LEED, LSNA Launch Community Jobs Initiative

In the midst of a terrible economy, with unemployment at record levels, Logan Square has something to celebrate in 2011: 200 jobs new jobs are anticipated at the Green Exchange, a center for businesses offering environmentally sustainable products and services.

 With dozens of tenants, the Green Exchange will be the country’s largest sustainable business community, and will begin leasing space for showrooms and offices later this year in the renovated Frederick Cooper lamp factory at 2545 W. Diversey.

In March, the Local Economic & Employment Development (LEED) Council and LSNA launched the Community Jobs Initiative.  The goal is to make sure that local residents are ready to apply for the wide range of job openings anticipated at the Green Exchange over the next two years.

In 2004, Frederick Cooper announced that it would close its doors and lay off 130 employees, many of them veterans of 25 years or more.  Meanwhile, a major developer sought to convert the factory into condos.              In response, LSNA took action, bringing together workers, neighbors, clergy and LEED to form the Cooper Lamps Task Force. 

The Task Force helped workers obtain extended unemployment and training benefits, organized community-wide meetings and convinced then-Alderman Manny Flores to keep the site zoned for economic development and jobs.   That decision allowed Baum Development to buy and hold the building for commercial development and, soon afterward, to formulate the concept of a “green Merchandise Mart” in the old factory.

This year, we’ll be coming to a school, church or agency near you to talk more about green job opportunities coming up in (and near) the Green Exchange.   Our goal is to employ at least 100 community residents, but hopefully many more, over the next two years.

To learn more about the  Community Jobs Initiative, please contact Tami Love at 773/384-4370 ext. 48 or tlove@lsna.net. The project also has a website, www.worklocal.org.