Hilco Global announced the launch of the Hilco Global Scholarship Program called “Hilco Scholars,” to be awarded to qualified candidates living in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.  The goal of the new scholarship program is to help prepare students in the Little Village community for a professional career in Skilled Trades including manufacturing and engineering; construction management; transportation, distribution, and logistics; and information technology.  
 
The scholarship program will award a full scholarship for the period of two years, to two students pursuing a degree in a Skilled Trade program at one of the seven City Colleges of Chicago. The scholarship award can be used for education-related expenses including tuition, fees, books, and equipment.
 
In early 2018, Hilco’s real estate redevelopment group, Hilco Redevelopment Partners, purchased the shuttered Crawford Power Generation site in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood and began working on plans to redevelop the property into a state-of-the-art facility for last-mile logistics and retail warehousing.  The new complex, now called Exchange 55, is expected to boost the local economy and bring new skilled jobs to the neighborhood. 
 
Jeffrey Hecktman, CEO and Chairman of Hilco Global explained, “As a company beginning a substantial real estate project within the Little Village community we wanted to go beyond investing in the cleanup and redevelopment of this industrial site by making an investment in the most important asset of all – the young residents in the Little Village neighborhood.” 
 
Hecktman continued, “For many years Hilco Global has supported programs that promote and encourage educational opportunities for Chicago’s kids.  Last summer, in a series of local community meetings with residents and leaders in the neighborhood, we promised to demonstrate our commitment to becoming a stand out corporate citizen. The new Hilco Scholars program is just one of many ways we plan to give back to our new neighbors.”
 
The new Hilco Scholars program has been in development since the fall of last year and has been planned and structured in close collaboration with the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation who will manage the process of seeking candidates throughout the Little Village neighborhood.  Hilco leaders will play an active role in the final selection of the first two recipients. 
 
Roberto Perez, CEO of Hilco Redevelopment Partners said, “Our plan is to not only provide a full scholarship for two students, but to also create opportunities for the students to gain hands-on experience and apply what they learn through a paid internship program at Hilco, and possible future employment.”  Perez has been a vocal champion of the quality of the local workforce in Little Village since identifying the redevelopment project almost two years ago.  Perez said, “The caliber of the workforce located within Little Village is one of the most attractive features of this project to prospective tenants.  This project has already attracted interest from marquee companies who want to locate here because of the labor force.”

"Our students are truly inspiring - when given the opportunity, they make the most of it," said City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado. “This scholarship will open the door for more students to pursue meaningful careers in high-demand fields.”

About Hilco Scholars Program: The Hilco Scholars program will be available to students for the Fall 2019 semester.

•  Candidates must reside in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
• Candidates must reside in the City of Chicago and be eligible for in-district tuition rates.
• Candidates must be interested in pursuing an associate’s degree in a Skilled Trades area of their choice at any of the seven colleges including manufacturing and engineering; construction management; transportation, distribution, and logistics; and information technology.
• Candidates must be high school graduates or have received their GED.