“Dual-hub” airport with over 1,400 flights per day
- Non-stop service to more than 200 domestic and international locations
Top 5 container port in the world
- Only U.S. gateway where six of the nation’s seven Class I railroads interchange traffic
- One of the nation’s largest intermodal activity centers
North American hub of fiber-optic telecom
GRP of over $500B
Significant jobs in a range of industries; a leader in:
- Manufacturing
- Professional, business and financial services
- Support services including transportation, logistics, wholesale and warehousing/distribution
- Health services
Home to more than 400 major corporate headquarters:
- 30 Fortune 500*
- 11 Fortune Global 500*
- 16 Financial Times Global 500*
(*includes Archer Daniels Midland HQs relocation, announced in December 2013)
300 corporate R&D facilities
Top 10 global destination city based on investment
Creative hub with cutting edge architecture, fashion design and digital media
Emphasis on growing sustainable “green” businesses
4.4 million workers in the metro region:
- 730,000+ in professional and business services
- 520,000+ in health services
- 410,000+ in manufacturing
- 287,000+ in financial services
65,000+ college students in or near downtown
- 145,000+ degrees from Chicago area colleges & universities
Home to two of America’s top business schools:
- Booth School of Business at University of Chicago
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University
Affordable cost of living
- Lower than N.Y., Boston, S.F., L.A., and D.C.
26 miles of lakefront and 580 parks
Nearly 15,000 restaurants
10 professional sports teams
World-renowned symphony, opera, and dance
365 performing arts companies and 40+ museums
More sustainable (green) buildings than any U.S. metro
