Business Ties
- There are an estimated 100+ French companies at 300 locations in greater Chicago including: Alcatel-Lucent, LaFarge, Publicis, Saint-Gobain, Schnieder Electric, Silliker and Veolia Environment.
- There are an estimated 120+ Chicago-area companies in France including: Groupon, Hyatt, ITW, Mondelez International and Motorola Mobility
- French Consulate General in Chicago
- Business France office in Chicago
- French-American Chamber of Commerce in Chicago
- Chicago-Paris Sister City relationship since 1996
- There are 19 weekly nonstop departures from Chicago airports to destinations in France
- An estimated 138,000 French-Americans and 30,000 French-Canadians reside in the Chicago area
Recent Expansions
- In 2016, retailer Sephora opened at 605 N. Michigan Ave., employing 100, and Credit Agricole added space at 227 W. Monroe.
- Scor SE, relocation from Itasca to Willis Tower, 2014
- Lafarge, NA HQ, relocation from Virginia to Chicago near O’Hare, 90 jobs created, 2013
- Publicis Groupe, 2012
- ERCOM, 2012
- Bank of the West, 2012
- SAVOYE Inc., 2012
- Bel Brands USA, HQ, 2011 (Fromageries Bel)
- Silliker, Inc., US HQ, 2011
Total Trade with Illinois, 2016: US $2.6 billion
- Total Imports to Illinois, 2016: US $1.7 billion
- Top Import Categories, 2016: Machinery parts, wine/spirits, electrical machinery, medical instruments and aircraft parts
- Total Exports from Illinois, 2016: US $839 million
- Top Export Categories, 2016: Electrical machinery, machinery parts, medical instruments, aircraft parts and iron