"Reinventing Business through Entrepreneurship and Innovation"

A Message from the Chairman and Board of Directors

Chicagoland has always been known for its creative and flexible approach to economic growth. By focusing on innovation and entrepreneurism, we’ve built a position as one of the great global centers of commerce known for the quality of its workforce, successful businesses and excellent lifestyle.

Our success, however, is being challenged by the continuing emergence of a global economy and today’s difficult economic environment, and we need to be increasingly creative to grow and excel in our leadership position.

Collaborative efforts -- including our involvement in the Chicagoland Chamber – are at the heart of our initiatives to become more innovative and entrepreneurial, and to improve our competitive position. Consider what this collaboration is helping us achieve:

• Agile. Our plan to modernize O’Hare International Airport is underway, while other planned improvements to our region’s roads, and rail and rapid transit systems are being implemented.
• Entrepreneurial. The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center remains the cornerstone of our initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship and high-growth businesses, while the Chamber’s workplace initiatives are helping attract and retain world-class talent to the region.
• Quality-focused. Programs are underway to ensure every student receives a quality education and make sure the region has an adequate supply of highly literate, productive workers.
• Competitive. Our collective efforts to create a fair and competitive tax climate, and to teach government to move at the speed of business, are laying the foundation for long-term economic development and a growing number of jobs.

We want to acknowledge all of our individual member efforts, and the efforts of all the committee chairs, that have contributed to the success of the Chamber’s initiatives. We encourage you to support the Chamber leadership team as they continue working to enhance the business climate of Chicagoland.

For the Board of Directors,
James C. Tyree
Chairman of the Board

Chamber Mission

To make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America and enhance our members’ success through aggressive programs of advocacy, member benefits and services, and actionable information.

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality

Objective

The Education & Workforce Quality Committee provides services, actionable information and support to Chamber members and business-education partnerships that are working to increase the number of qualified, educated candidates in the region’s workforce.

Action Plans

• The Committee introduces members to public and private innovators that are closing achievement gaps and advancing life-long learning and career success.


• The Chamber re-affirmed its policy statement that “The Chamber supports expanding early childhood education that includes diagnostics assessments,” as an important investment in quality education and workforce development. An article was included in the Chamber’s member newsletter Business@Work, and members were invited to participate in a U.S. Chamber conference call on the subject.
  


• The Chamber actively supports HB150 that amends the Higher Education Student Assistance Act to establish the Illinois 21st Century Scholars program for low-income students.
  


• Business-to-education partnerships that have been supported by the Chamber include the High Tech School-to-Work HealthcareU Program at Wells High School, funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).


• The Chamber provides business and education with opportunities to collaborate on local, regional and state workforce planning and development initiatives.


• The Chamber’s sub-grant from University of Illinois to implement the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) is helping educate key public decision makers and corporate executives on the importance of science and technology for Illinois’ future. It also leads efforts to attract large-scale, federally-funded research and advanced scientific facilities and infrastructure projects to Illinois.
  


• Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council (MCHC) joined the Chamber to present a Workforce Solutions session at the Life Services Network of Illinois Annual Conference in March. The effort resulted in several assisted living organizations signing-up to participate in the solution components of the Illinois Healthcare Critical Skills Shortage Initiative.
  
• The Chamber participated in an effort of several civic and industry associations to release a publication “Finance and Insurance Career Pathways” that examines career paths and skills within the finance and insurance sector. The report is useful to human resource personnel, career changers and workforce development organizations.
  


• The Chamber’s Digital Divide (DD) program, funded by DCEO, has helped increase access to computers and technology training for 2,075 youth and adults who are Chicago Housing Authority residents; 81 adults have transitioned to advanced educational programs.
  


• Several Chamber members and staff are serving on the Illinois IT Workforce Task Force for the Illinois Workforce Investment Board (IWIB).
  


