College of DuPage Community College District 502 (COD) is one of the largest community colleges in the nation. More than 30,000 students from 50 communities attend the college each year.

COD’s first permanent facilities were constructed in the 1970s and are in need of modernization. In 2002, COD began a long-term capital improvement program.

On the Nov. 2, 2010, ballot was a referendum question to extend COD’s tax authority to complete an additional $168 million in campus renovations and construction. Successful passage of the referendum would allow the college to renovate the student resource center, computing center and expand of the Homeland Security Training Institute.

The Chamber’s Legislative Committee formed a task force to review COD’s operations and overall financial management and determine the impact the expanded facilities would have on the region’s workforce. The task force issued its findings and, following debate at committee meetings, the Chamber endorsed the referendum, making its position known to Members, citizens and the press.

Voters approved the referendum with 55 percent of the vote.