GRAND BOULEVARD — The unemployment office at 715 E. 47th St. will close due to budget cuts.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security confirmed Wednesday it would close the office used by approximately 75 people a day and consolidate services into the three remaining South Side locations.
“Due to the significant cut of more than $11 million in federal funds, [the department] will have to consolidate the 47th Street ... office with the remaining offices in the Chicago area as part of cost-saving measures,” said Anjali Julka, a spokeswoman for the department.
She said all 15 staff members at the location would be moved to offices at 1515 E. 71st St. or 1700 W. 18th St.
Employees at the 47th Street office said there were now only three staff members working full time at the location, and said clients said they travel to the Grand Boulevard office specifically because it has a reputation for being efficient and courteous.
“They drive past 71st Street to come here,” said Renee Nibley, who trains seniors on how to manage the forms that are now all online. “Monday morning, it’s standing-room only.”
Belinda Collins had done just that. She said she had driven past the 71st Street unemployment office near her home Wednesday to come to Grand Boulevard because the experience was so much better.
“I think it would be a great loss for them to go out of the neighborhood, they were so quick and personable,” Collins said.
She said she would likely use the 71st Street location in the future, but was curious to see what would happen on the stretch of 47th Street where a new Walmart and other stores have opened as the unemployment office closes.
It’s unclear what will happen to the building, a squat brick building shared with the One Hope United adoption agency.
Julka said the state agency would terminate its lease on its 47th Street offices.
Visiting the location had already become more difficult in recent months after the neighborhood’s first parking meters were installed in September in front of the office.
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