Author: Lake County Government

Lake County Coalition Unveils Comprehensive Housing Action Plan at Regional Summit

, Date: February 18, 2026

Housing Lake Initiative Concludes Seven-Month Process with Call to Action Built by 175+ Stakeholders

Last week, a coalition of more than 175 leaders gathered at the Lake County Regional Office of Education in Lake Forest to unveil a comprehensive Call to Action designed to address the county’s housing shortage. The Housing Lake: Call to Action provides a diverse collective of leaders throughout Lake County — municipalities, developers, employers, nonprofits, and more — with a roadmap to expand housing options for working families, seniors, and young professionals.

Lake County faces a housing crisis. With median home values reaching $326,600 and average rents at $1,710, teachers, healthcare professionals, first responders and young families are increasingly unable to afford to live where they work. The housing shortage now exceeds 16,000 homes.

The Call to Action represents seven months of unprecedented collaboration among elected officials from over 50+ municipalities, developers, employers, nonprofit housing providers, and community advocates. Through a kick-off celebration, five intensive workshops, and last week’s summit, participants moved from identifying barriers to establishing a shared vision and goals that address the widening gap between Lake County’s housing supply and demand.

The Housing Summit featured opening remarks from Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart, Mayor Leon Rockingham, Jr. of North Chicago, Mayor Sam Cunningham of Waukegan, and Mayor Nancy Rotering of Highland Park, followed by the official unveiling of the Call to Action and coalition member commitments. Attendees heard how the Call to Action connects to broader regional planning efforts through The Century Plan, a long-term vision for a better, stronger future for northeastern Illinois led by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).

An expert panel discussion explored housing challenges and solutions across sectors and celebrated the coalition’s collaborative achievements. The panel, moderated by Kevin Considine of Lake County Partners, featured Brenda O’Connell (Illinois Housing Development Authority), Chalen Daigle (McHenry County Council of Governments), David Bach (Hines), Joel Fontane (City of Highland Park), and Rob Anthony (Community Partners for Affordable Housing).

“The Call to Action proves that when 50+ municipalities, employers, and nonprofit partners come together around a common goal, real progress is possible,” said Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart. “Affordable and attainable housing isn’t optional; it’s essential to the health of our communities and our economy. Today, we have a shared vision and a clear roadmap going forward to help ensure that the teachers, healthcare workers and first responders who serve our communities and the young families building their lives here can afford to call Lake County home.”

The Call to Action centers on four foundational pillars that emerged from stakeholder engagement:

  • Policy & Regulatory Reform to update zoning codes and streamline approvals
  • Funding & Financing Tools to create dedicated funding streams and employer partnerships
  • Partnerships & Development Capacity to build regional coordination; and 
  • Communications & Education to address misconceptions while elevating the human stories behind housing needs.

The Housing Summit also served as the kickoff to a series of events and conversations that will help shape The Century Plan — a plan for the region, by the region to build consensus, secure commitments, and take action on key issues that will impact northeastern Illinois for decades to come.

“Thank you to Lake County and the Housing Lake stakeholders for your leadership and commitment to sustainable housing solutions,” said Erin Aleman, CMAP Executive Director. “This work will serve as a strong model for future regional coordination and inform The Century Plan, along with voices from across government, civic spheres, business, and communities. Together, we will prioritize what the region will need to meet future challenges and make the most of opportunities over the next several decades.”

ABOUT HOUSING LAKE

Housing Lake is a coalition task force funded by the Schreiber Foundation and facilitated by Lake County Government and the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, in partnership with All Together and SB Friedman.

The initiative has produced a comprehensive Call to Action that addresses housing needs across all income levels and life stages, providing a roadmap and vision for finding solutions through broad stakeholder collaboration. The Call to Action is available at housinglakeco.com/call-to-action. This marks just the beginning of the Housing Lake journey — with many events, conversations, partnerships, and collaborative actions ahead.

Coalition membership remains open to organizations and key stakeholders committed to expanding housing availability, stability, and choice in Lake County.

For more information about Housing Lake, visit housinglakeco.com or contact communications@housinglakeco.com.

IT DOESN’T GET BETTER THAN LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

Economic momentum doesn’t happen overnight. It takes vision, partnership, and a relentless focus on delivering results. In Lake County, Illinois, that formula has translated into THE most successful economic development runs in county history—and there’s no sign of slowing down. Whether you’re leading a growing company and looking to expand, or you’re on a personal search for your next home, Lake County is a community in which you’re guaranteed to thrive. Connect with us here so we can put you in touch with the resources that you need to make 2026 your best year yet.

Lake County Joins State Trade Delegation to Mexico

, Date: April 18, 2025

Earlier this month, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart joined Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and a delegation of public and private sector leaders on a trade mission to Mexico. The trip focused on strengthening economic ties and fostering greater collaboration to create opportunities that will benefit communities across the state, including right here in Lake County.

The mission, organized by Intersect Illinois, the state’s economic development organization, connected the delegation with leaders in agriculture, finance, education and government. These relationships help open doors for future business collaborations, attract new investments and ultimately fuel job creation and economic growth throughout Illinois.

One of the highlights of the trip was the Governor renewing the long-standing memorandum of understanding with the state of Mexico to strengthen the trade relationship with Illinois in the areas of manufacturing, agriculture and supply chains.

The delegation also met with manufacturers that play a critical role in the energy supply chain. Many of these companies expressed interest in expanding to Illinois, bringing new production facilities to the state.

Centrally located, Illinois is a global economic powerhouse with its access to transportation infrastructure. This includes having the top airport in domestic connections, one of the largest rail corridors, the third largest interstate highway system in the country and access to major waterways including the Great Lakes.

In addition to its transportation advantages, Illinois is a national leader in agriculture. The state ranks first in the country for private food manufacturing research and development, agricultural feedstock and industrial biosciences employment. Illinois is also the third largest agricultural exporter, totaling $13.6 billion in agricultural commodities. To further strengthen the sector, Illinois has invested $680 million in industrial fermentation and agriculture biomanufacturing.

Illinois has worked to expand trade with Mexico through initiatives such as Illinois’ State Trade and Export Promotion program, according to the governor’s office. Trade between Illinois and Mexico exceeded $32 billion last year, making Mexico Illinois’ second largest export market and third largest import market.

“It was an honor to be part of Governor Pritzker’s trade mission to Mexico,” said Hart. “I was impressed by the strategic efforts of Intersect Illinois, which is making it clear that Illinois is open for business. Here in Lake County and across the state, we are committed to expanding economic opportunities that strengthen and benefit our families, businesses and communities.”

Economic development is a top priority for Lake County. The County works closely with partners such as Lake County Partners, the Lake County Workforce department and the Lake County Visitors and Tourism Bureau to drive economic growth through business partnerships, help individuals access meaningful employment and increase tourism.