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A great deal of press has been given to the current state of the economy and more specifically the unemployment rate in the U.S. Last week, I attended an info session with the Chicago Community Trust where they discussed the rising poverty rate in Chicago, which is currently at 21.6%. They also touched on how there is an urgent need to create jobs in growing industries, such as technology. This is right in line with a recent article I read in Forbes that outlined President Obama’s new job creation plan. I agree that job creation will be the top political issue heading into the 2012 election and I’m especially excited to be intricately involved with creating jobs in Chicago with the work I am doing at i.c.stars.

i.c.stars is working closely with CIOs & entrepreneurs to make Chicago a major global economic center. Not only is i.c.stars creating jobs, but we are also adding to the production of firms where our alums are placed. Technology is a growing industry, and we have found that technologists think in systems to solve problems. This same systems thinking applies to solving community problems. i.c.stars bridges technology and community leadership to create lasting change to raise Chicagoans out of poverty. I am thrilled to announce that we are kicking off a campaign to create 60 jobs by 2012 in our social enterprise, which offers social media and web services to small businesses and nonprofits.

By purchasing social media from i.c.stars, you are creating jobs in Chicago for a talented and under-utilized workforce. The profits from our social media services are reinvested back into the program to fulfill our mission of training additional relevant, young tech talent. Becoming a client not only adds value by allowing our proven process to boost your company’s online image, it also is a well-timed and powerful PR story about creating jobs. This closely aligns with the Obama Administration’s partnership with the Aspen Institute Skills for America’s Future program.

Our strategy also closely aligns with Mayor Emanuel’s transition planMayor Emanuel’s transition plan. He envisions city residents having access to education and programs that prepare them for quality jobs businesses need to fill. He is seeking ways to develop job growth for targeted industries including the rapidly emerging tech sector. The administration is also looking to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. i.c.stars is playing an important and unique role in connecting the entrepreneurial community with the mainstream corporate community to support local job creation. Our upcoming innovation conference, iOpener, is scheduled for August where we will be showcasing the latest and greatest in mobile apps and cloud. If you would like an opportunity to present, we want to hear from you! i.c.stars is providing thought leadership by being a connecting point for all organizations with our focus on job creation. We are strengthening and building relationships with several organizations that will benefit the Chicagoland technology and business sectors. These organizations include Illinois Innovation Council, Built in Chicago OpportunityNation , MidVentures/Tech Week, Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, Chicago Innovation Awards, incubators and the venture community. We are also working with colleges and universities on developing alternative education paths to entrepreneurship. Job creation and entrepreneurship are the driving forces that are going to build back up our economy. Illinois is in a position to set an example for the rest of the nation when it comes to using technology to make businesses and create jobs.

This week the Clinton Global Initiative, which is designed to come up with new ideas for generating U.S. job growth is being held in Chicago. Former President Clinton stated they chose Chicago, “because the city is representative of the challenges confronting communities around the country, is home to some of the most influential companies in the U.S and has been a leader in creating jobs through investments in clean energy, a commitment to early childhood education and a renewed focus on technology.”

Chicago is the new Silicon City, and is quickly becoming a hub for top notch tech talent and companies. Why is job creation in Illinois important to you? How do you think we can create more jobs in our city and state?