Welcome to Chicago
As many corporate titans know, Chicago is the "City of Big Shoulders." More than 400 major companies call Chicago home, including the corporate headquarters of 28 Fortune 500 companies. These household names range from Allstate to Walgreens, from Boeing to United Airlines. Chicagoland recorded the highest number of new or expanded corporate facilities in the U.S. for six out of seven years between 2001 and 2008.
Chicago’s diversified businesses make it one of the most balanced economies in the world. While it has long been known for business and financial services, manufacturing, and transportation and distribution, Chicago has become a leader in emerging industries such as biotech, information technology, and green energy.
The Windy City claims the nation’s second largest labor pool with nearly 4.3 million workers. This workforce includes a wealth of scientists and engineers (third most in the U.S.). With three major financial and futures exchanges, Chicago also is one of the world’s leading business centers.
The region’s importance to the nation’s economy is reflected in its base of commercial real estate. The Central Business District is the second largest office market in the U.S., with some 130 million square feet of space. In comparison, suburban markets fall shy of 107 million square feet of inventory.
Chicago’s location in the heart of the country, coupled with its inland waterways, railroads, interstates and two major airports, make it one of the nation’s top distribution hubs. The region’s industrial market includes more than 1.1 billion square feet of warehouse and manufacturing space.
Moving forward, Chicagoland’s dynamic nature, world-class amenities and big shoulders make it a great place for – and to do – business.