• The Chamber is leading the Workforce/Workplace Group of the Illinois Core Team of the National Governor’s Association Policy Academy for the Civic Engagement of Older Adults - - an initiative to improve the health and lives of Americans 50 years and over by substantially increasing the proportion who participate in employment, education and training or meaningful volunteer activities.


• The Illinois College Access Network (IllinoisCAN), sponsored in part by Chase, continues its efforts to build the capacity and effectiveness of college access organizations, including providing professional development and technical assistance for college access practitioners. And with the generous support of J.P. Morgan Chase Foundation (JPMCF), IllinoisCAN is expanding partnerships and community participation serving Latino students.
  
• The Chamber participates in ongoing discussions about adequate funding of education and the need for real reform of the property tax/school funding system. The Chamber advocates that improved education quality must come first in order to attract support for a second phase of re-arranging financial support in a manner that is business-friendly.
1. Workplace Excellence
2. disabilityworks
3. Healthcare and Wellness
4. Transportation Infrastructure
5. Government Taxation and Regulation
6. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
7. Market Development
8. Environment
9. Technology
10. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence

Objective

The Workplace Excellence Committee provides actionable information to Chamber members about emerging workplace issues and innovations in workplace practices that can positively impact a company’s performance and profitability.

The committee also leads a number of activities to make sure the region is recognized as having great places to work, including the connection between profitability and innovative people practices.

Action Plans



• The committee is coordinating and promoting the 2009 Chicagoland Workplace Excellence Award, an initiative sponsored by the Chicagoland Chamber and Right Management that recognizes workplace excellence. Companies are evaluated on the development and implementation of people practices that positively impact culture and environment in a company, maximize the engagement and performance of employees, and leads to successful business results.
  
  To highlight the award winners’ accomplishments, the Chamber promotes the winning companies and their practices in news releases, articles and an awards forum that includes a discussion with the winning companies. 2008 winners included Eved Services, Inc. and Vulcan Materials Company Midwest Division.


• 33 companies responded to the Chamber’s call for applications for the 2009 Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Business Excellence in Workplace Flexibility, an award that recognizes the use of flexible work practices and their impact on attracting and retaining talent. This participation level made Chicagoland eligible for a 2009 “Community Flexibility Report.”
  
  18 of the 249 winners nationwide were from Chicagoland, along with 5 of the 60 honorable mentions. They were recognized at the October 21 Chamber Board of Directors meeting.


• As part of Chicago Supports Workers, a collaboration of the Chamber, Mayor Daley’s Office and the Center for Economic Progress, the Chamber promoted the Mayor’s Earned Income Tax Credit and the Federal Reserve Bank’s Money Smart Week campaigns.


• The Chamber offers member companies and their employees regular informative forums that highlight employee benefits, training and cultural best practices. Currently, monthly webinar forums (online interactive seminars) are being planned to promote the importance of workplace excellence in the current challenging economic environment.
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks

Objective

disabilityworks* is an initiative that strives to meet the workforce needs of businesses by increasing economic and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. This objective is met by promoting collaborative partnerships between the private and public sectors.

Action Plans

• The Executive Director of disabilityworks works at the national, state and local levels on influencing disability policy, including working to increase the level of revenue eligibility for the Tax Incentives and Tax Credits offered by the IRS so that more businesses can receive tax credits for hiring people with disabilities.
• disabilityworks includes the Chicagoland Business Leadership Network (CBLN) - the businesses - and the Chicagoland Provider Leadership Network (CPLN) – the service providers. Together they help promote the employment of people with disabilities by providing disability employment-related education and information through networking and on the disabilityworks website.
• Quarterly CBLN meetings include presentations and webinars/audio conferences on issues of concern to businesses, such as "Medical Inquiries Under the ADA,” and “Reasonable Accommodations Under the ADA."
• CBLN co-sponsored a “Speed Networking” luncheon to connect members of the CPLN Coordinating Council to CBLN businesses that want to include employees with disabilities in their workforce.
• CPLN offers “Workforce Developer Workshops” to train job developers how to place people with disabilities in jobs.
• CPLN launched the “One Portal Employment Referral Pilot Project” with Walgreens to encourage the eight company’s stores in the pilot to hire people with disabilities.
• disabilityworks also works statewide (funded by the US Department of Labor and DCEO) to serve businesses and people with disabilities throughout Illinois. Seven disabilityworks Resource Coordinators (dRCs) are located at Illinois workNet Centers and provide services to ensure that people with disabilities receive the same level of services as non-disabled customers, and to serve as a resource to local businesses.
• The disabilityworks Business Leadership Advisory Board of Directors includes CEOs or their top executives from some of the nation’s most prominent corporations. The Board promotes the important fact that disability is part of diversity to the local business community.

