Clusters occur naturally in the economy as related businesses and institutions enhance productivity through advantages of proximity and interconnectivity. To build their own productivity and resilience, many regions have begun forming cluster initiatives( A plan or program to make organized, concerted investments in addressing the growth constraints of ...Read more) that more deliberately bring together resources to tackle common concerns. Formal initiatives, directed by the needs and interests of the area’s businesses, can provide comprehensive support around the accelerated growth of a specific cluster. Such initiatives include the Chicago Metro Metals Consortium and the Chicagoland Food and Beverage Network. Cluster support can take many forms, such as enhancing educational and training offerings or addressing specialized infrastructure needs. As a result, strategies depend on the unique contexts in which industries operate at regional and sub-regional levels. Private sector leaders — in partnership with public officials — have a critical role to play in guiding policy and planning for cluster-oriented economic development. For traded clusters in particular, initiatives should create opportunities for businesses to expand into markets nationally and internationally. CMAP, Chicago Regional Growth Corporation (CRGC), and other relevant entities should regularly convene public and private sector entities to develop systemic support for cluster initiatives.