World Business Chicago

Discover how World Business Chicago's Public Sector Investment Strategy team helps connect Chicagoland partners with public funding to fuel growth and innovation. This week's edition of the Business Pulse features recent funding wins, exciting new grant opportunities, and ways we can support your organization’s initiatives. Feel free to connect with a member of our PSIS team—Emily Souza Rutkowski, Nicolette Peters, or Sania E.—to explore how we can support your organization’s public funding efforts and initiatives. 📈 Read more via the below link. #ChicagoBusinessFundingOpportunities #EconomicDevelopment

This Halloween, Chicagoland takes center stage as the ultimate Candyland, filling treat bags across the country with some of the most iconic sweets. From Butterfinger to Skittles and the irresistible Chicago Mix popcorn, Chicago’s candy makers have shaped snacking traditions for generations. With $11.6 billion in Halloween spending projected this year, it’s no surprise that many of America’s favorite Halloween treats are Chicago-made! Ferrara – Lemonheads, Nerds, Atomic Fireballs Mondelēz International – Oreo, Chips Ahoy!, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish Mars Wrigley – Starburst, Skittles, Juicy Fruit gum Tootsie Roll Industries – Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops Ferrero – Butterfinger, Baby Ruth, CRUNCH Blommer Chocolate Company – Cocoa and chocolate ingredients for countless treats Jays Foods – O-Ke-Doke popcorn and chips Garrett Popcorn Shops® – Chicago Mix of caramel and cheese   This Halloween, treat yourself to the sweet legacy of Chicagoland—because #CHICAGOLANDISCANDYLAND ! Which Chicago Treat are you giving out this Halloween? Read more about Chicago candy: https://lnkd.in/gp6327Jq

We invite you to tune in tomorrow for a live stream of Chicago's 2025 budget review and discussion.

Thank you to everyone who came to Beatnik On The River this morning to celebrate avianca, Colombia's biggest airline, in announcing their new direct route connecting Chicago with its Colombian Sister City, Bogota!   This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Chicago-Bogota sister city relationship. Over the years, the Bogota Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International has developed humanitarian, cultural, educational and business initiatives both in Chicago and in Bogota - and we are so appreciative for our ongoing relationship. This new direct route will enhance connectivity, facilitating tourism and trade between these regions while opening new opportunities for economic and cultural development. We are excited to say that Chicago and Bogota will be more connected than ever before!   Thank you to Diego Angulo, Consul General of Colombia in Chicago; Rolando Damas, Managing Director at avianca; Valeria Bucheli Senior Tourism Representative at PROCOLOMBIA; Maria J. Rosales, Director of Accountability, Diversity and Inclusion at Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) - O'Hare & Midway International Airports; and the Bogota Committee of Chicago Sister Cities International.   For more information on Chicago and Bogota, please visit https://lnkd.in/gt8EPZaU

We're thrilled to announce that Nadia Rawlinson, Co-owner & Operating Chairman of the Chicago Sky WNBA, and Laura Ricketts, Executive Chairperson of the Chicago Stars Football Club (Chicago Red Stars), will jointly receive the World Business Chicago Innovation Award. This award honors their exceptional leadership in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in professional sports, while elevating Chicago as a global leader in innovation and social impact. Their work goes beyond the court and field—paving the way for progress, advocacy, and representation in sports and inspiring change on a national and international scale. Join us in congratulating these trailblazers who are building teams that reflect the vibrant diversity of our communities. The Chicago International Gala: https://lnkd.in/gicXKhUC Thank you to our 25th Anniversary Committee: Ambassador Reyna Torres Mendivil, Consul General of Mexico & Dean of the Chicago Consular Corps Martin Cabrera Jr.., CEO, Cabrera Capital Markets Wendell Dallas, President & CEO, Nicor Gas Opella Ernest, M.D., President, HCSC Markets John Greene, Chief Financial Officer & Executive Vice President, Discover Financial Services Brett Hart, President, United Airlines Carmen M. Hernandez, Executive Vice President & General Counsel, Clayco John M. Holmes, Chairman, President & CEO, AAR. Travis C Hunter Jr., Chicago Office Managing Partner, KPMG US Greg Klamrzynski, Chief Executive Partner, Chapman and Cutler LLP Tamar Newberger, Chair of the Board, HIAS Pin Ni, President, Wanxiang America Corporation Michael D. O’Halleran, Senior Advisor, Ryan Specialty Quintin E. Primo III and Michael Reschke Jr. Capri Investment Group / The Prime Group, Inc James Reynolds, Chairman and CEO, Loop Capital Markets LLC Tom Ricketts, Executive Chairman, Chicago Cubs Patrick G. Ryan, Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Foundation Eric Sedler, Managing Partner, Avōq Smita N. Shah, President & CEO, SPAAN Tech, Inc. Charles Smith, CEO, CS Insurance Strategies Inc., a division of MMA Jennifer Steans, President & CEO, Financial Investments Corporation Wade Thomson, Jenner & Block Danny Wirtz, Chairman, Wirtz Corporation Matthew Zimmer, Managing Director, Global Head of Investment Banking, William Blair

