AT&T plans to bring about 500 jobs to downtown Chicago, Illinois, adding to its current workforce of more than 3,900 employees in the Windy City.

"This is an exciting development for AT&T and a big moment for the city of Chicago as well," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. "AT&T sees what so many other companies see -- that the outstanding infrastructure and globally competitive workforce in the city offer a tremendous advantage in the marketplace. We welcome these new jobs to the city and look forward to the company's continued success."

AT&T has invested nearly $625 million in its Illinois wired and wireless networks in the first half of 2013, the Mayor’s Office said.

“At AT&T, we love Chicago. From our flagship retail store on Michigan Avenue, to our investment in Chicago’s wireless and wired networks, to our philanthropy with Chicago charitable organizations, AT&T is investing for the future in Chicago,” said Paul La Schiazza, President, AT&T Illinois. “We’re excited to bring about 500 jobs into downtown Chicago. As a company on the cutting edge of wireless technology, we respect Mayor Emanuel’s vision for Chicago as a world leader in connectivity, and we’re proud to expand our presence in Chicago as we continue to deliver for our customers here.”

The plan is to bring about 500 AT&T jobs currently based in the suburbs to the company’s 225 West Randolph Street location in Chicago. That building is a founding participant of Retrofit Chicago’s Commercial Buildings Initiative launched by Mayor Emanuel in 2012. This announcement is part of AT&T’s Chicagoland Workplace Transformation initiative, which recognizes that now more than ever wireless and wired internet technologies allow more people the ability to work flexibly.