“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 Rahm Emanuel.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, 8th Ward Alderman Michelle Harris and City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado 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 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 Harris. "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 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 sq. ft. 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 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, visit ccc.edu.

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