General Electric is doubling down on Chicago as a growing tech hub.
In a press conference today, GE announced it is making Chicago the lead office for GE Transportation’s Digital Solutions business and bringing 160 new digital tech jobs to the Chicago area.
“GE’s decision to invest in Chicago to advance their new digital strategy is a tremendous vote of confidence in our city’s future. It will bring new jobs to our city and open up new opportunities for more of Chicago’s residents to succeed in the digital economy of the 21st century,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement. “It is a testament to the talent of our workforce, the strength of our universities, and Chicago’s status as a world-class digital city."
Of the 160 jobs, 100 will be in the city and focus on the transportation industry. The remaining 60 will be located in the suburbs working under GE Healthcare — which earlier this year announced the move of its international headquarters to Chicago from the United Kingdom.
“These investments are evidence of Chicago’s talent depth, innovation and growing digital ecosystem,” said Jamie Miller (pictured right), president and CEO of
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner pointed to the state’s history as a transportation hub as a major selling point in attracting the GE division.
"Illinois' location and innovative tech companies also motivated GE Healthcare to move their headquarters to Chicago to be part of our world-class healthcare and life sciences cluster," Rauner said. "We welcome GE Transportation's and GE Healthcare's growing footprint in Illinois with the addition of these important jobs to the greater Chicago region."
The choice of Chicago as a digital hub is good news for the city, which earlier this year was passed over by the East Coast conglomerate in its search for a new international headquarters. But it’s hard to see the decision to locate the digital arms of two of the company’s most tech-driven divisions as anything but a ringing endorsement of Chicago’s thriving tech ecosystem.
Images via Shutterstock and GE.
Have a tip for us or know of a company that deserves coverage? Shoot us an email or follow us on Twitter @BuiltInChicago.
