Southland Development Authority Targets Economic Renewal Across Chicago South Suburbs

The Southland Development Authority is working to revitalize more than 60 towns across Chicago's south suburbs following severe regional deindustrialization, the Stanford Social Innovation Review reported. The area spans over 400 square miles across Illinois' Southland region. [1]

According to the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the Southland region historically attracted residents with promises of plentiful jobs, good housing, affordability, and open space. Towns in the area include Worth in the north, Mokena in the west, Beecher and Peotone in the south, and several communities along the Indiana border. [1]

The term Rust Belt emerged in the late 20th century to describe the corrosion of industrial infrastructure and local economies across parts of the United States. It gained wide usage in the 1980s following industrial decay and factory closures across manufacturing regions. [2]

The Southland Development Authority aims to establish a repeatable template for reviving deindustrialized regions, the Stanford Social Innovation Review reported. [1]