In one of the most forward-looking episodes of The Chicagoland Guide to date, host Aaron Masliansky sits down with Kyle Schulz, Deputy of Strategic Advancement at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP). This conversation breaks down where Chicagoland is heading over the next decade, and what it will take to stay globally competitive.

Aaron and Kyle originally connected through the Chicago Association of Realtors’ Global Council, and they pick up right where their first conversation left off: the opportunities, risks, and transformational forces shaping the region.

Together, they dive into:

The economic outlook for Chicagoland and where the region is gaining (and losing) ground

Quantum tech and Chicago’s bid to become a global quantum capital

The surge in data centers-why they’re here, what risks they create, and how they impact energy, land use, and local tax bases

Transportation as Chicagoland’s superpower — rail, airports, freight, and the region’s logistical advantage

How immigration, labor markets, and demographic trends will influence long-term regional competitiveness

The evolving Chicago vs. Arlington Heights dynamic around the Bears and big projects

What makes a region attractive to employers, and what CMAP is seeing in real time

How climate resilience, zoning modernization, and infrastructure investment will shape the next decade

Why Chicagoland’s stability, diversity, and economic depth remain a massive strategic asset

What Kyle believes are the big decisions leaders must get right between now and 2035

This episode is smart, fast-paced, and deeply insightful — the kind of conversation that helps residents, investors, civic leaders, and curious locals understand where Chicagoland is truly headed.

If you care about the future of this region, this is a must-listen.

Guest Info

Kyle T. Schulz

Deputy of Strategic Advancement

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP)

Website: https://www.cmap.illinois.gov

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chicago-metropolitan-agency-for-planning/

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