Meet the key players responsible for the Aspire Center construction

By Scott Prywitch, Marketing & Development Coordinator, Austin Coming Together

There are many partners involved in this momentous project that have made significant development contributions from its inception all the way to its eventual grand opening. We must recognize the hard work, devotion, and diligence they have evidently demonstrated throughout the course of developing the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation.

 

AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER

  • The co-developer on the project who will expand their resource connection arm, the Austin Community Hub, into the Aspire Center
  • Mission: To increase the collective impact of our member organizations on improving education and economic development outcomes for the Austin community

WESTSIDE HEALTH AUTHORITY

  • Owns the property of the Aspire Center and are the co-developer on the project
  • Mission: To use the capacity of local residents to improve the health and well-being of the community

 

ILLINOIS FACILITIES FUND (IFF)

  • Provided predevelopment and bridge lending services to the project 
  • Mission: To strengthen nonprofits and the communities they serve by providing leadership, capital, and real estate solutions

LAMAR JOHNSON COLLABORATIVE (LJC)

  • Provides architectural design and engineering services for the project 
  • Mission: To reduce the inefficiency and risk inherent in the design and construction process by leveraging the knowledge and capabilities of its development and construction partners for the benefit of its clients

SERGEANT BLINDERMAN

  • The general contractor of the project, leading all construction services
  • Mission: To provide a full range of construction services to satisfied customers in the Chicagoland area and beyond

PROJECT MANAGEMENT ADVISORS INC. (PMA INC.)

 

  • The owner’s representative of the project who provides construction management services
  • Mission: To provide real estate consulting services as the Owner’s Representative to help clients solve challenges, minimize risk and maximize outcomes

APPLEGATE & THORNE-THOMSEN

  • Assists and provides legal services to the project
  • Mission: To provide legal services for community development projects involving housing, schools, healthcare facilities, community centers, business incubators, industrial facilities and more, both at the local and national levels

CROW ISLAND COMMUNITY CAPITAL

  • Aids in the project by consulting for new market tax credit and tax incremental financing
  • Mission: To connect non-profit organizations, mission-oriented for-profit companies, and real estate developers making catalytic investments in economically distressed areas to critical financing

 

RUDD RESOURCES

  • The lead on public relations and event management for the project
  • Mission: To provide public relations and communications work that advances people, communities, and ideas intersecting with community development and economic opportunity, diversity, equity and inclusion, transportation and public transit, healthcare, and education

BORDERLESS STUDIO

  • A historic preservation consultant for the project
  • Mission: To support healthy, vibrant, and meaningful communities by presenting and demonstrating how design adds value to the built and social environments

 

Keep reading for more information on the exciting work happening in our community: