Former elementary school to be transformed into Aspire Center, a workforce training center in Austin
CHICAGO (WLS) -- This is what is possible, says Austin Coming Together Executive Director Darnell Shields.
"A multimillion-dollar effort to bring innovative job, career and skills training to the West Side for Austin residents and the greater West Side," Shields said.
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Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation will be a center focused on job training for West Side residents. It had been a Chicago Public Schools school that closed in 2013.
"This is sending a message to our community to let them know that they are valuable, and their lives do mean something, and they can be whatever it is they aspire to," Shields said.
Shields, the community-based developer of the center, says this project would not have happened without financial help from the public and private sector.
On Tuesday, JPMorganChase announced a $10 million loan to the Chicago Community Loan Fund for new affordable housing and projects, like the center, that offer services and opportunities in communities of colors.
"Our commitment will help provide long-term lost cost concessionary capital to developers targeting projects in low-income communities of color," said Kevin Goldsmith with JPMorganChase.
"This $10 million will be transformational for small and nonprofit developers who are helping to fill the affordable housing gap in the South and West sides," said Gov. JB Pritzker.
The Chicago Community Loan Fund is currently looking for new projects, hoping to break ground in the next year.
As for Aspire Center, it is expected to open in April next year with its free job training and support services.
To learn more about CCLF, click here.