For more information, visit www.disabilityworks.org.

*The disabilityworks initiative is the result of unprecedented partnerships among the Chicagoland Chamber, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and the City of Chicago.

4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness

Objective

The Healthcare and Wellness Committee (HWC) impacts and influences healthcare issues affecting Chicagoland businesses and their employees (and employees’ families) by: presenting and promoting best practices; positioning the Chamber as a voice to government that can align business’ perspective with public policy; educating businesses on healthcare and wellness trends; and providing access to the latest research studies and industry developments.

Action Plans

• The Healthcare and Wellness Best Practices Committee develops and promotes best practice ideas and concepts from health and wellness programs and initiatives to Chamber members for their consideration as they address the healthcare issues of their organizations.
• The Healthcare and Wellness Calendar Committee coordinates and publishes an on-going calendar for the Chicago metro area that provides information on health and wellness programs, events and initiatives of interest to the Chamber’s Healthcare and Wellness Coalition member organizations.
• The Industry Research and Development Committee presents current research findings related to health and wellness programs, trends and developments to the Chamber’s HWC for the purpose of gathering and disseminating useful information to Chamber members as assistance and guidance in their efforts to address the healthcare issues of their organizations.
• The Workplace Well-Being & Prevention Practices Committee offers support to employers to improve workplace well-being and addiction prevention practices. This enables small and medium-size organizations to have workplaces free of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and the safety, productivity and morale issues they cause.
  
  Note: The Chamber’s long-standing Drug-Free Workplace Committee has transformed into the Workplace Well-Being and Prevention Practices Committee, adding to the Chamber’s support of employers’ health and wellness programs.
• Committee accomplishments include:
• Quarterly Healthcare and Wellness Committee meetings included presentations by Safeway giving the ROI metrics of its employees’ wellness program, and Aramark describing its food service nutrition program helping customers make healthier food choices and fight obesity in the workplace.


• The HWC also co-sponsored events to advance its healthcare and wellness agenda, including one with Medco Health Solutions on April 21 titled, "Managing Healthcare Benefit Costs in This Economy."


• The Workplace Well-Being & Prevention Practices Committee held a forum on May 15, "Health Benefits Parity & Equity ROI: Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008" (MHPAEA) where about 100 employers, health plan administrators, insurers and service providers convened to weigh the evidence on whether treatment for the high stigma issues of mental health and addiction should have health benefits equal to other medical and surgical benefits as required by MHPAEA, effective January 2010.
  
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure

Objective

The region’s infrastructure system is vital to Chicagoland’s economic health. Therefore, the Transportation Infrastructure Committee strives to enhance Chicago’s status as the nation’s transportation hub for rail, highways and aviation and encourages increased efficiency, cost-effectiveness and self-sufficiency in public transportation.

Through the Air Cargo Initiative, the Chamber coordinates advocacy among the air cargo industry, the City of Chicago and the broader business community to help the industry prepare for the challenges it will face in the next generation of air cargo management and logistics.

