Uber announces new South Side support center

Soon you’ll be seeing far more Ubers headed south down I-94.

Today,

announced it will be opening a new South Side Partner Support Center on 839 W. 115th Street in the West Pullman neighborhood. The office, which will provide Uber drivers with in-person support in uploading documents, answering questions, and sorting out any issues with the service. The office will be staffed by eight employees.

“Uber is knocking down barriers to affordable transportation and economic opportunity in Chicago,” said Carrie Austin, Alderman of Chicago’s 34th ward, of which West Pullman is part, in a statement. “I’m glad to see this tech company investing in the South Side of Chicago and helping more people maximize the chance to earn money on their own schedules.”

The new office’s location was determined in part due to an increase in ridership on the South Side, with tens of thousands of completed rides a week. Moreover, according to the company’s data, more than 500 Uber drivers reside in the West Pullman area.

This is Uber’s second announcement of a new office in as many weeks — on January 21, Crains reported that Uber had leased a building at 1401 W. North Ave. on the North Side.

Uber’s West Loop office will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

“We are excited to announce our new Partner Support Center that will be dedicated to driver-partners in the community,” said Uber Chicago general manager Marco McCottry in a statement. “Whether it’s signing up to drive or asking questions about the app, we hope this facility will serve as a good resource.”

McCottry took the reins at Uber Chicago only yesterday, after former GM Chris Taylor left to lead Uber’s business in Boston. He is returning to his native Midwest after a stint with Uber in Central Texas and Oklahoma.

With the new support center, Uber, which launched its uberX service in Chicago in 2013, plans to invest $350,000 in the West Pullman community annually. Chicago is currently Uber’s 4th largest U.S. market.

Image via Uber.

Know of a startup we should be covering? Send us an email via [email protected].