Every community needs the support and encouragement of individuals and organizations to enhance the welfare of society, the quality of life of its citizens and the success of its businesses.
The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation* is an active participant in this process by funding, developing and administering a variety of programs aimed at both assisting the development of and encouraging excellence within the Chicago region's businesses and communities. Its programs serve a diverse audience of citizens including community leaders, entrepreneurs, business executives, employees and educators.
The purposes for which the Foundation is organized include:
- To provide and coordinate resources, programs, finances, research efforts and other activities relating to:
- regional economic development
- technology growth
- workforce development
- business taxation
- an improved regional transportation infrastructure
- a quality education system
- enhancing the quality of life
- To prepare, evaluate, exchange and disseminate reports, data, documents and educational materials on matters dealing with economic development.
- To develop studies and surveys on community problems affecting business and economic development in the region.
- To support workshops and forums on business involvement including, but not limited to, the above subject areas.
- To support educational opportunities specifically targeted to the entrepreneur.
- To create business and community awareness and concern about environmental issues.
One of the programs that the Foundation has assisted in funding is the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center (the CEC), often referred to as "the beacon for small and emerging businesses." The CEC is the only entity in the Chicago region dedicated to serving the more than 350,000 small and mid-sized businesses throughout the region.
The CEC mission is to strengthen viable small and mid-sized enterprises throughout the Chicagoland area through a comprehensive process of needs assessment, linkages with the appropriate resources and professional follow-up services. The CEC facilitates the growth of emerging businesses by providing in-depth support in three core areas: business development, access to capital, and business operations and management assistance. Since its inception in 1999, the CEC alone has served over 20,000 small businesses, impacting hundreds of thousands of people in the Chicago region.
For more information about the Foundation, including a list of key programs and services, contact the Foundation Director at 312-494-6700.
*The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with 501(c)(3) IRS status. State sales tax exemption # E9958-0632-02.
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