Action Plans

• Support a well-planned and coordinated effort to implement an ongoing infrastructure program.
• The Chamber lobbied the Governor and state legislature and helped successfully pass a multi-year $29 billion capital program in May to rebuild roads, bridges, schools and mass transit systems. It is the first major public works program in a decade and is being financed by a variety of revenue sources, including increased taxes and user fees, privatization of management of the lottery, and the sale of lottery tickets online.
• Promote transportation planning that is consistent with land use plans for the region.
• The Chamber, in partnership with the RTA, is working to organize the National Business Coalition for Rapid Transit (NBCRT), a coalition of big city chambers of commerce advocating for priority funding of older, more established transit systems in the federal transit reauthorizing legislation at the federal level later in 2009.
• Providing guidance through an extensive network of experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders;


• The Chamber, in collaboration with the Metropolitan Planning Council and the City of Chicago, is working to develop a plan for realizing the CTA’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Pilot Program. The program is a strategy to reduce bus travel times, increase service predictability and improve customer amenities on high ridership corridors that are not currently served by rail.


• Encourage a prohibition on diverting transportation user fees and taxes for non-transportation programs.
• Coordinate efforts among the business community, local governments and the Illinois Congressional delegation to maximize federal funding for the region, including:
  (1.)modernization of regional aviation facilities, (2.) increased investments in transit systems, (3.) increased investments in freight rail and intercity passenger rail, and (4.) exploring opportunities for additional public-private partnerships in support of transportation infrastructure projects.
• The Chamber worked with U.S. Secretaries of Transportation Mary E. Peters and Ray LaHood to coordinate federal funding for Chicagoland transportation projects and identify ways to improve the movement of goods and people in and out of the region.


• The Chamber joined the City of Chicago and railroad representatives on a trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Illinois Congressional delegation in support of CREATE - the Chicago Region Environmental and Transportation Efficiency Program. The lobbying is part of an effort to make an unprecedented investment in critically needed rail infrastructure improvements that will increase efficiency of freight and passenger rail service throughout the Chicago region.
• The Air Cargo committee has successfully worked to improve various aspects of the region’s air cargo industry, including education, infrastructure and workforce issues.
• The O’Hare Modernization Project (OMP) continues in a five-year effort to improve the infrastructure of the airport and to ensure that it remains one of the premier international transportation facilities in the world.


• The Chamber has identified the need for a perishable handling facility (e.g. flowers and agricultural goods, pharmaceutical products and other perishable goods) at O’Hare to take advantage of the region’s geographic location in the Midwest and its position as one of the air transportation crossroads of the U.S. and the world. The committee is working closely with the industry and the Chicago Department of Aviation (DOA) to further explore the feasibility of such a facility.


• The Chamber helped develop and deploy, in conjunction with Chicago LEADS and the Mayor’s Office of Workforce Development (MOWD), an entry-level curriculum for material handlers in the Chicago Community Colleges.
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation

Objective

The Government Affairs Committee establishes the public policy positions of the Chamber in the areas of taxation, transportation/infrastructure, environment, employment law and other areas that affect business, while serving as the “voice” that advocates for a fair and competitive tax and regulatory climate.

The Committee’s proactive approach includes aggressively supporting policies that encourage economic development and job growth, opposing burdensome legislative and regulatory proposals and, consistent with the Chamber’s goal, making Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in the country.

Action Plans

• The Chicagoland Business and Legislative Advocacy Agenda, the Chamber’s formal policy statement on the bottom-line issues affecting business, is published annually and distributed to elected officials, community leaders, and media throughout the region.
• The Chamber monitors the annual budget process for the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois and leads support for economic development initiatives and opposition to excessive tax and fee increases that negatively affect business.
• Both the 2009 City of Chicago and Cook County budgets were approved with small increases over 2008, and increases in taxes, fees and revenue projections to balance the budgets.
• The Chamber met with Governor Quinn on March 25 to discuss the 2009 State budget proposal, which is projected to have an $11.6 billion deficit. The Chamber and other business groups urged the Governor to make budget cuts and reform the state employee pension system, retiree healthcare and Medicaid system before enacting any new spending programs, and to support a Chicago casino as an economic development initiative.
• The Chamber actively lobbies the City Council, Cook County Board and Illinois General Assembly on a variety of business issues.
  
