A public-private organization facilitating corporate presence and economic development.
City: Chicago, IL
Purpose: To drive business investment and economic growth in Chicago.
Lead Stakeholders: Business, Government
Process: World Business Chicago is a nonprofit public-private partnership funded by the City of Chicago and the business community. The mayor of Chicago serves as chairperson and appoints the WBC chief executive officer. WBC originated as a private venture by the city’s Chamber of Commerce to drive corporate growth in the city. In recent decades, the WBC’s mission has expanded to include producing economic development plans for the city and the greater Chicago area.
WBC provides a range of services to businesses to help Chicago companies expand and attract new companies to the city. These include identifying financial incentives and tools, market analysis, press and public relations, and government relations for firms.
WBC also runs the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership, a body that unites Chicago and its seven surrounding counties, coordinates regional business development, and represents the region’s shared economic infrastructure assets.
Outcomes:
- Produces research on Chicago’s business development, including an annual ‘Year in Review’ report and an updated-monthly Economic Dashboard
- Provides funding and government access for firms seeking to move to Chicago
View or download PDF of the World Business Chicago case study.
