With 250 corporate headquarters, including 29 Fortune 500, and 1,500 foreign firms that thrive here, Chicago is THE place for business. Our diverse economy is fertile ground for the success of innovative start-ups, multi-national operations, and manufacturing powerhouses alike.
Successes
Chicago Welcomes United Airlines’ Operations to Willis Tower
In one of Chicago’s largest corporate relocations, United Airlines is moving its operational center, including 2,800 jobs, downtown to the Willis Tower in 2010.
WBC worked with the City and State to retain the headquarters of the world’s leading internet recruitment site, CareerBuilder LLC (“CareerBuilder).” The Chicago-based company has 25 locations and more than 2,200 employees nationwide, in addition to several international locations.
Everybody’s favorite search engine is all grown up and is quickly becoming a global software powerhouse. As such, the Mountain View, CA based titan has been expanding its presence throughout the world, with Chicago as no exception.
The joint venture between SABMiller PLC and Molson Coors, has located its headquarters in downtown Chicago, bringing between 300 and 400 executive and management jobs to the City.
In October of 2000, Orbitz informed Governor Ryan and Mayor Daley that the company was searching for a location for its headquarters. World Business Chicago and the City's Department of Planning and Development assisted in the search of available office space in the Central Business District. Six years and 1200 employees later, Orbitz operates as a brand under Travelport, having recently been acquired by the Blackstone Group and relocating to its swanky new headquarters operation in downtown Chicago at 500 West Madison.
Y-USA began considering options to move its headquarters of 25 years at 101 N. Wacker Drive when its lease was due to expire. Ten other cities were considered as alternative sites for its headquarters. Y-USA decided to keep its headquarters in Chicago, purchasing two adjoining parcels totaling 55,000 square feet at the southeast corner of Harrison and State streets.
Terrence Duffy explains why Chicago is the best place in the world to do business.
