Mayor Rahm Emanuel returned to a familiar spot–Freedman Seating in the 37th Ward–to roll out a new initiative with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle that will cut through red tape and fast-track environmental remediation at old industrial sites. The aim is to sweeten the pot for developers and new businesses to move into low-employment neighborhoods that house old industrial sites.

The plan, dubbed the Industrial Growth Zones program, “is designed to address the two primary issues landowners and developers cite as obstacles to industrial site investment: vacant or unused land’s environmental conditions, and often-complex government regulations.” The pilot program will take place in 7 areas over the next three years.