Economic Development

The Economic Development Division's mission is to implement a regional program designed to create economic stability and growth for the Chicago Southland.

The division facilitates its mission by producing special events in partnership with providers to create unique services. The division provides a full range of services which include providing data on sites and properties, facilitating and implementing short and long term programs and bringing new business development to the region. 

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Goal: Implement a regional program designed to create economic stability and growth for the Chicago Southland with a particular emphasis on jobs, business attraction, retention and expansion, as well as, international business development.

Objectives:

• Aggressively market and promote the Chicago Southland region to increase new business development in the industrial, service and commercial sectors.
   
• Expand efforts to assist in retention and expansion of existing companies in the Chicago Southland through an ongoing/direct contact program with local manufacturing, distribution, commercial & retail development companies.
   
• Work with the Small Business Administration to provide technical support to help local small businesses grow.
   
• Support efforts to develop Chicago's Third Airport in the Chicago Southland and establish airport related economic and workforce development plans.
   
• Work directly with municipalities and local Chambers of Commerce on economic growth practices by establishing direct municipal and local chamber partnerships.
   
• Enhance the region's economic development relationship with the Department of Economic and Community Opportunity through visitations with DECO leaders in Springfield and Chicago; participations in collective advertising, tradeshow/conference participations and effective follow through on grant applications.
   
• Coordinate and share "best practices" on current economic growth issues by organizing workshops and seminars with regional organizations in Metropolitan Chicago and the State of Illinois.