initiative.   

The new designation for the Chicago Metro Metal Consortium (CMMC) runs until 2018. The Chicago region was first designated in the inaugural round of IMCP in 2014. 

Cook County Animal and Rabies Control is warning Cook County residents to vaccinate their pets against rabies after two outdoor cats tested positive for rabies in Illinois and Missouri. 

In the last two weeks, one adult cat in Ogle County, IL and one kitten in Cass County, MO have tested positive for rabies. Cook County is among the counties that is increasing surveillance for the disease. 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Commissioner Jeff Tobolski (16th), chairman of the County Board’s Veterans Committee, today recognized hundreds of Vietnam War-era veterans for their sacrifice and service to nation as part of the national Vietnam War Commemoration program.

The veterans gathered at Brookfield Zoo and were saluted for their service in wartime. 

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today announced that Cook County is upgrading its mapping system to better improve efficiency and services to residents and facilitate graphic representations of what would otherwise be available only as statistical data.

Previously, only County employees who were experts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) could create interactive, online map applications. Now any employee who knows how to use a simple spreadsheet that includes addresses can create an interactive web mapping app with ArcGIS Online (AGO).

County on track to reach its goal of a 1 million square foot reduction by 2018

Continuing her efforts to save taxpayer dollars by reducing Cook County's real estate footprint, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has announced plans to consolidate two County warehouses during 2017 that will create an estimated annual operating savings of $1.46 million.

The plan will reduce the County's footprint by 495,000 square feet, the equivalent of nine acres or almost seven football fields, by Fiscal Year 2018 as the County will shutter one of three current warehouses.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) recently awarded the Cook County Department of Budget and Management Services its Distinguished Budget Presentation Award in recognition of the County's determined efforts to exercise budgeting best practices.

I am saddened to learn of the death today of Commissioner Joan Murphy. Joan’s long career in public service is one that even those of us who have spent years in government can admire.

She served her southwest suburban constituents tirelessly as a Cook County Commissioner since 2002 and before that, in a variety of local offices: first as the Village Clerk in Crestwood, then as Worth Township Clerk and finally as Worth Township Supervisor.

CHICAGO – Pioneers, angels, lifelong friends -- just a few of the words used by grateful patients and Cook County leaders to describe the 50-year legacy of the Cook County Trauma Unit. A special program was held September 9 at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital to reflect on the extraordinary contributions of one the nation’s most distinguished trauma units.