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| Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce | |
|---|---|
| Name | Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Founded | 1960s |
| Location | Chicago Southland, Illinois, United States |
| Headquarters | Tinley Park, Illinois |
| Key people | Local business leaders, regional executives |
| Area served | Cook County, Will County, Kankakee County |
| Mission | Promote business development, regional competitiveness |
Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce is a regional business organization serving the southern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois, with a focus on local development, workforce initiatives, and business advocacy. It connects municipalities such as Tinley Park, Illinois, Orland Park, Illinois, Joliet, Illinois, and Calumet City, Illinois to corporate entities, educational institutions, and transportation hubs like Chicago Midway International Airport and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning. The Chamber works alongside entities including the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Cook County Board of Commissioners, the Will County Board, and regional authorities to support commerce across the Calumet Region, South Suburbs, and the Northeast Illinois Planning Commission.
The Chamber traces roots to mid-20th century civic groups active in suburbs such as Homer Glen, Illinois, Mokena, Illinois, Oak Lawn, Illinois, and Palos Hills, Illinois, evolving alongside suburbanization trends linked to the expansion of Interstate 80, Interstate 57, and the Tri-State Tollway. Early partnerships included collaborations with metropolitan organizations like the Chicago Regional Growth Corporation and state-level bodies such as the Illinois General Assembly on initiatives connected to the revitalization of industrial corridors near Calumet Harbor and the Calumet River. Throughout periods marked by shifts in manufacturing exemplified by companies like US Steel and logistics growth represented by firms such as BNSF Railway and Union Pacific Railroad, the Chamber adapted by promoting small business programs similar to those advanced by the Small Business Administration and regional workforce efforts aligned with Workforce Investment Act-era policies.
The Chamber is governed by a board composed of executives from corporations, chambers of commerce in municipalities like Oak Forest, Illinois and Frankfort, Illinois, nonprofit leaders from organizations such as the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago, and representatives from higher education institutions including Illinois State University-affiliated extension programs and community colleges like Joliet Junior College. Its executive structure includes an elected chairperson, a CEO or president, and committees modeled after governance practices in organizations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Financial oversight adheres to nonprofit reporting standards influenced by guidelines from entities like the Internal Revenue Service and grant compliance compatible with funding sources such as the Economic Development Administration.
Membership spans sectors represented by corporations like Caterpillar Inc. (regional dealers), healthcare systems such as Advocate Health Care, retail anchors akin to Mall of America-scale centers, and service providers including firms similar to Marriott International franchisees. Services include referral networks patterned after the Better Business Bureau, marketing and public relations assistance comparable to initiatives by Public Relations Society of America, and workforce development programs coordinated with vocational training providers similar to Lincoln Tech and apprenticeship models endorsed by the Department of Labor. The Chamber offers business-to-business networking, government relations support reminiscent of National Federation of Independent Business advocacy, and access to procurement opportunities associated with municipal governments like Cook County and regional transit authorities such as the Metra board.
The Chamber advances policies affecting industrial parks, freight logistics corridors near I-55 (Illinois) and Interstate 80, and redevelopment of brownfield sites akin to projects supported by the Environmental Protection Agency. Advocacy priorities have intersected with regional transportation investments like the O'Hare Modernization Program and workforce pipelines linked to training initiatives funded by the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Economic impact work includes supporting manufacturing clusters resembling supply chains for John Deere dealers, promoting logistics hubs associated with carriers such as FedEx and UPS, and engaging in tax incentive discussions with state actors including the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Programming includes signature events such as annual galas, business expos, and industry roundtables comparable to conferences run by the International Economic Development Council and the Urban Land Institute. The Chamber hosts job fairs in partnership with workforce centers like those associated with Goodwill Industries International and conducts training workshops aligned with curriculum standards from organizations such as the Society for Human Resource Management. Special initiatives target entrepreneurship through incubator-style collaborations with institutions like Illinois Institute of Technology and business pitch competitions inspired by models used by Startup Weekend.
Strategic partnerships extend to regional planning agencies including the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, transportation agencies such as Pace (transit), higher education partners like University of Chicago-affiliated urban research centers, and economic development organizations similar to the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. The Chamber participates in cross-jurisdictional initiatives addressing industrial redevelopment in the Calumet Industrial Corridor and collaborates with utilities and environmental stakeholders including ComEd and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency on infrastructure resilience and sustainability projects.
The Chamber bestows business awards recognizing entrepreneurs, corporate citizens, and civic leaders, modeled on accolades similar to those given by the Better Business Bureau and regional business journals like the Crain's Chicago Business awards. Its members and partners have been recognized by entities such as the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, regional development associations, and state economic councils for achievements in job creation, redevelopment, and public-private collaboration.
Category:Organizations based in Illinois Category:Chambers of commerce in the United States