With the participation of the prominent elected officials, and leaders in transportation in Illinois and the City of Chicago, the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) successfully held its November membership breakfast event titled “Talking Infrastructure” Meeting this past Thursday.
Because Illinois’ economic future is related to the new Infrastructure Plans on the federal and state levels, this historic event was exclusively focused on Infrastructure and on our economic future.
The IHCC is the only Hispanic organization in Illinois offering technical assistance programs to help businesses to obtain government contracts.
WELCOMING REMARKS / Jaime di Paulo – President & CEO of IHCC
We applaud the historic investment that will mean more business for Hispanic entrepreneurs to provide more efficiency and competitiveness as we make huge investments in rebuilding our state’s highways, bridges, and energy grid. This bill also increases broadband access to low-income and rural areas,” said Jaime di Paulo, IHCC President & CEO.
We are proud to champion the procurement opportunities that this bill opens up for millions of Hispanic business owners, many of whom are eager to access capital at the same rate as their peers. We will continue to partner with Hispanic contractors to ensure all of them are aware of the economic opportunities that the recent Infrastructure deal creates,” di Paulo added.
At the event, the chamber also announced the creation of its new Procurement Collaborative initiative to streamline government contracting services and help clients more effectively.
Director of the Illinois PTAC at IHCC, Angie Alonso
Among the speakers and panelists who joined the conversation about infrastructure in Illinois included Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Omer Osman; 36th Ward Alderman Gilbert Villegas, State Senator Ram Villivalam and chairman of the Transportation Committee at the Illinois State Senate; Janice Thomas, Chief of Staff at Metra; Gia Biagi, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation; and Andrew Velasquez III, First Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation.
Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary, Omer Osman
36th Ward Alderman Gilbert Villegas
State Senator Ram Villivalam and chairman of the Transportation Committee at the Illinois State Senate
All speakers agreed today the combination of the $1 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the $3.5 trillion reconciliation proposal could be transformational for the region and Illinois as a whole.
Owner at INDEP Chicago Consulting, Dana Harder
Gia Biagi, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation
Janice Thomas, Chief of Staff at Metra
Andrew Velasquez III, First Deputy Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation
New federal contract opportunities for small businesses will be made available soon for our member businesses to bid on and get prepared for.
The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will continue to collaborate with its partners throughout the country that represent the powerful diversity that fuels America’s economy as Latino businesses, contractors, and engineers are ready to work to help modernize hundreds of miles of highways, roads, and main streets that are in great need of repair.
The infrastructure plan will build new rail corridors and transit lines, easing congestion, cutting pollution, slashing commute times, and opening up investment in communities that can be connected to the cities, and cities to the outskirts. “And this will create incredible job opportunities for thousands of workers who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work,” di Paulo said.
Because Illinois’ economic future is related to the new Infrastructure Plans on the federal and state levels, this historic event was exclusively focused on Infrastructure and on our economic future. The IHCC is the only Hispanic organization in Illinois offering technical assistance programs to help businesses to obtain government contracts.
“We applaud the historic investment that will mean more business for Hispanic entrepreneurs to provide more efficiency and competitiveness as we make huge investments in rebuilding our state’s highways, bridges, and energy grid. This bill also increases broadband access to low-income and rural areas,” said Jaime di Paulo, IHCC President & CEO.
“We are proud to champion the procurement opportunities that this bill opens up for millions of Hispanic business owners, many of whom are eager to access capital at the same rate as their peers. We will continue to partner with Hispanic contractors to ensure all of them are aware of the economic opportunities that the recent Infrastructure deal creates,” di Paulo added.
