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.