WBC Named Top Group, Second Year

World Business Chicago (WBC) was awarded this month the highest honor for economic development offices throughout the U.S. and Canada, Site Selection Magazine’s “Top Economic Development Group” for 2006. This is the second consecutive year that WBC is one of 10 groups selected from thousands to receive this recognition.

Site Selection’s evaluation of top economic development agencies is considered the economic development “industry’s scoreboard.”  The magazine chooses the top 10 based on job creation, capital investment and innovative leadership.  WBC’s success is attributed to assisting in $3.1 billion in capital investment and the creation of 15,144 new jobs for the Chicago region in 2006. 

“Chicago's local economy is thriving, at the same time we are being recognized as a global competitor," said Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley. "The City's strong economy is partly due to its deep public/private partnerships."

The distinction comes just after Chicago claimed the title of “Top Metro” in the March issue of Site Selection, the magazine’s annual business investment survey of American cities.  The city was credited with luring young high tech talent, to coincide with its 165 corporate facility projects totaling $5 billion in capital investment in 2006. Chicago has earned Site Selection’s “Top Metro” title for five out the past six years. 

"The Chicago area attracted more than $5 billion in investment in 2006 and the second-largest number of new jobs, making World Business Chicago more than deserving of this recognition," says Mark Arend, Editor in Chief of Site Selection Magazine. "In addition, Chicago was the number one Metro Area in our March issue Top Metros ranking, so the business development efforts of World Business Chicago are clearly paying off."

“Mayor Daley has created one of the best cities in the world to live and work in, in turn creating one of the most diversified high-end talent pools within three or four miles of downtown,” said Paul O’Connor, executive director of World Business Chicago. “The Mayor’s unique leadership, along with a strong partnership with the private sector, has allowed World Business to Chicago to flourish by promoting all that Chicago has to offer for businesses and individuals.”

To read the article or for more information visit Site Selection Magazine online.

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What do you anticipate your job entailing on a daily basis (for example, an average day)?
Everyday I have to monitor several key Chinese media to obtain information to identify which major Chinese firms are likely to invest in the U.S., to find out about government-sponsored trade and investment forums and conferences, and to look for business opportunities for Chicago firms. I will also meet with Chinese firms and call on government officials in major cities in China to build good personal relationships, which are key to doing business in China. Preparing industry specific marketing materials will also be an important part of the job, in addition to responding promptly to inquiries and requests from Chicago.

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Chicago Innovation Awards: 2007 Call for Nominations

For the sixth straight year, the Chicago Sun-Times and Kuczmarski & Associates are presenting the Chicago Innovation Awards to honor the Chicago region’s most innovative new products and services.

This is a note to alert you that nominations are now being accepted for the 2007 awards and you are encouraged to participate. Keep Chicago’s spirit of innovation alive and thriving by nominating any innovative new product, service or process you’ve encountered. Nominations are accepted for companies from the Greater Chicago area—including southeastern Wisconsin, southwestern Michigan and northwestern Indiana. There is no cost to enter one or more nominations; deadline is July 31.

Last year more than 200 Chicago-area companies were nominated. Nominees can be high-tech, low-tech or no-tech; for-profit or not-for-profit; big products from large companies or small products from small companies. The key is innovation.

Specifically, nominees will be companies whose new products or services have:

• Created a whole new category of business (for example, electronic stock trading)
• Triggered a “me-too” response from competitors (such as cell phones and software applications)
• Changed customer expectations (overnight package delivery)
• Solved unmet customer and consumer needs
• Generated revenues, although not necessarily profits

This year the Chicago Innovation Awards winners will each be profiled in the Sun-Times in October and honored at a special awards ceremony on October 22 at the Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago. As the lead innovators of this genuinely important event, Dan Miller & Tom Kuczmarski will once again honor the recipients.

The 2007 awards are sponsored by the Chicago Board of Trade, Microsoft Corporation, the Wrigley Company, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Four Door Films, the Goodman Theatre, Maggiano’s, Slack Barshinger and WBBM Newsradio 780.

In addition, a dozen more business and civic groups have endorsed the program, including the Illinois Venture Capital Association, World Business Chicago and the Executives’ Club of Chicago.

As one of the most important celebrations of innovation in our country, this pioneering program is worthy of your support as well.

For more information and a nomination form, go to www.chicagoinnovationawards.com.

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