“Chicago has the most diversified economy in the country,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “The combination of this and our tremendous talent pool, dynamic quality of life and unmatched infrastructure have made us a truly global competitor.”

fDI Magazine researches and awards the honor every other year.  Chicago was also awarded “City of the Future” in 2005, when there were separate award categories for the USA, Canada and Mexico. This year, being grouped together, Chicago takes the honor for the whole region, making the title more competitive. Additionally, this year fDi Magazine reported twice the number of applicants as in 2005.

“We are striving to showcase Chicago’s tremendous business, cultural and human capital resources to the world,” said Paul O’Connor, executive director of World Business Chicago. “Winning this award consecutively proves that our strength as a global competitor is being recognized internationally.”

The “City of the Future” feature is one of a global series of regional reports led by the fDi research staff. Unlike other frequent media rankings led by opinion polls, this competition reflects independent analysis of factual data. The selection process is similar to the way executives and site selection consultants weigh potential locations on many critical selection factors as they develop a list of preferences out of an extensive list of alternatives.  

Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) is a specialty magazine published by the Financial Times group for C-level executives and their professional advisors.  It provides global market research and analysis for the executives who are responsible for the global business strategy and location selection decisions of their companies, such as where to establish, maintain, expand, or relocate operations as companies adapt to the changing conditions in their markets.

As Chicago moves one step closer to hosting the 2016 Olympic Games, the spirit and the values of the Olympic and Paralympic games are being celebrated at the community level.

There are nine cities that are official United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Community Partners, including Chicago. The Chicago USOC Community Partnership (CCP) committee includes the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Public Libraries, Burson-Marsteller,  and World Business Chicago. It is co-chaired by King Harris of Harris Holdings and Larry Wert of NBC Chicago.

Each year the USOC focuses on a unique Olympic value to showcase to youth around the country. In 2006, the Chicago USOC Community Partnership delivered the value of Fair Play to Chicago’s children and teens. This year, the CCP will focus on Sportsmanship.

While the Chicago 2016 team and various entities are working worldwide to promote our city to the international community, the Chicago USOC Community Partnership is working with Chicago’s youth to enhance excitement around the spirit and values of the games. Just recently, two Chicago high schools hosted CCP events which included appearances by Chicago’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes giving presentations on the Olympic value of Sportsmanship.  

Other 2007 USOC events include F.L.A.M.E.S. (Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere in Sport) and the Junior Olympic Skills Competition. F.L.A.M.E.S. inspires minority high school athletes to foster their desire to succeed and rise above the ordinary level of expectations. Participants will include 50 high school athletes that will be nominated by a school administrator.

The Junior Olympic Skills competition will engage boys and girls between the ages of 8-13 to showcase their athletic ability in four sports: tennis, basketball, soccer, and track & field. The Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Park District, in conjunction with a local YMCA and Boys and Girls Club, have agreed to host local competitions this May.

NXTcomm, recognized as the premiere next-generation global forum and marketplace for the converging information, communications and entertainment technology industries opens at McCormick Place June 18. Running through June 21, it's jointly presented by the TIA and USTelecom.

In attendance will be 20,000+ industry professionals from over 100 countries. NXTcomm’s global marketplace will feature a floor of 450 exhibitors, all of whom provide the world’s most innovative communications, entertainment and information technology products and services.

Keynote Lineup
On scene at Chicago’s McCormick Place will be an all-star line up of communications and entertainment industry CEOs. Featured keynotes will be delivered by:

FCC   
Kevin Martin 
Chairman 

AT&T
Ed Whitacre
Chairman and CEO

BellCanada
Michael Sabia
President and CEO

Cisco
John T. Chambers
Chairman and CEO
           
Motorola 
Ed Zander  
Chairman and CEO

Verizon Communications
Ivan Seidenberg
Chairman and CEO 

GE; NBC Universal
Bob Wright
Vice-Chairman, Executive Officer;
Chairman

“These CEOs are directly responsible for charting the course for the converging communications, entertainment and information industries,” says Wayne Crawford, Executive Director of NXTcomm.

International Buyers Program
Additionally, NXTcomm 2007 has been selected to participate in the U.S. Commercial Service's International Buyer Program (IBP), which recognizes the event's worldwide importance in the telecommunications industry. The IBP is a joint government-industry effort designed to stimulate U.S. exports by promoting major U.S. industry exhibitions to international markets. The IBP helps increase exports by increasing the number of international buyers visiting major U.S. trade exhibitions, providing U.S. firms likely to export with practical help and advice, and providing international buyers with opportunities to visit the United States and meet with prospective U.S. trading partners

Learn from Industry Experts
NXTcomm Conference Affiliates include the following:

• ATIS (Service Provider/Carrier Conference)
• BICSI (North-Central US and Canada Regional Meeting)
• Digital Hollywood (Broadband, Mobile & IPTV Entertainment & Technology Conference)
• FierceMarkets (WiMAX Conference)
• IEC (Service Provider / Carrier Conference)
• Stifel Nicolaus (Financial / VC Conference)
• Telecommunications Magazine (IP Video Conference)
• Wiley Rein (A Communications and TechLaw Conference)  

Registration
Register now by entering the access code: WBC7 which provides complimentary access to the exhibits and keynote sessions.

NXTcomm 2007
Conferences: June 18 – 21, 2007
Exhibits: June 19 – 21, 2007 
McCormick Place