Tickets are going fast! Join us on November 13th, 2024, from 9 AM to 2 PM at the Polsky Center for the Small Business Tech Symposium – a dynamic event focused on empowering small businesses with the tools and strategies needed for digital transformation! Secure your spot! https://lnkd.in/g6QcdFqv

Approximately 5 billion plastic straws come out of Best Diamond Plastics' Southside facility every year, to be sent to over 10 National restaurant chains such as McDonalds. That's a lot of straws - and a lot of potential ecological impact - which is why 5 years ago, Best Diamond Plastics made the innovative decision to change their manufacturing playbook. Since then, every single plastic straw produced by Best Diamond is fully biodegradable, recyclable, FDA approved, reliability-tested and leaves no plastic filament in soil. "We're an innovative company, and we're always looking to improve what we do," says Co-Founder Mark Tolliver, "I don't know if I would want to be anywhere else, because I think Chicago is the right city to help propel our business." Congratulations to Best Diamond Plastics, recipient of the Big Shoulders Award at this year's Chicago Manufacturing Awards Ceremony.

Mayor Brandon Johnson & World Business Chicago celebrate Chicago-based SDI Presence for being named the 2024 National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Supplier of the Year.   SDI exemplifies the innovation, diversity, and community impact that make Chicago a global business leader. Their commitment to empowering minority-owned businesses and creating pathways to opportunity reflects the heart of our city’s spirit.   We are honored to see SDI Presence represent the strength of Chicago's business community on the national stage. Congratulations to Hardik Bhatt and the entire SDI team! 🎉 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eiZffan5

World Business Chicago congratulates this year's top 25 most innovative companies in Chicagoland! As featured in Crain's Chicago Business, the top 25 most innovative companies in Chicagoland span well beyond the city limits. The diversity of these innovative companies' area of operations is a strong testament to the inclusive economic development shared by our seven regional county partners that comprise the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership: Cook, Kendall, Kane, Lake, Will, McHenry, and DuPage. Congratulations to Nature's Fynd (Fynder Group), ISCO International, Elkay Manufacturing, Raise, Stryker Sage, AbbVie, RTC, Hollister Incorporated, MemoryWeb, fairlife, LLC, Perftech Incorporated, Medline Industries, LP, CTS Corporation, CDW, NielsenIQ, Sennco Solutions, Inc., Baxter International Inc., Chamberlain Group, ACCO Brands, Phenix Real Time Solutions, Grubhub, Weber LLC, PureCircle, Aptar and CME Group for this outstanding achievement in innovation. View the full list: https://lnkd.in/gvspbRft On behalf of World Business Chicago and our GCEP Partners: McHenry County EDC | Lake County Partners | Choose DuPage | Will County Center for Economic Development | Kendall County | Cook County Government | Kane County, Illinois — CONGRATULATIONS TO ONE AND ALL!

A huge congratulations to Hardik Bhatt and the entire team at SDI Presence, Inc.! #ChicagoProud Yesterday SDI was named the *National Diverse Supplier of the Year* at the 2024 National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Annual Conference & Exchange in Atlanta! This prestigious award places SDI at the top among 17,000 diverse suppliers nationwide, reflecting their exceptional work and unwavering commitment to driving economic equity. This honor is not only a win for SDI Presence but also a milestone toward the goal of reaching $1 trillion in MBE revenue by 2030 and ensuring that minority business owners have a seat at the table. Hardik Bhatt—we’re honored to have you on the World Business Chicago board and deeply value your active leadership within Chicago’s business ecosystem. Your contributions exemplify the spirit of innovation and collaboration that drive our city forward.