  The Chamber lobbied against:
  • Real Property Transfer Tax increases
  • Congestion Pricing/Parking Tax Ordinance
  • Veto of the County Board’s Sales Tax increase repeal
  • Change to the Property Tax Classification Ordinance
  The Chamber lobbied for:
  • Increasing the number of charter schools in Chicago and statewide
  • Chicago Economic Stimulus Ordinances to provide relief for struggling businesses owners
  • Ordinance to build a Wal-Mart store in the 21st Ward
  • Expansion of gaming to include a Chicago casino
  • Lease of the State Lottery to a private operator
  • Sales Tax Rebate program for retailers in Cook County
  • Modification of Cook County’s property tax classification system to reduce commercial and industrial assessment levels
  • Creation of general structural reform of the tax system to reduce the reliance on property taxes to fund education and government entities.
  • Creation parity and fairness for Cook County taxpayers at all levels of the property tax assessment appeal process.
• Advocate Cook County and City of Chicago governmental and fiscal reforms that reflect fairness, consistency and accountability and that avoid the need for tax and fee increases.
• The Chamber participated on Chicago Mayor Daley’s Property Tax Advisory Council, and made recommendations that will help achieve more transparency and clarity, simplicity and practicality, and equity and fairness in the property tax system.
• Promote wage levels that are set by market forces, and a reasonable minimum wage set by the federal government, that keep the region on par with competing states.
• Negotiate all major Illinois labor-management issues before the General Assembly within the confines of the agreed-bill process.
• The Chamber Political Action Committee (PAC) helps elect candidates to state, county and city offices that support the Chamber’s mission and legislative program, initiatives and philosophy and, as a result, promote a favorable business climate in the region. The Chamber PAC supports business-friendly candidates with a demonstrated record of promoting public policy that fosters economic development and job creation.
• In the November 4, 2008 election, 46 of the 50 state Senate and House candidates supported by the PAC won election, a 92% success rate.


• As a charter member of the Alliance to protect the Illinois Constitution (APIC), the Chamber helped defeat the statewide ballot question on November 4 of whether a constitutional convention should be held - - a measure that would have created a costly and unpredictable convention.


• The Chamber is monitoring various ethics and campaign finance reform initiatives, including the Illinois Reform Coalition, the joint House/Senate Committee on Government reform, and Governor Quinn’s Ethics Reform Commission.


• At the federal level, the Chamber supports and complements the US Chamber advocacy efforts on issues like immigration reform and the Employee Free Choice Act (also known as Card Check) which would radically transform the process by which a union organizes employees and eliminate the secret ballot election.
• The Chamber held an information-sharing meeting with members on March 20 to provide an update on federal “card-check” legislation, and explain how it would make it much easier for a union to get into a workplace.
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses

Objective

The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (CEC) works at the intersection of business success and civic engagement. It identifies the region’s most promising entrepreneurs and helps them build high-growth, sustainable businesses.

These businesses, in turn, serve as platforms for both economic development and civic leadership, fuel the entrepreneurial ecosystem by mentoring young talent and advising their peers, and joining the CEC “movement” to inspire entrepreneurship in Chicagoland.

Since 2003, the CEC has helped client entrepreneurs secure $160 million in revenue, raise $105 million in financing, award $1.2 million in grants, and create or retain nearly 4,500 jobs.

A History of Meeting Entrepreneurs' Needs

The CEC was created in 1999 by the Chicagoland Chamber in response to a study conducted by Metropolis 2020.

The studies documented that 90 percent of Chicagoland businesses were small to mid-size firms, and that many were seeking support and mentoring to facilitate their growth. Existing supportive agencies for entrepreneurs had a narrow focus that didn’t allow for the type of comprehensive guidance that high-growth businesses require.

