World Business Chicago’s Post

This week’s Business Pulse is intended to introduce you to one of the tools produced monthly by the Research Center at World Business Chicago: Economic Dashboard. Updated monthly, the Economic Dashboard is a snapshot of how the city and region are performing compared to peer metro areas. We invite you to explore how this can help you and your business ready for economic opportunities and challenges.

Last week, Mayor Brandon Johnson announced two key upgrades of Chicago bond ratings by agency Fitch Ratings. These improved ratings represent an ever-growing willingness to invest in Chicago's infrastructure, lowering borrowing costs and enhancing our great City's potential to grow. Read more on how ratings effect economic growth, insights from Brandon Johnson and Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski on the City's official press release: https://bit.ly/4d4Xouc

Chicago is both honored and proud to be among the first cities in the United States to host a professional women’s rugby team. Women's Elite Rugby (WER) is the first professional women's rugby league in the nation, and a leading example for sports organizations by providing their athletes access to both a platform and compensation to allow them to perform at an elite level and build their careers as athletes doing what they love. Women's rugby runs deep in Chicago's veins - the first Women's National Championship in Rugby was hosted in Chicago in 1978, which ultimately led to the National Club Championships at the Polo Grounds, setting a new standard for the women's sport with a beautiful venue and a million dollar insurance policy. "I do have a long history with women’s rugby", said Phil Clement, President & CEO of World Business Chicago. "At Aon we sponsored the Irish women’s rugby team when they won the Six Nations contest. They had never had a sponsor before. The energy is amazing." We are excited for WER's inagural season to begin in Spring 2025, and look forward to further announcements in the coming weeks. Read the press release and Phil's quote here: https://bit.ly/3WKL3FM

Great businesses are built on great relationships, but what do great business relationships actually look like?

In liu of Crain's Chicago Business' list of Notable Commercial Real Estate Leaders, we'd like to take a moment to congratulate our business partners among the 2024 honorees- Rob Damrat , Managing Director, Link Logistics Charles Fisher, MBA , Director, Risk Advisory, JLL Mark Goeden , Vice President Construction , Related Midwest Wes LeBlanc , Principal, Director of Analytics, Gensler Bradley Malouf , President & Partner , Redmond John Redmond , CEO , Redmond Joseph Root, Founder, Root Realty Jeff Shapack , Founder & CEO , Shapack | WBC Board Member View the full list here: https://lnkd.in/eQS4VSqd

Today, World Business Chicago Chief Growth Officer Kyle T. Schulz spoke about Chicago at the 10th Annual Global Trade Educational Conference. Here are the key points. 1️⃣ Where we came from - In 1871, All but the whole of Chicago burnt to the ground for two entire days, resulting in a hard reset of the city's infrastructure. This great rebuilding set the precedent of Chicago as a city of resilience and progress. 2️⃣ Where we've been - In the 20th century, Chicago transformed into a major economic and cultural hub. The city became a leader in manufacturing, transportation, and finance, fueled by its strategic location and robust infrastructure. The skyline soared with iconic skyscrapers, and Chicago emerged as a center for innovation in architecture, music, and the arts, solidifying its place as a vibrant metropolis. 3️⃣ Where we're going - We at World Business Chicago look boldly into the future - and the future is bright. Chicago is emerging as a hub for quantum computing and advanced manufacturing and continuing to attract top talent and cutting-edge companies. From our world-class industries and our innovative start-up ecosystem, to our diverse neighborhoods and resources, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Chicago's future.