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Xchange Chicago Opens $20 Million South Side Tech Hub, Anchored by SDI Presence

The South Side hub uses paid apprenticeships to onshore IT work, keeping tech spending in Chicago.

Overview

  • The 28,000-square-foot facility at 7247 S. Chicago Ave. opened with a ribbon-cutting attended by Mayor Brandon Johnson and local business leaders.
  • SDI Presence committed to a 10-year lease and has roughly 25 employees already on-site providing a city IT call center.
  • In its first 18 months, Xchange trained and placed 55 apprentices in full-time roles, generating more than $3.25 million in wages and benefits.
  • Leaders plan to train about 100 apprentices next year, with demand reflected in a waitlist of more than 400 prospective trainees.
  • Backers include a $5 million City of Chicago grant and a $500,000 Learning Landscapes prize, with corporate clients such as Peoples Gas, Northern Trust, Aon, MRO and the City deepening involvement.