Champaign Planning and Development Director Leads Pro Bono Planning Team
Champaign’s Planning and Development Director Bruce Knight, FAICP, led a pro bono planning assistance team in West Melbourne, Florida, January 25-29. Volunteering their time and expertise, Knight led a team of professional planners on a Community Planning Assistance Team (CPAT) Project for the American Planning Association (APA). The CPAT program matches communities with little or no planning […]
City of Champaign Awarded $50,000 from SBA’s “Start-Up In a Day” Competition
The City of Champaign was awarded the U.S. Small Business Association’s (SBA) first ever “Start-Up in a Day: Start Small” competition. Champaign was one of 25 cities selected out of 100 applicants. The SBA announced the winners at the White House Demo Day on Tuesday, August 4th. The $50,000 award will help fund the development, […]
Bike to Work Day and Bike Lane Public Meeting a Success
On Thursday, May 14 the City of Champaign hosted two Bike to Work Day stations, one in Downtown Champaign and one at the Public Works Department. Hundreds of residents checked in at nine stations around Champaign-Urbana, enjoying food and coffee before continuing on to work. Planning and Development staff partnered with Hyatt Place to welcome […]
Visit Champaign County Toast to Tourism
On Wednesday, May 6, Visit Champaign County hosted their annual Toast to Tourism event at Parkland College Theater. The event recognizes the impact of tourism in Champaign County. Travel and tourism in Champaign County is reported to create over 2,500 jobs, generate over $63M in payroll and result in $306M in direct spending. This represents an […]
Champaign Connection – Episode #45
Don’t miss the latest episode of the award-winning show Champaign Connection, running now thru the end of June. On this latest episode: The City of Champaign has a new way to pay for parking – the MobileMeter smartphone app. Administrative Services Manager, Kris Koester explains how easy it is to use the new MobileMeter app […]
Planning Staff and Fire Staff coordinate to look at Future Growth
The Planning and Development Department Staff have been working with the Fire Department Staff to look at future growth for the City of Champaign. The Fire Department is performing a study looking at their service areas and response times, while trying to stay in tune with current development patterns and projected growth. Senior Planners Jeff […]
Champaign Recognized as a Most Progressive City
On April 15th, Ameren Illinois presented the City of Champaign with a Most Progressive City award. Champaign is one of only six communities in Illinois to earn this distinction this year. The award was presented by Ameren officials to the City in a ceremony this week. Champaign was selected in part based on the significant […]
MTD Kiosk
In early 2014, staff from the Planning and Development Department inquired about the possibility of locating an MTD kiosk on Church Street to create a more central and visible transit location near the busy intersection of Neil and Main Street. In late 2014, a new kiosk was installed thanks to the cooperation of the MTD, […]
STAR Planning
The NSD STAR Planning Committee met to discuss plans related to the upcoming 2015 STAR Awards Expo to be held on April 30, 2015. The Committee is finalizing the site for this year’s event, with discussions considering the Illinois Terminal , Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Hawthorne Suites Hotel, Hilton Garden Inn Hotel and […]
October is National Community Planning Month
In honor of National Community Planning Month, the American Planning Association (“APA”) invited Urban Planners from around the State of Illinois to participate in an educational outreach program geared for middle school students. Two planners from the City of Champaign participated in the event, which took place on October 10th at Bloomington Junior High School. […]