ENGLEWOOD — The Greater Englewood Community Development Corporation is hoping to bring as many as 1,200 jobs to the neighborhood if its proposed call center becomes a reality.
The developer of the $20 million project, MR Properties LLC, plans to build the center between the 6700 and 6800 blocks of South Wentworth Avenue, on the former campus of Kennedy-King College.
The 50,000- 60,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art center would sit on 16 acres and be funded by State of Illinois EDGE credits and other grants.
Glen Fulton, the development corporation’s president, said the center would create 750-1,200 full-time jobs over a three-year period. About 90 percent of the jobs would be customer service, entry-level positions; the remaining 10 percent would be technical assistant jobs.
“It’s not the development that is unique, it’s where it’s [located] that is unique,” he said. “Bringing that to Englewood, an area that has one of the highest jobless rates, would be key."
Fulton has a target list of companies with which he would like to work. The City of Chicago is also on his list. He said that the city may be able to outsource its debt-collection department to the call center.
“That work is being outsourced right now to a couple of different suppliers. Instead of outsourcing that work to some suburban operations ... bring it back home in Chicago, so we’re helping our own communities,” Fulton said.
There is also a plan for an 8,400-square-foot, on-site child care facility, which would be behind the call center.
Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th) approached Fulton more than three years ago and said he wanted help with creating a call center for the 67th Street area. Fulton, who was a category supply manager for Cisco Systems before taking on his role at the development corporation, said his background with call centers was the reason Sawyer wanted him to create the proposal.
There will also be a workforce development component to train employees on computers and hone their social skills, which Fulton said is crucial. The development corporation would work with Kennedy-King College as well.
Fulton said he recognizes many neighborhood residents don't have high school diplomas, which is why he also wants his organization to go into the schools and encourage students to finish.
"We would like to go into the high schools and say, 'We have a program, a job for you if you’re willing to go through some life-skills trainings and workforce development trainings, but you have to get your high school degree,’” he said. “It’s an incentive to come out and get a job in the community that you live in."
He has plans to commission an identical footprint in the city’s West Side, he said, and he estimates that there will be 150-200 full-time construction jobs generated.
Fulton also has developed a proposal for a workforce housing and retail component directly across the street. He wants to build between 100-200 mixed housing units.
Fulton said it was always the vision of the late 16th Ward Ald. JoAnn Thompson to create a mixed housing and retail development. He said they both wanted to "change the conversation" about Englewood, so he will continue working on this project for her.
He said the location is a great spot because of the public transportation and the proximity to the Dan Ryan Expy. He also proposed a Metra stop for 69th Street.
“There will be retail operations on each of the corners that are anchors of 25,000 square feet. So theoretically, what you can have there is another drugstore, or a grocery store, whatever kind of amenities you need for the community,” he said.
Sawyer said this project is what the ward needs because it will refund the 67th Street and Wentworth TIF district. He said it hasn’t been funded because there hasn’t been any economic activity.
“I’m excited. This is a game changer because we are talking about thousands of new jobs in a historically impoverished area that Englewood residents can apply for, and I haven't seen anything like this in my adult life,” Sawyer said.
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