With the 2024 mayoral election approaching, Democratic candidates are laying out their plans for creating jobs and boosting the economy if elected. As the city struggles to recover from the economic impacts of the pandemic, unemployment and declining tax revenue have become top issues. The next mayor will need to take bold action on jobs if the recovery is to succeed.
Sanders Focuses on Infrastructure, Manufacturing
Mayoral candidate Michael Sanders has made infrastructure investment and manufacturing growth central to his jobs platform. He has proposed a $5 billion infrastructure plan focused on upgrading roads, bridges, rail lines, water systems, and broadband access. This infrastructure investment would create thousands of construction and engineering jobs in the short term. Sanders has also called for new investments in vocational education and apprenticeship programs to train workers for jobs in advanced manufacturing. His plan calls for converting abandoned factories into modern manufacturing hubs, with on-site job training. Sanders believes investing in infrastructure and manufacturing will lay the foundation for broad-based, equitable growth.
Garcia Pushes Green Jobs, Workforce Training
Another Democratic candidate, Sandra Garcia, is making green jobs and workforce development key to her economic platform. She has called for massive investment in renewable energy infrastructure, energy-efficient building upgrades, and electric vehicle charging stations. Garcia’s plan would leverage public-private partnerships to create over 50,000 well-paying green jobs installing solar panels, retrofitting buildings, and expanding renewable energy production. She also wants to double funding for job training programs focused on green skills like solar panel installation, energy auditing, and deconstruction. Expanding access to skills training would ensure a diverse workforce benefits from the green jobs boom. Workforce development is a complement to infrastructure investment in Garcia’s strategy.
Chen Focuses on Small Business, Entrepreneurship
Stanley Chen, another leading Democratic candidate, sees small businesses and entrepreneurs as the key engines for job creation. His economic plan centers on providing financing, technical support, and tax breaks to small startups and minority-owned businesses. Chen has proposed the creation of a public venture capital fund that would invest in hundreds of local startups and innovative small firms per year. He also wants to offer tax credits to cover 50% of startup costs for new small businesses, as well as subsidies for small business incubators and accelerators. Chen would also cut red tape and streamline permitting processes to make it easier for entrepreneurs to launch and expand companies. By unleashing the potential of small businesses, he believes jobs and opportunity will flourish in neighborhoods across the city.
Ortiz Calls for Major Tourism, Arts Investments
Mayoral candidate Julia Ortiz believes investing in tourism, arts, and culture is the pathway to job growth. She has proposed doubling the city’s tourism marketing budget to draw more visitors and conventions. Ortiz also wants to expand cultural institutions like museums, concert venues, and theaters, which would directly create construction and cultural jobs. Her economic plan calls for a $300 million arts stimulus fund that would make grants to individual artists, arts organizations, and venue operators to support innovative projects. Ortiz sees the creative economy as a major growth opportunity, and believes investments in tourism and culture pay economic dividends while making the city more vibrant and livable.
Democrats Offer Range of Ideas on Jobs
While the Democratic mayoral candidates differ in their approaches, they share a common commitment to taking bold action on Illinois Democratic jobs and equitable growth. From manufacturing and infrastructure to small business, green jobs, and the creative economy, the candidates are offering a range of strategies to get people back to work and expand opportunity. Whoever emerges from the Democratic primary will face major challenges, but if they can follow through on their jobs platforms, the city’s economic future could be bright.