The CEC became the single point of access for the region’s entrepreneurs to ensure consistency of information and quality, offer practical and educational forums, and be useful to both those just starting-out or in crucial follow-on phases.

Suite of Services

The CEC’s services are all about helping the region’s entrepreneurs solve problems in four main areas:

• Financing
• Sales
• Access to new networks
• Civic engagement

The CEC offers entrepreneurs advisory services and face-to-face introductions to help with their financing and sales needs. It provides guidance through its extensive network of experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders. It hosts events at which entrepreneurs can learn strategies necessary to succeed in a competitive marketplace.

Obstacles and Innovations

The following examples help illustrate how the CEC provides innovative solutions to entrepreneurs needs:

Entrepreneur Obstacle	CEC Innovation
The early-stage funding gap in the Midwest	Illinois Innovation Accelerator (i2A) Fund, a $10 million fund for seed financing
Illinois’ lag in commercializing technology program innovations out of universities	Entrepreneur in Residence program, matches seasoned technology talent with emerging entrepreneurs
Need to foster culture of entrepreneurship in younger generation	Future Founders program, provides high school students in Chicago’s underserved neighborhoods with opportunity to work with successful entrepreneurs





To learn more, visit www.chicagolandec.org



8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development

Objective

The Chamber helps members grow their businesses and compete regionally, nationally and globally by offering market development programs tailored to the needs of major categories of members.

Action Plans

A Global Connections Council helps Chamber members gain access to global markets and resources that will support the growth and profitability of their businesses. Special attention is given to conducting an ongoing set of forum-like events in which members can learn from and collaborate with international experts and fellow members on topics of global interest – thus helping them achieve their business, professional and personal goals.



• Provide events at which members can listen to and interact with recognized international experts as they discuss a wide range of topics relating to world markets. The same events provide members with opportunities to network with fellow members and experts and exchange sales leads, business information and practical market knowledge.


• Conduct webinars (web-based seminars) that offer international business information, including discussions on economics, labor issues, law and international strategy.


• Three webinars were held in the first two quarters of 2009 featuring international experts from Chamber member companies Plante and Moran, Mesirow Financial, JP Morgan Chase, Polydec and Johnson Controls.


• Maintain an international resource library that offers members access to information on critical global commerce topics, such as import/export documentation, foreign consulate contact information, etc.

The Mid-Market Forum focuses on medium-sized companies - - generally companies with revenues between $10 and $500 million - - to address their specific mid-market challenges by connecting them, as a group, with important business resources, people and information. Examples of some of the challenges that are being addressed include: applying leading-edge information technology; building a brand; and maximizing intellectual property.

• Provide forums and panel discussions where medium-sized companies can gain knowledge needed to address specific mid-market challenges.


• A June 11 forum and networking event, featuring Chamber member and labor and employment law firm Nixon Peabody, explored "Crossing Silos: Internal Collaboration to Generate New Competitive Advantages."


• Publish information on mid-market challenges, along with corresponding resources and solutions, through a series of events and communications vehicles (e.g. the Chamber web site, the Chamber electronic newsletter).


• Host networking events that enable mid-market companies to share information, common experiences and market data with other medium-sized companies.


• Environment
• Technology
• Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment

Objective

The Environmental Committee addresses the environmental laws that affect the national, state, regional and city levels. The Committee recognizes that laws must be balanced with social and economic realities and, therefore, supports regulations and laws that reward environmentally effective investments, are the least burdensome and provide the most cost-effective environmental benefits.

Through the Green Advisory Board, the Chamber brings together professionals within the "green business community" to develop a shared vision for advancing the city, region and state’s “green” efforts.

Action Plans

• Advocate for streamlined and simplified environmental rules and regulations that offer maximum operational flexibility, reduced administrative burden and expense to industry, and that do not hinder economic development and job creation.


• Encourage strengthening of energy infrastructure, reliability and affordability by supporting continued investment in generation, transmission and distribution; promote renewable energy resources and energy efficiency.


