Current Projects

RainReady is currently working with homeowners and municipalities on a variety of green infrastructure solutions.

RainReady Calumet Corridor

In 2022, Cook County allocated $6 million to implement green infrastructure projects in six flood-prone communities known as the Calumet Corridor. The County’s Department of Environment and Sustainability is partnering with the Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) to accelerate the implementation of the RainReady plans. CNT, in partnership with Greenprint Partners, will work collaboratively with six RainReady communities–Blue Island, Calumet City, Calumet Park, Dolton, Riverdale, and Robbins–to fund, plan, build, and establish a portfolio of projects.

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Completed Projects

Urban Flooding Baseline Project

Center for Neighborhood Technology developed a visualized map of flooding indicators and urban flooding locations in the Calumet region of Cook County.

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RainReady Home

The Villages of Oak Park and Wilmette partnered with CNT to provide RainReady Home assessments and matching grants to install rain gardens and other nature-based solutions.

RainReady, Heart of the Calumet, IL (round 1, 2017)

In 2017, CNT completed climate resiliency planning for 6 communities in the south suburbs of Cook County, IL. The work was funded by Cook County, IL and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Update: In 2022, the Cook County Government asked CNT to help lead a new project to help build sustainable green infrastructure based on the completed plans.

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Residential Flood Assistance Program

CNT's RainReady team, as a Delegate Agency to the City of Chicago, provided flood repair and flood mitigation services to low-income homes across Chicago. This work was funded by a CDBG Disaster Recovery grant given in response to the 2013 flood.

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RainReady Midlothian

This award-winning community plan for the Midlothian, IL was created from a partnership of the Center for Neighborhood Technology, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Floodlothian Midlothian, and the Village of Midlothian. Click here to read current updates on the plan.

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The Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure

A Case Study of Lancaster, PA. We quantified the cost savings, social benefits, and environmental advantages of Lancaster’s Green Infrastructure Plan. The work was funded by USEPA.

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Upgrade Your Infrastructure

A Guide to the Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard And Building Stormwater Retrofits. We implemented a Green Infrastructure Portfolio Standard for two communities, and published a guidance manual for municipalities. The work was done in partnership with American Rivers and was funded by US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

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