Community Members Receive Details On Quantum Computing Campus

Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore during a community meeting about the Illinois Quantum and Microelectrics Park (IQMP), which is planned for the former USX Steel site. PHOTO BY TIA CAROL JONES.
Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore during a community meeting about the Illinois Quantum and Microelectrics Park (IQMP), which is planned for the former USX Steel site. PHOTO BY TIA CAROL JONES.

Community Members Receive Details On Quantum Computing Campus


By Tia Carol Jones

Residents from the Southeast side packed the Salud Center on Wednesday, Aug. 28th, for a meeting with officials about the proposed quantum computing campus at SouthWorks.

On July 25th, Governor JB Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, other elected officials, along with PsiQuantum CEO and co-founder, announced that the former USX side would be the location of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectrics Park (IQMP). It was also announced that PsiQuantum would be the campus’ anchor tenant.

Naturally, upon hearing the news, residents in the community had questions from job creation to potential rent and property tax increase, traffic, lakefront access, Lake Shore Drive reconstruction and toxic materials. More than 30 organizations signed a letter demanding officials host a community meeting to answer those questions.

“With this investment, we don’t want our communities to be left behind. We built the steel backbone to Chicago, we want to be included in its future,” Alliance of the SouthEast (ASE) community organizer Sam Corona said in a release. “We look forward to a working partnership for a successful development that supports our community, without displacement, ensures the next generation advances into a digital economy, and the environment is not at stake for our future.”

Quantum computing combines physics, computer science, quantum mechanics and mathematics to solve complex problems. IQMP will be a 128-acre campus, right along Lake Michigan. There will be companies that work in the quantum computing field, as well as representatives from universities across the state doing research and other organizations that support the quantum industry, on the campus.

Tito Quinones, Deputy Director for Legislative Affairs at the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said that IQMP has the potential to create hundreds of jobs and make Chicago a hub for quantum innovation.

“One of the things we’re very excited about is the chance to invest in programs that help future generations of workers, educational programs and training programs,” said Harley Johnson, Acting Director of IQMP.

Related Midwest is the lead developer of the project. Representatives from Related said that while they would like to move fairly quickly to begin construction, first a robust traffic study has to take place.

Peter Chico, the 10th Ward Alderman, said that since South Works closed 30 years ago, the community hadn’t seen significant investment. Chico said that IQMP, signals actual development on the site, which had different development projects that never materialized. He added that the meeting was the first in a series of community engagement meetings.

Cook County Commissioner Stanley Moore said that during his 10 years as a Cook County Commissioner, residents, along with officials have been fighting to redevelop the site.

“We are redeveloping the Southeast side, bringing such needed projects to this community, making this place a place we want to be proud to say we’re from the Southeast side,” Moore said. “We have a Mayor that cares, a Governor that’s going to put the money where he says he’s going to put it, we have elected officials that are working together, the Alderman and Commissioners, and we’re going to make a difference.”

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