• Support incentives to promote industrial and brown-field redevelopment.


• Advocate for air quality regulations that balance the cost of meeting standards with social costs and health impacts.


• The Chamber supports Mayor Richard Daley’s "Chicago Climate Action Plan", a comprehensive and detailed roadmap to lower greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change. The plan’s goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% from 1990 levels by 2020.


• The Chamber, in collaboration with the City of Chicago and the World Wildlife Fund, participated in Earth Hour 2009 on March 28 - - an event in which cities voluntarily and safely turn out their lights to demonstrate concern for climate change.


• The Chamber was invited to participate in Chicago’s Recycling Ordinance Task Force to help review the ordinance and other waste recycling initiatives among single family homes, multi-family dwellings, office buildings, small businesses, and industrial properties.


• The Chamber is participating in discussions with the City of Chicago about the concept of Waste Franchising - - a waste franchising scheme that would establish approximately 13 exclusive franchise service areas, and where, in each service area, a single waste and recyclables hauler would operate. A waste franchise ordinance has not yet been formally introduced in the City Council.


• Support voluntary registry for green house gases, coordinated with market-focused efforts such as the Chicago Climate Exchange.


• Support environmental management programs such as Partners for Clean Air, Clean Air Counts and Energy Star Partners.
10. Market Development
11. Environment

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology

Objective

The Chicagoland Technology 2020 Committee advises, promotes and educates the Chamber, its members and the community-at-large on innovative and accessible technology solutions. It also works to position Chicagoland as a technology innovation center and a diverse and strategic player in the global marketplace.

Action Plans

• A Program Development Sub-Committee develops programs that help educate members about technology trends and innovations in the marketplace.


• A Policy Sub-Committee reviews and monitors legislative developments related to technology and works with the Chamber to include these developments in its Legislative and Business Agendas.


11. Chamber Foundation

1. Education and Workforce Quality
2. Workplace Excellence
3. disabilityworks
4. Healthcare and Wellness
5. Transportation Infrastructure
6. Government Taxation and Regulation
7. Entrepreneurs and High-Growth Businesses
8. Market Development
9. Environment
10. Technology
11. Chamber Foundation

Objective

The Chamber Foundation is a catalyst for change driving policy debate on key issues related to the region’s long-term economic growth and competitiveness. It affects change by researching key issues, formulating arguments and initiatives, developing options and informing the collective thinking of business, government and civic leaders.

Action Plans

• Now in its third year, the InnovateNow!* initiative has a goal of making Chicagoland and all of Illinois global centers of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity. The initiative focuses on enabling innovation within organizations, fostering collaborative networks and open innovation, building a strong innovation and entrepreneurial talent pool, and demonstrating the success of innovation through the development of new economic development metrics.


• The centerpiece of the initiative is the Innovation Summit, an annual event that focuses attention on the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship. The 2009 Summit, May 21 in Chicago, explored the inherent tension between the worlds of innovation and sustainability and how a third sphere - - design - - can inform and reframe this conflict and suggest new solutions.


• Two initiatives, The Applied Innovation Series and the Chicagoland Innovation Leadership Network, assist firms in becoming more innovative through a series of hands-on workshops and social networking for like-minded innovators and entrepreneurs.


• An initiative with Innocentive, a leader in “crowd sourcing” and open innovation, identified innovative solutions to reducing greenhouse auto emissions by increasing the use of public transportation. A $5,000 cash prize was awarded to the competition winner.


• New programs are examining how the region’s businesses can better compete, including:


• A research study benchmarking Chicagoland against other global cities
• Focus on the link between workforce health and economic development
• Focusing on the innovative/design strategies needed by the region to reach its sustainability goals and remain competitive in the global marketplace.

For more information, visit www.innovatenow.us.

*Innovate Now! is an initiative of the Chicagoland Chamber, World Business Chicago and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

 

June 2009