An upscale western suburb of the Chicago Metropolitan Area on the boundary of Chicago, the roots of the Village of Oak Park reach back almost 200 years. Initially settled in 1835, the area became incorporated in 1902 after it separated from Cicero, Illinois. Booming in the 1870s with the expansion of railways and streetcar lines, the area soon became known as the ‘World’s Largest Village.’ Over the years, its reputation grew, and The Village is known for its formidable residents including Frank Lloyd Wright, Ernest Hemingway, research chemist Percy Julian, former Illinois Senate President Phillip Rock, and author Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Today, the Village of Oak Park proudly celebrates its history. Thousands of visitors come to the area every year to see the world-famous Frank Lloyd Wright home and others designed by the respected architect, or to take a tour of Ernest Hemingway’s house of birth, at 339 Oak Park Avenue. Other popular attractions include the Wonderworks Children’s Museum, Oak Park Conservatory, Pleasant Home—a 19^th-century mansion used for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events—Rickshaw Rick Tours & Taxi, Oak Park Farmers’ Market, and many more.

Economic vitality
Recently, the Village of Oak Park engaged Camoin Associates, a full-service economic development consulting firm, to undertake an economic vitality strategy study. “The consultants recommended the Village establish the Office of Economic Vitality and have this department oversee and coordinate all Village departments,” says Assistant Village Manager of Economic Vitality, John C. Melaniphy. With almost 40 years dedicated to economic development, real estate market analysis, public-private partnerships, and site selection, Melaniphy previously served as Director of Economic Development for the Village of Niles.

The Village hired Melaniphy and recruited two Economic Vitality Administrators and an Office Coordinator in mid-June, and a new office outside the Village Hall in the heart of downtown Oak Park was established to be part of the business fabric. “The primary objectives were to make economic vitality the centerpiece of the Village strategy in all departments,” says Melaniphy.

For businesses of all sizes, Oak Park has much to offer. The Village generated retail sales of over $640 million in 2024, and there are 12 distinct business districts, all of them offering their own unique charm and character and a mix of restaurants, retailers, salons, galleries, and various professional services.

“Oak Park is fortunate to have so many active business districts and community organizations,” says Melaniphy. The districts include Downtown Oak Park, Pleasant District, Hemingway District, Madison Street, Chicago/Harlem Historic District, Chicago Avenue at Austin Boulevard, North Avenue, Garfield Street at Harlem Avenue, Southtown, Roosevelt Road, Oak Park Arts District, and Lake Street at Austin Boulevard. According to Melaniphy, the Office of Economic Vitality regularly meets and collaborates with the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Oak Park (DTOP), Explore Oak Park & Beyond, the Business Association Committee (BAC), Hemingway District, Arts District, and the Oak Park Civic Committee, among others.

“These organizations were generally incorporated to enhance and improve the business districts and business climate in their respective areas,” he explains. “There are a variety of special events that occur in the respective business districts to generate customers and repeat visits. Oak Park is a special place thanks to all the businesses and residents that elevate the quality of life in the community.”

Within the Village Manager’s office, the Office of Economic Vitality now directs Oak Park’s business attraction and retention efforts. With economic vitality staff going “on offense,” they are actively engaged in attracting new businesses to the Village. Representatives of the Village also attend trade shows and work with a variety of economic development agencies including World Business Chicago, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), the Cook County Department of Economic Development, the Small Business Development Center, the Cook County Workforce Partnership, Triton College, the International Council of Shopping Centers, and many others.

“The Office of Economic Vitality will also aggressively conduct business retention visits to Oak Park businesses. The objective of these visits is to ensure that local businesses understand they are valued by the Village, and are notified of all the Village resources, façade grants, and incentives that are available to them to help grow their business.”

Strong business growth
Oak Park residents have much to be proud of, from the area’s history to its many businesses. From local shops to neighborhood restaurants, there is a strong ‘shop local’ philosophy, and residents take pride in their downtown areas and commercial corridors. To make restaurants even more inviting, many have added a significant amount of outdoor seating for seasonal use.

Along with restaurants and stores, Oak Park is also home to the new Comedy Plex Comedy Club, while for film buffs, there is Classic Cinemas Lake Theatre. A fully restored historic movie theater in the heart of downtown, the seven-screen venue boasts 7.1 surround sound and 4K digital projection. “These add to the nightlife in Oak Park,” says Melaniphy.

