A lakefront site on the Far South Side of Chicago has been chosen as the future home of a new quantum computing campus. The site, formerly a U.S. Steel plant, was selected over a refinery in Lockport. Mayor Brandon Johnson hailed the investment, saying it will revolutionize medicine and clean energy, create jobs, and drive economic growth.
The facility, anchored by Silicon Valley tech start-up PsiQuantum, is expected to be around 300,000 square feet and employ up to 150 people within five years. It will be part of the Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), a hub for quantum computing research and innovation.
The project received $500 million in funding from the state budget and $5 million from the city’s housing and economic development bond. Governor JB Pritzker praised the investment, saying it will unite stakeholders and create jobs.
While local officials estimated the campus could generate $20 billion over 10 years, community activist A. Anne Holcomb expressed concerns about environmental impact and job training.
Source: https://abc7chicago.com/post/psiquantum-computer-facility-built-former-us-steel-south/15094915/