Chicago Sister Cities International won the 2015 Sister Cities International Innovation Award for Economic Development in the category of cities with a population greater than 500,000. The innovation award honors the accomplishment of sister city programs that promote peace in the community through collaboration and respect.
In 2014, the Chicago nonprofit worked with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and several local business organizations to welcome approximately 50 government and business leaders from Mexico City to Chicago. The meeting allowed leaders to share economic development practices and led to the implementation phase of the “Global Cities Economic Partnership” Memorandum of Understanding, signed by Emanuel and Mexico City Mayor Miguel Ángel Mancera in 2013. The memorandum was signed to expand economic ties between the two cities through trade, investment and innovation.
Chicago Sister Cities International is a nonprofit division of World Business Chicago. The organization coordinates programs with its 28 sister cities across the world in the areas of economic development, cultural enrichment, tourism, education and immigration.
The 2015 Sister Cities International Innovation Award for Economic Development will be presented to Chicago Sister Cities International during the Sister Cities International 59th Annual Conference on July 18 in Minneapolis.
-Katie Cliff