For Melaniphy and the team at the Office of Economic Vitality, their efforts are paying off. This year alone has seen the opening of approximately 80 new businesses in the Village and counting. Some of the latest additions to downtown Oak Park include Seoul Avenue, Breakfast House, Pure Green juice bar, The Book Loft Oak Park bookstore, and Ruby Fine Hibiscus Tea, among others.

Next year, Barnes & Noble will establish a new store in the former Marshall Field and Company building, at 1144 Lake St. The owners of the historic building are undertaking a major renovation of the structure. With plans to anchor this iconic location at the western gateway into Oak Park, Barnes & Noble will lease 25,000 square feet on two levels, which will include a store and café.

Along with Barnes & Noble, a new 55,000-square-foot Pete’s Market grocery store is under construction at 640-728 Madison St. Mindful of local history, the new store is incorporating original architectural features from the property. Set to open in early 2026, the Market will serve Oak Park consumers and become a major sales tax generator for the Village.

The area will also soon be home to a new Holiday Inn Express. Initially approved in 2019, the project was delayed because of COVID-19. Currently under construction in the historic Oak Leaves Building at 1140 Lake St., the hotel will offer 68 rooms on the second through fifth floors, with other hotel rooms in the building’s annex. Expected to open this year, the hotel “will provide modern overnight accommodations in downtown Oak Park in proximity to all the shopping, dining, and entertainment establishments,” says Melaniphy.

Of course, accessibility is key for residents and visitors alike to take advantage of all that Oak Park has to offer. The area is easily accessible by transit, and “there has been a significant amount of new, transit-oriented mixed-use development in downtown Oak Park in recent years, with the addition of nearly 1,000 new housing units,” adds Melaniphy.

Proud of the area and all it has to offer businesses, residents, and tourists, he takes an optimistic view of the future. “President Vicki Scaman and the entire Village Board understand the needs of business owners, and the business owners themselves understand the challenges businesses face every day,” he says. “The Village of Oak Park is a great community in which to own a home, raise a family, and open a business.”

The post A Place Where Growth Comes Naturally<p class="company">Village of Oak Park, Illinois</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

Located northwest of Chicago, Illinois, the Village of Hanover Park has a population of 36,850 people. The community is part of a swath of land nicknamed “The Golden Corridor” thanks to the fast-paced growth happening within its borders. Since being profiled by Business in Focus in November 2016, Hanover Park has adopted a new tagline reflecting its widely diverse community. “America’s Global Village” remains as devoted as ever to mindful growth and meeting the needs of the community.

“Since 2016, we’ve not only continued with our business-friendly approach, but we’ve also opened our doors to development and businesses that are family-friendly and an asset to our community,” says Community and Economic Development Director Shubhra Govind.

Happy people, busy business
Just over six square miles in size, Hanover Park features seven school districts and four townships and is split between DuPage and Cook Counties. As befitting its new tagline, Village residents represent 80 nationalities who speak 30 different languages. To be as accommodating as possible, language translation services are available for residents and visitors who need to speak with Hanover Park officials.

On the economic front, the Village features three major business parks and three Tax Increment Finance (TIF) districts (in a TIF district, some property tax gets reinvested in the area). Altogether, Hanover Park features roughly five million square feet of Class A industrial space, and properties within TIF districts can apply for a Façade Improvement Grant that covers half the cost of spiffing up their exterior and property.

Hanover Park officials regularly touch base with business owners to get a sense of their plans and concerns, says Economic Development Coordinator Adela Boesel. “We meet them in their stores, we meet them in their restaurants, or we have a meeting in our office and ask, ‘What are the challenges that you’re dealing with? What is it you want to see in your business?’”

With such feedback in mind, recent economic development initiatives include a multi-million dollar streetscape improvement project, part of a broader effort to beautify a downtown space called the Village Center. The goal is to create a thriving center with high-density residential housing, a strong commercial presence, and a comprehensive transportation infrastructure. It helps that Village staff know how to be flexible, adjusting zoning when necessary to support economic and residential development and greater use of public transit.

All roads lead to a great labor pool
Asked why a business would want to set up in Hanover Park, Govind emphasizes, “location, location, location.”

