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CHICAGO (July 23, 2024) – Today during a press conference to kick off the third annual TechChicago Week, Xchange Chicago announced that SDI Presence, a MBE IT services provider in the Chicagoland area, has signed a lease as anchor tenant at Xchange Chicago’s 28,000-square-foot building located at 7247 S. Chicago Ave. With retrofit construction currently underway, the building is set to open in January.
Xchange Chicago, a first-of-its-kind onshore IT delivery center, in partnership with Chicago’s communities, aims to drive a more inclusive economy through technology. Formed by Comer Science and Education Foundation, P33, and SDI Presence, Xchange Chicago leverages apprenticeship models with wrap-around services to create sustainable career pathways into tech while creating new tech hubs in local communities, with Grand Crossing as its first location.
During the press conference P33 personnel were joined by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who officially proclaimed this week as TechChicago Week. Fifth Ward Alderman Desmon Yancy, Xchange Chicago leadership, SDI Presence executives and World Business Chicago President and CEO Philip B. Clement were also present.
“SDI Presence’s move to anchor at Xchange Chicago is a game-changer for our city, showcasing our dedication to innovation and inclusive growth,” Mayor Brandon Johnson said. “This cutting-edge IT delivery center in the Grand Crossing community is set to be a catalyst for technological advancement, providing dynamic career pathways and revitalizing economic opportunities for the South Side.”
“Our physical investment in Grand Crossing is a consequential commitment to Chicago and to the success of Xchange Chicago’s foundational model,” SDI Co-founder and Executive Chairman David A. Gupta said. “Like Discover’s Chatham Customer Care Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Blue Door Neighborhood Centers, Xchange Chicago is another way to focus on neighborhood revitalization on Chicago’s South and West Sides. But in this case, it offers the city’s entire corporate community a new way to contribute to job creation while fulfilling their critical IT needs here instead of offshore.”
Earlier this summer, Xchange Chicago launched a new internship program in partnership with One Summer Chicago, SDI Presence, United Way and Everyone Can Code Chicago. The program teaches tech and professional skills to South Side youth and young adults, giving them a substantive leg up in their tech careers.
Today, Xchange Chicago also announced a strategic partnership with Peoples Gas. Under terms of the agreement, Peoples Gas will bring on 20 Xchange Chicago-trained apprentices from SDI for additional apprenticeships over the next two years. The new apprenticeships offer strong salaries, full benefits and the potential to be hired into full-time roles by Peoples Gas. Any apprentice not moving into a full-time role with Peoples Gas will continue employment with SDI as part of the partnership’s commitment to creating and nurturing a true pipeline into tech careers.
“Elevating economic opportunity across every part of Chicago is a key priority at Peoples Gas,” Peoples Gas Vice President Polly Eldringhoff said. “We’re excited to partner with Xchange Chicago to meet our IT needs while offering good-paying tech jobs to people who live on the city’s South Side. It’s a win for our customers, these talented young professionals, the community and our overall business. The first group of apprentices coming in is already impressing us.”
Xchange Chicago has been gaining momentum as a partner to leading Chicago corporations eager to fulfill IT needs while fueling economies on Chicago’s South and West Sides with direct action. To build a dynamic economic hub, Xchange Chicago will also lease space to other commercial tenants, including local food and beverage entrepreneurs. Xchange Chicago has robust growth goals to serve Chicago corporations, communities and talent. It plans to add 100 new jobs in year one and over 300 new jobs within five years, bringing tremendous economic impact to the heart of Chicago’s South Side.
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About SDI (SDI Presence LLC):
SDI Presence LLC is an IT services provider that leverages its strong team presence to advance our clients to a secure digital enterprise. With a more than 25-year corporate resume, SDI delivers strategic managed services, IT consulting, and multicloud solutions to optimize our clients’ technology environments. SDI is a certified Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) with Corporate Plus designation from the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and a portfolio of clients that includes some of the nation’s largest airports, utilities, commercial real estate portfolios, and government agencies. Connect with us on LinkedIn and X.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Christina Belmont
VP of Marketing
SDI Presence LLC
cbelmont@sdipresence.com
