Bill Clinton Hosts Second Global Initiative Conference in Chicago

The former president hosts the jobs-focused conference Thursday and Friday

Former President Bill Clinton returned to Chicago Thursday to host his second annual Global Initiative conference and talk about creating jobs.

Clinton leads the two-day conference, aimed at reducing the country's job deficit, alongside more than 750 business and government leaders, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who will pledge to help promote economic recovery.

Attendees include U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, Coca-Cola CEO Steve Cahillane, Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, IBM International Foundation President Stanley Litow and mayors from Louisville, Philadelphia and Atlanta

They'll also discuss clean fuel and transportation, early childhood education, entrepreneurship, housing recovery and workforce development.

Clinton, who hosted the Global Initiative conference in Chicago last year, is no stranger in the Windy City.

He helped Emanuel in March introduce the scrutinized Infrastructure Trust. The mayor said he plans to work with the Trust and debt and equity investors to finance $200-$250 million worth of energy-efficiency projects in city buildings and create more than 2,000 jobs.

The Chicago City Council approved the Trust, which means projects to improve the city's crumbling infrastructure can be funded by private donations through partnerships made by Emanuel.

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