Chicago Construction News staff writer
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded $15 million to the City of Chicago through the Federal Charging and Fueling Infrastructure (CFI) Program for the Charge Up Chicago! project. This significant grant aims to bolster the city’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, with a focus on equitable distribution, community engagement, electric-mobility education, and workforce development.
“As we electrify transportation across the country, we must strive to build smarter, faster charging infrastructure in Illinois,” said Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin. “This funding will propel the decarbonization of our transportation sector while engaging Chicagoans in the process and expanding our workforce.”
The Charge Up Chicago! project will focus on installing EV charging stations in strategic locations throughout the city, including City-owned parking facilities, the Midway International Airport cell phone lot, Chicago Public Library locations, and community-based organization (CBO) hubs. With nearly 70 percent of Chicago residents living in multifamily buildings without dedicated parking and 70 percent of public charging stations concentrated in just three community areas, this project aims to address critical barriers to EV ownership for low and moderate-income residents.
“We applaud this award as it ensures that CBOs, particularly those working in environmental justice communities, are key stakeholders who possess the knowledge and expertise to guide the EV charging investments in a way that equitably distributes the benefits of EV charging,” said Nina Idemudia, CEO of the Center for Neighborhood Technology.
Led by a coalition of city departments, the Center for Neighborhood Technology, OAI Inc., and local partners, the project aims to bridge the gap in EV charging access and information by leveraging existing infrastructure and focusing on underserved communities.