Indeed, the Village is situated near several transportation hubs and routes. These include roadways such as Illinois Route 390 (previously the Elgin O’Hare Expressway), O’Hare International Airport, DuPage County Airport, Schaumburg Regional Airport, and two rail lines, the Chicago Central and Pacific Railroad and Soo Line Railroad. Hanover Park also maintains a busy commuter station for the Metra Milwaukee District/West Line passenger railway—an express train leaving this station can whisk people to downtown Chicago in 45 minutes.

“When it comes to a business making a decision to locate in Hanover Park, it’s not just about access to highways, roads, Metra, the bus, but also access to the great labor pool that we have here. When companies are looking to locate in Hanover Park, they know that they can hire locally,” adds Govind.

The area boasts a well-educated workforce, as nearly one quarter of Hanover Park residents hold a bachelor’s degree, while 10 percent have graduate degrees and 17 percent have some college education. As for the latter, the Village is home to three community colleges: College of DuPage, Harper Community College, and Elgin Community College. Unemployment is low at four percent, with manufacturing, health care/social assistance, and retail representing the three top occupation categories.

Leading employers in the Village include computer hardware firm Insight Enterprise Inc., with 285 employees, precision part manufacturer Camcraft, Inc., with 279 employees, and equipment firm Fisher Scientific, with 275 employees. The American branch of Japanese photo and image reproduction giant FUJIFILM maintains a regional headquarters in Hanover Park with 165 employees.

Mayor Craig points to Round Ground Metals (RGM) as a particularly noteworthy success story. Based in Hanover Park, this firm employs 140 people and specializes in the manufacture of precision steel rods used in oil wells and firearms, among other products. RGM “has grown from a small business to owning three major buildings in our industrial park,” says the Mayor.

Family-friendly
The question arises: job opportunities aside, why do individuals want to move to Hanover Park?

The Village is “a family-oriented community” that’s “blessed with excellent school districts,” says Mayor Craig, and it’s a safe place to raise kids. “People are happy with our low crime rate. I’ll challenge any other community to match our low crime rate.” He adds, “A quality police department helps.”

This isn’t just local boosterism either: Hanover Park earned a safety score of 98 out of 100 in a listing on Nextdoor.com. In 2022, the Village of Hanover Park had a violent crime rate of 0.35 offences per 1,000 residents and a property crime rate of 0.03 offences per 1,000 residents (compared with 18.56 per 1,000 residents and 18.23 per 1,000 residents, respectively, for the state of Illinois). The overall crime rate in Hanover Park in 2022 was 0.38 offences per 1,000 residents, drastically lower than the overall Illinois rate (36.79 per 1,000 residents) and national rate (33.37 per 1,000 residents).

The Village is not only safe but affordable, particularly when compared to the metropolis of Chicago. In 2023, the average median household income in Hanover Park was $92,263, the median property value was $260,900, and the average commuting time was just under half an hour.

As part of its family-friendly ethos, Hanover Park also offers ample recreational opportunities and community events. The Village counts nearly two dozen playgrounds and parks and boasts vast forest preserves, popular spots for hiking, picnicking, biking, horseback riding, boating, and bird watching. A sports complex hosts Little League games, and a plaza in the Village Center welcomes a variety of events. Residents enjoy Movies in the Park, Juneteenth celebrations, a Fire Department Open House, and a “Doggie Eggtravaganza (featuring a canine egg hunt with dog treats), and Boesel tells us that the Village partners with nonprofit groups, churches, and other organizations to ensure that most community events are either free or low-cost.

Keeping connected
Hanover Park is also a place where local government is transparent and accessible. Village officials make a point of being “very involved with our community. We want to understand what their needs are,” continues Boesel.

Mayor Craig is constantly about, meeting with legislators, administrators, businesspeople, members of the public, and schoolkids. Hanover Park staff also host community meetings with the public to discuss various issues. One such meeting was held in February of this year, while a second took place this May. “We want to know what you want to see in Hanover Park. We want the community to feel welcome,” says Boesel.

To keep the community informed and engaged, Hanover Park actively promotes its charms to prospective businesses and residents alike via social media, trade shows, and tourism events. The Village government issues regular press releases offering updates and information, and publishes a community magazine for residents. An economic development committee featuring representatives from local businesses and institutions brainstorms ideas to better the Village.

“As you can tell, we’re very proud of our community and the people that live in it,” says Boesel.

Mayor Craig agrees. “We have a great relationship with our neighboring communities. We support one another and work together. I really enjoy that collaborative component,” he says.

Looking ahead, the Mayor would like to see more “quality, transit-oriented development” in the Village.

While eager to enhance opportunities for businesses and residents alike, nobody wants the Village of Hanover Park to grow so large that it loses its essential character. “Our community definitely has heart,” Boesel says. “Anyone who comes to Hanover Park will see that right away. It’s a place where not only families but businesses feel welcome.”

The post America’s Global Village: Where You Want to Be<p class="company">Village of Hanover Park, Illinois</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.

When World Business Chicago came to life through the vision of Mayor Richard M. Daley 25 years ago, it was intentional about the change and evolution the organization wanted to witness in its time. As Chicagoland is one of the three top economies in the United States and number 2,122 in the world, the organization aims to expand the economy to $1.4 trillion by 2034. The goal is set to be achieved by ensuring optimal inclusion across the region, improving overall prosperity for all, including historically disadvantaged groups.

With hard work etched into every square inch of this city’s dynamic landscape, Chicago’s most recent rise to success did not come overnight. Establishing the Economic Plan for Growth and Jobs in 2012, World Business Chicago knew that it was time to get local business and civic leaders together to craft a revised growth strategy informed by the prevailing zeitgeist. Chicago 2050 is the two-chapter plan it developed, the first of which was recently released. The strategy will serve as the city and region’s mission statement for building a bright, sustainable economic future. “Everybody should read it. It’s going to roll out throughout the years ahead,” says Andrew Hayes, Vice President and Director of Marketing & Communications.

Led by the question of what the city will be in 2050, the project entailed collaboration with locals and other stakeholders on what is working and what is not. Envisioning the city’s economic future naturally demanded a fresh look at housing, education, public spaces, transportation, industry, and every other aspect that contributes to its well-being, so the team interviewed over 300 individuals, gathering feedback and recording people’s points of view. This process was considered imperative to the plan’s success.

“Chicago 2050 is a roadmap to turn our structural strengths into measurable outcomes,” says Phil Clement, President & CEO of World Business Chicago. “Chicago delivers both scale and balance, with nearly $900 billion in regional output, the most diversified economy in the nation, and a talent pipeline of more than 145,000 college graduates each year. Together, these assets are powering what we call the ‘Wow! Corridor,’ representing $18 billion in transformative projects stretching from the Obama Presidential Center to Google’s new Midwest headquarters and O’Hare’s modernization,” he explains. “Through Chicago 2050, our focus is clear: accelerate growth, attract global capital, and strengthen the assets that make Chicago one of the world’s most reliable, resilient, and investable markets for long-term value.”

With technology evolving at lightning speed, the task remains complex. “Thinking through even five years ago, I couldn’t have told you what 2025 would look like when I was in 2020,” says Hannah Loftus, Vice President of Research. “We’re setting a big vision that will allow us to organize folks to rally around this vision that we can see the city moving toward.”

“We have really strong strategies in place that are guiding growth and expansion in Chicago,” Hayes agrees.

“At World Business Chicago, our goal is growth,” says Loftus. “We have a clear strategy to achieve that,” she says, underscoring the role of industry in the organization’s vision. “Our manufacturing industry is number two in the nation, both by the amount of goods that are produced and the number of people that are employed,” she tells us. “We’re maintaining that leadership status.”

Now, Chicago 2050’s first part of Chapter 1’s five-year approach focuses on its four legacy industries, namely manufacturing; transportation; logistics; and professional services, insurance, and finance. Some of the city’s largest employers, ensuring that these sectors are well-maintained and provided with everything they need in terms of technological and other infrastructure to continue growing is pivotal to economic security. Some considerations include how people work, when they work, and how they commute, if at all—and how to accommodate these needs in the most efficient ways possible.

“I’m proud to be leading one of the first strategies emerging from Chicago 2050—ChiForward, Chicago’s new front door for global investment,” says Charles E. Smith, Vice Chair, World Business Chicago, Founder/CEO, CS Insurance Strategies, Inc., a division of MMA. “This initiative is designed to drive impact across all communities, connecting capital not only to marquee projects downtown but also to transformative opportunities in neighborhoods and industrial corridors throughout the city. We’re building on strengths investors can quantify—like $295 billion in trade through O’Hare last year and access to a quarter of North America within a day’s drive. In a changing global economy, ChiForward will ensure that growth reaches farther, builds broader, and strengthens Chicago’s position as one of the world’s most reliable and accessible markets for investment and inclusive prosperity.”

