[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE MacARTHUR FOUNDATION AND THE LOCAL INITIATIVES SUPPORT 
                         CORPORATION OF CHICAGO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 21, 2007

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
MacArthur Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation 
(LISC) of Chicago for their efforts to support communities throughout 
the city of Chicago. Recently, the MacArthur Foundation announced it 
will invest $26 million to support the New Communities Program. The New 
Communities Program is a project of Local Initiatives Support 
Corporation of Chicago that seeks to help lower income neighborhoods 
grapple with safety, employment, health care, affordable housing and 
development.
  Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, which is why the MacArthur 
Foundation's most recent donation is so exciting. The Foundation's $26 
million contribution will invest in 16 different Chicago 
neighborhoods--Auburn Gresham, Chicago Lawn, Douglas, North Kenwood-
Oakland, Grand Boulevard, East Garfield Park, Englewood, Humboldt Park, 
Little Village, Logan Square, North Lawndale, Pilsen, South Chicago, 
Washington Park, West Haven and Woodlawn.
  Since 2002 the MacArthur Foundation has donated over $21 million 
annually to the New Communities Program, providing seed money that has 
blossomed into over $255 million in private investment. The new 
investment in our communities is expected to multiply into another $500 
million in private funds over the next 5 years, which will provide 
thousands of new jobs and opportunities to residents of some of 
Chicago's overlooked neighborhoods.
  The Local Initiatives Support Corporation was created in 1979. Since 
then, LISC has provided 215,000 units of affordable housing, created 
funding for schools and day care for over 40,000 children annually, and 
added parks and playing fields to accommodate 150,000 people. In 
Chicago alone, LISC has dedicated more than $100 million into housing 
and economic development since 1980, and they remain committed to their 
vision of building whole communities.
  Madam Speaker, the New Communities Program has served as a model to 
other community development organizations across the country and around 
the globe, and thanks in part to the Local Initiatives Support 
Corporation of Chicago and the MacArthur Foundation, our neighborhoods 
will continue to be some of the best in the world.