About CLCR

CLCR was founded in 1982 by local union and community leaders in reaction to the wave of plant closings and the impact this had on local communities and labor negotiations. We formed to provide solid research and analysis to unions, communities, and local government to understand the causes of the problems they faced and to find creative and effective solutions. We combined excellent research skills with the ability to organize and educate.

After analyzing and working on the problems of hundreds of manufacturing companies in Chicago and around the country, we not only became confident that a significant portion of our industrial base can and should be retained, but that there are opportunities for new approaches to economic and social development in communities throughout the country. There are assets--physical and human--that are undervalued and underutilized and that can be uniquely developed by innovative partnerships between labor, community, and business.

Today, CLCR is a consulting and research organization that specializes in new approaches to community development, having a particular expertise in manufacturing and creating effective partnerships between labor, community, and business.

CLCR is a not-for-profit organization. We are anchored in Chicago but work in communities around the country and occasionally in other countries. We provide a broad range of consulting and research services.

There are four components of our work:

1. Further developing our strategic vision for economic and social development. This is summarized in our recent book, Building the Bridge to the High Road.

2. Creating signature projects that reflect the application of this vision to specific projects as a foundation for testing, refining, and further developing our understanding and capacity. Our signature projects include:

The Candy Institute that works with all stakeholders in this key sector of the Chicago economy;

Early Warning/Business Development Systems, such as the New York Industrial Retention Network, that demonstrate how labor, community, business, and government can work together and save companies and jobs.

3. Providing research and consulting services as well as educational materials and presentations for a broad range of organizations, government on all levels, agencies, and companies.

4. Building the organizational capacity of CLCR as well as contributing to the building of coalitions and networks, both locally and nationally, that share and advance our strategic vision.

Generally, CLCR secures 75-80% of its income from foundations. Some of the foundations that have or currently support our work include:

• John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

• Joyce Foundation

• Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock

• Noyes Foundation

• Claretian Fathers

• New Prospect Foundation

• Felpro-Mecklenburger Foundation

• Campaign for Human Development

• Woods Fund of Chicago

• Norman Foundation

• Rockefeller Foundation

Our fee for service work is for unions, all levels of government, coalitions, and agencies. We additionally have an expanding base of individual donors, and we sell our publications and training materials.

Research and consulting contracts are negotiated on a case by case basis. We will typically meet with a potential client, come to an understanding of the scope of work, and provide an estimate for the cost of services. Contracts may either be for a flat fee, or an hourly rate, plus out of pocket expenses.