title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
COOK COUNTY CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR THE 2026 GREATER CHICAGOLAND ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
WHEREAS, the Greater Chicagoland Economic Partnership (GCEP) is an economic development initiative for the seven-county region of northeastern Illinois (the "Region") created by the economic development organizations and elected officials of the Region to partner and collaborate on specific projects, share resources, and provide data and analysis to improve and enhance economic development within the Region; and
WHEREAS, the GCEP aims to strengthen the seven-county region's resiliency and competitiveness by fostering opportunities for collaboration on initiatives that benefit the entire Region; and
WHEREAS, the GCEP serves Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties and the City of Chicago whose diverse and dynamic economy is at the center of global trade routes and boasts major assets in transportation infrastructure, information technology and manufacturing; and
WHEREAS, said Region, which more than 30 Fortune 500 headquarters across seven counties call home, is one of the world's top ten most competitive economies and repeatedly ranks highly in global competitiveness and the pace of foreign investment: and
WHEREAS, the Chicago region is rich in assets, including diverse industries, a highly skilled workforce and essential infrastructure; has the potential to perform better economically by working collaboratively and collectively across jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS the elected leadership of the seven counties and the City of Chicago share a desire to jointly advance equity across the Region. To those ends, GCEP participants have agreed to work to:
1. Improve Chicagoland's labor market with increased access to high-quality jobs; and
2. Develop strategies to support the growth of key economic sectors through efforts to support the retention and expansion of existing businesses, attract new businesses, and showcase the Region's compet...
Click here for full text