Skip to main content

Economic Growth for All

Chicago Business Opportunity Initiative

Chicago’s vibrant economy remains the anchor of the American heartland, generating nearly $1 trillion in annual economic activity. Home to an incredible array of businesses that are uniquely positioned for growth and scale in the coming years, our city is poised to take on an even greater role in driving our country forward. The Civic Committee’s commitment to harnessing the full power of the business community to drive regional economic growth inspired the creation of the Chicago Business Opportunity Initiative. Our work focuses on supporting both business growth and building and bolstering a thriving business ecosystem through cultivating a broad stakeholder network.

Why We’re Involved

The Civic Committee’s commitment to harnessing the full power of the business community to drive regional economic growth inspired the creation of the Chicago Business Opportunity Initiative. Our work focuses on supporting both business growth and building and bolstering a thriving business ecosystem through cultivating a broad stakeholder network.

What We’ve Done: Scaling Businesses

Over the past three years, the Civic Committee has partnered with leading consulting firms and Members to develop a deep understanding of Illinois’ high growth sectors, business ecosystem, and Civic Committee Member demand. Under the leadership of a 20-person Task Force, the Civic Committee has launched the Chicago Business Opportunity Initiative (CBOI) as its flagship effort to grow Chicago-based businesses with a key focus on scaling firms across the region.

Foundational to this effort is the initiative’s signature Business Cohort Program, which launched in 2024, and expanded in April 2025. The program is designed to facilitate access by forging deep, mutually beneficial relationships between key decision-makers in the Chicago business community and strengthen competitiveness for Chicago-based businesses not operating at scale in professional services, financial services, technology, advanced manufacturing, and sports and entertainment.

Business Cohort Program firms are getting unique direct access to influential stakeholders to accelerate success. Members, too, get the opportunity to expand their Chicago-based business partnerships with experienced local firms. CBOI aims to launch two additional cohorts in 2025 with an ultimate goal of working closely with 150 participants and connecting them with meaningful business opportunities over the next five years.

Cook County Referral Program Collaboration

The Civic Committee, through Scale Chicago and the Chicago Business Opportunity Initiative (CBOI), is partnering with the Cook County Small Business Source Referral Partner Program to connect more small and mid-sized businesses with practical growth resources, no-cost business advising, access-to-capital support, and a broader regional business ecosystem.

Through this partnership, the Civic Committee will help connect businesses to the Cook County Small Business Source; elevate available resources through coordinated ecosystem communications; and strengthen strategic connections among Chicago businesses, Business Support Organizations, community lenders, public partners, and corporate decision-makers. Small businesses are central to Cook County’s economic growth strategy. By connecting businesses to trusted advising, capital resources, and strategic relationship-building opportunities, the Cook County Small Business Source and the Civic Committee’s Chicago Business Opportunity Initiative (CBOI) are helping businesses strengthen operations, compete for new opportunities, and grow their regional impact.

  • The Cook County Small Business Source provides no-cost business advising, resources, events, and access-to-capital support for small businesses across Cook County.
  • The Civic Committee, through Scale Chicago and the Chicago Business Opportunity Initiative, is focused on helping Chicago-area small and mid-sized businesses build relationships, strengthen competitiveness, and access business opportunities.
  • This partnership creates a stronger referral pipeline between business owners and regional support organizations that can help them prepare for growth.
  • Businesses referred to The Source can receive support from experienced Business Support Organizations that understand local market conditions, growth barriers, and procurement pathways.
  • The partnership advances a shared goal: increasing regional economic activity by helping more businesses grow, scale, and compete.

If you are interested in learning more or getting connected, please visit cookcountysmallbiz.org.