Mayor
Rahm Emanuel, 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris and City Colleges of
Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado today toured the Olive-Harvey College’s
Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics (TDL) Center site, which recently
re-launched construction. The TDL Center, which was previously stalled due to
the state budget impasse, will now be complete by spring 2019. Once complete,
the first-of-its-kind facility in Illinois will prepare students for the tens
of thousands of jobs expected to come to the region over the next decade.
“We
are thrilled that the state sees what we have known for years; that the TDL
Center will provide a great boost for Chicago students, and for the city’s
south side,” said Mayor Emanuel. “The future is now shining even brighter for
the students entering Olive-Harvey that are receiving the quality education
they need to be at the forefront to seize these opportunities in
transportation, distribution and logistics.”
“The
future is bright for residents on the south side, and throughout the Midwest
now that the Olive-Harvey TDL Center is back on track,” said Alderman Michelle
Harris, 8th Ward. “Students in our community will now have an opportunity to be
highly trained and prepared to seize tens of thousands of jobs now that the TDL
Center will be coming to our region.”
The
project, which was designed with input from City Colleges’ faculty and industry
partners, is funded by City Colleges of Chicago capital funds and state grants
and managed by the Illinois Capital Development Board. City Colleges continues
to work with businesses to ensure both the facility, and corresponding
coursework and training will align with demands of future employers.
“We
can’t wait to get students in this building and on their way to good paying
careers in growing fields that are central to the Chicago economy,” said
Chancellor Juan Salgado. “This facility will create the next generation
of logistics and supply chain professionals, of diesel engine mechanics, of
transportation managers, and in doing so, will help ensure Chicagoans from
every corner of our city can contribute their talents and take part in our
city’s growth.”
Olive-Harvey
College’s TDL Center will be 103,000 square feet and will include automotive
and diesel engine laboratories, an engine dynamometer, classrooms, simulated
driving facilities, a testing area and vehicle bays, among other features. The
project is targeting LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building
Council.
The
high-tech central store warehouse will offer students hands on experience as
they manage the distribution of supplies to all City Colleges’ seven college
campuses and five satellite sites across the city.
The
TDL Center has been a priority for Mayor Emanuel since construction first began
in October 2013, but work was halted in June 2015 due to the state budget
impasse. Work resumed in recent months and will be complete by spring 2019.
“With construction of the TDL Center back on track, residents
across Illinois will come to the south side of Chicago for a state-of-the-art
education that prepares them for the many in-demand TDL jobs that are coming to
the region,” said Illinois State Senator Elgie R. Sims Jr.
For more information and to enroll in fall classes at Olive-Harvey
College, visit ccc.edu or call (773) COLLEGE.