Illinois Innovation Network

Fragmented governance—in which the scale of a policy problem cuts across the boundaries of multiple autonomous decision-making centers, such as cities, villages, and counties—is a chronic obstacle to sustainability. For example, ameliorating the degradation of a watershed, curbing air pollution in a commuter-shed through improved public transportation, and promoting regional economic development through jobs-housing co-location all require a coordinated response from hundreds of governments at multiple levels. To better understand the many forms of collaborative sustainability, we propose a pilot study of the governance of the water systems—including storm water, wastewater, and drinking water—in thirteen northeastern and north central Illinois counties. In it we see extensive and varying fragmentation: while the natural geography is defined by watersheds, the infrastructure used to manage it typically is owned and maintained by dozens if not hundreds of local government units. Specifically, we ask: How do local governments collaboratively govern water systems? What are the benefits to regional & local equity, economy, & environment from different forms of collaborative governance? What are the social, fiscal, political, and institutional determinants of the different forms of collaborative governance? Key deliverables include a Sustainable Governance GIS and a Governance Guidebook with in-depth case studies of collaborative governance.

Nonprofit engagement in interlocal agreements