U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Meet With City Colleges Students and Leadership

On Friday, July 21, 2023, U.S. Department of Commerce Deputy Secretary Don Graves and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin met with City Colleges of Chicago students and leadership to highlight major federal investments in internet access and job training made possible by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.

In the morning, U.S. Deputy Secretary Graves participated in a workforce development roundtable and tour of Olive-Harvey College, a sub awardee of the Economic Development Administration’s Good Jobs Challenge to Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (CCWP). Joined by industry leaders in workforce development, Deputy Secretary Graves emphasized the local and national impact of the $500 million Good Jobs Challenge funded by President Biden’s American Rescue Plan.

In the afternoon, Deputy Secretary Graves joined U.S. Senator Dick Durbin and City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado to celebrate the Department of Commerce’s historic allocation of more than $1.04 billion in Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program funding to the state of Illinois. The officials toured Kennedy-King College’s Tech Launchpad and met with students who have been provided with access to high-quality academic and training experiences in new and emerging information technology industries. Englewood, where Kennedy-King College is located, is the least connected neighborhood in Chicago to internet access, which is now changing.

“Today, a computer and internet access are staples… and the ability to use technology is absolutely essential to accessing resources in our communities,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado, City Colleges of Chicago. “We understand that at City Colleges. That’s why we believe there is no better place to share this news.”

“We’ve embarked on a project to bring resources and opportunities to places and people who need them,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. “The reach of Wi-Fi, the reach of the internet is bringing people into the 21st century so they can live and learn.”

“We have to help make sure that every American who has hope and a dream has the opportunity to live a life of dignity. That’s what this is all about,” said. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.

The officials also had the opportunity to hear directly from students enrolled in technology training programs. Click here to watch the press conference and view photos from the event below: