Together, the organizations will bring new economic opportunity to Chicago’s West Side
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elk Grove Village & Chicago, Ill. – May 17, 2021 – Genfare, a leader in fare collection solutions for transit agencies of all sizes, and The Will Group, a single source provider for lighting, electrical and infrastructure supply, manufacturing, and more, are pleased to announce they have entered into a strategic partnership. This partnership combines Genfare’s transit industry-leading technology with The Will Group’s manufacturing and assembly expertise.
Anchored in Chicago’s West Side, The Will Group’s newly opened space at 4647 West Polk Street will enable the expansion of Genfare’s capacity in the production of transportation equipment and maintenance services.
“Mr. Davis and I share the same vision and priorities in building safe, high-quality solutions utilizing local Chicago and Illinois-based workforces and fostering a made in America mentality,” said Eric Kaled, Genfare’s President. “As our businesses grow, the local workforce grows. We are excited to enter this partnership and continue our vision of simplifying the transportation riders’ experience in partnership with transit agencies.”
There is a lot of community purpose involved with the location of the K-Town facility. Not only is the facility bringing economic opportunity to the North Lawndale neighborhood, but the facility participates in the Second Chance initiative—meaning some of its employees are part of an ex-offender re-entry program, in which ex-offenders are hired and employed. Furthermore, the facility is located on a site that had not generated tax revenue for the City of Chicago for more than two decades.
“As a company, our top priority is to build strategic partnerships and provide jobs to local residents. We believe that creating manufacturing jobs with good pay, benefits, and safe working conditions is the key to growing the global middle class,” said Stephen Davis, Chairman of The Will Group. “By partnering with Genfare, we are creating social capital in a neighborhood that needs it the most. With our partnership and investment, we can begin to see the community change – creating an ecosystem we can be proud of. These manufacturing jobs are not only a driver of economic growth—they are also the vehicle through which economic growth is broadly shared to raise living standards city-wide.”
About The Will Group
The Will Group is a single source provider for electrical supplies and implementation services. Through its partnerships with electrical contractors, utilities, and cities nationwide, this Chicago-based, African American-owned company continuously provides industry solutions while creating meaningful job opportunities. Visit us at https://www.thewillgroup.com and follow us on LinkedIn: The Will Group.
About Genfare
Genfare’s rich history dates back to the design of the very first registering farebox, which completely transformed fare collection for public transit. Since then, Genfare has applied the power of innovation, hard work, and experience to solving today’s transit troubles and preventing tomorrow’s. Decades of experience uniquely position us to manage all aspects of fare collection, from authorizing payments to securing revenue and analyzing data. It’s only because we understand the continuously evolving needs of transit and the marketplace that we’re able to deliver comprehensive and precise solutions. Visit us at https://www.genfare.com and follow us on LinkedIn: Genfare.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Christina Belmont
Senior Marketing Manager
Genfare
847.212.3898
christina.belmont@spx.com
Erin Hennessy
Marketing Director
The Will Group
ehennessy@thwillgroup.com
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