No matter who you are, government decisions impact every employer’s ability to succeed. That’s concerning enough, but consider the fact that hundreds of entities and competitors are hard at work trying to influence those decisions to your detriment. Those decisions now become outright dangerous.
That’s where the Illinois Chamber comes in. We have employers’ backs and are a champion for markets that work. We wield our unparalleled influence to counter anti-business forces and steer government decisions to pro-employment and pro-growth outcomes.
As important as it is, influence alone is not enough. We’ve seen what unchecked, self-interested influence has done to our state’s economy. Influence needs to be bound to strong principles. Commitment to private initiative, markets that work and, above all, integrity.
The Chamber ensures we stay connected to the principles and the priorities of our members through a unique structure that organizes our policy debates. The Chamber’s seven issue councils serve as “chambers within the Chamber,” member- driven organizations focused on issues of particular interest to individual members. These councils set the agenda for the Chamber and facilitates the focus and expertise that makes the Chamber so effective with policymakers, the media and the public.
History: On May 27, 1919 twenty-four business leaders from throughout Illinois met for the first time to organize the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. Those charter members formed one of the first statewide business organizations in the nation. Their 1919 goals remain viable almost a century later: to deal with a “danger of too much government in business” and to “promote and protect the business climate of Illinois.”
Mission: The unifying leader of policies that support growth in Illinois’ dynamic and diverse economy
Vision: A vibrant and prosperous future for Illinois
Value Statement: Free enterprise is the foundation of a thriving state economy. Principled advocacy, committed people and bold thinking are essential for Illinois to succeed