1975: The Chamber organized a citizen's sponsoring committee, which raised $450,000 to educate the public about the essential need for the Regional Transportation Authority in 1974. The Chamber was also an active member in the successful passage of the six-county referendum that created the Regional Transportation Authority.

The Chamber advocated and saw successful passage of federal, state and local tax legislation in 1978 to encourage new capital investment that stimulated economic development in the Chicagoland area.

1979 was the year the Chamber celebrated its 75th anniversary.

1980: In 1980, the Chamber received the first "Award of Excellence" among the more than 3,000 chambers in the U.S.

Legislation reforming the Regional Transportation Authority was passed by the General Assembly during its fall-veto session and was supported by the Chamber in 1983. This same year, the Chamber supported major modifications to the O'Hare Master Plan. The Chamber also supported the revitalization of Midway. The Chamber, along with several other groups, was able to limit the tax increase to about one half of what was initially proposed by Governor James Thompson in 1983. At the Chamber's August, 1983 meeting, Governor Thompson signed legislation amending the Illinois Security Law broadening the availability of stock and bonds sales in the state.

1985: In 1984, the Chamber was chosen by the Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training and Cook County President’s Office of Employment Training to provide companies with on-the-job training services under the Job Training Partnership Act. These services continued through 1996.

In 1987, the Chamber participated in the broad-based school reform coalition that led to the landmark School Reform Act of 1988.

The Chamber raised $500,000 in 1988 to defeat a referendum calling for another Illinois constitutional convention.

1990: In 1990, the Chamber Human Resources Committee implemented Partnership NOW: Business Works with Education to fill the void when Adopt-A-School dissolved. The Mayor’s Office took over in 1993 and CPS institutionalized the School Partners Program.

In 1993, the Chamber secured a seat on the METRA Citizen Advisory Board, giving the business community a more direct voice into ongoing suburban transportation issues. Moreover, the Chamber joined a coalition of business and consumer organizations that worked to win congressional approval for the North American Free Trade Agreement.

1994 saw the Chamber celebrate its 90th Anniversary. The Chamber testified before the Illinois Senate Executive Committee and cautioned against premature approval for construction of a third regional airport this year as well.