By maintaining support for its strongest industries, Chicago is able to spread its wings and reach into promising new fields such as clean energy, quantum technology, life sciences, digital technology, and artificial intelligence. Its particular focus on clean energy and all things quantum drew PsiQuantum, a tech startup building quantum computers, to break ground here a little over a month ago in a dedicated space for this industry in the Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park (IQMP). The city is also committed to preparing a ready and able workforce in this field, from high school to the college and university levels, ensuring that any quantum-related companies looking to set down roots here have a top crop of professionals to choose from.

Creating quality employment options was part of the reason World Business Chicago worked to ensure that all Chicagoans have a voice in the city’s future. “We want everyone to have a stake in making Chicagoland the best place, where people want to be,” says Loftus. “As we’re thinking through economic development and growing our region, we’re imagining it through the eyes of people who want to live here.”

The organization also pays close attention to the well-being of residential areas located close to industrial zones. “We are making sure that as we’re attracting businesses, we’re growing those economies,” Loftus says, highlighting the team’s collaboration with universities to ensure that all demographics are thoroughly considered and accommodated according to their unique needs. World Business Chicago is also inviting architectural and civic groups into conversation at the famous Millennium Park on Randolph Street. “We really see this as the jumping off point for the next big idea,” says Hayes. Home to many proud educational institutions and blessed with a large and diverse population, Chicagoland has what it takes to continue building on the legacy of prosperity it inherited from its founders and all those who ceaselessly work toward its success.

The area’s hospitality to newcomers is noteworthy, and World Business Chicago welcomes businesspeople in need of support to set up and get settled in the city. As a result, the city’s downtown is the fastest-growing in the country. Home to its financial and professional services industries, it is not the only area with room for new arrivals, though—working closely with Chicagoland Economic Partnership, an alliance of seven surrounding counties throughout the region, the teams gladly do the legwork for new companies in search of the ideal property to establish their business. “Ultimately, we want companies to thrive here. They know what they need and we likely have what they need. We’ll make sure that those two are connected correctly,” Loftus says.

The rapid recent expansion of the city’s downtown is also due in part to its post-COVID-19 strategy which saw Chicago turn many of its empty office spaces into residential blocks, complete with affordable housing. These developments are especially popular amongst companies looking to retain a younger workforce alongside distribution and logistics facilities.

Perfectly positioned to connect with all sectors and industries across the city, World Business Chicago also works hard at identifying global audiences to invite into negotiations. To this end, it most recently sent delegations to Mexico and China in the hopes of garnering new trade partners for the city. “It’s a very powerful approach to prospecting,” Hayes says of its Sister City project. As part of these efforts, Chicago now has 28 international sister cities that act as bilateral economic development partners.

“We are an economic super region. Therefore, we are considering how we fit into the global economy on a world stage,” says Loftus.

Local giants are also paying attention, and the city will soon be home to Universal Studios’ permanent exhibit, Universal Horror Unleashed. The immersive experience will introduce visitors to the movie studio’s monsters from over the decades, complete with restaurants and other entertainment offerings. The building will be located in the city’s entertainment area on the West Loop, right opposite the new Bally’s casino. More exciting developments are currently under wraps but in the pipeline.

The city’s strategic location, alongside its international airport, ideal highway network, and proximity to waterways, make it ideal for business travel, warehousing, and distribution for companies looking to reach as much of America as possible. World Business Chicago also sees the city’s location as ideal for providing manufacturers with climate change resiliency. “We can reach around a quarter of the nation within one day’s trucking drive; 25 percent of freight goes through our railways; and in 2024, we traded $295 billion worth of goods through here,” Loftus says, confirming that figures place the city at number one in the country’s warehouse inventory race.

For World Business Chicago, there is only one way for the city to go. “We plan to grow the region into a $1.4 trillion economy and grow jobs to 1,000,005,” Hayes confirms. As Carl Sandburg described this breathtaking place in his timeless 1914 poem, Chicago, the city promises to remain every bit as proactive and future-forward as a century ago when he called it “Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler.” It is a formidable task, but one this team is greatly looking forward to executing.

The post Forging the Future<p class="company">World Business Chicago</p> appeared first on Business In Focus Magazine.