History
The CEC was created in 1999 in response to studies commissioned by the Commercial Club of Chicago and the Mayor's Council of Technology Advisors and prepared by McKinsey & Co. and the Metropolis Project.
The studies documented that while Chicagoland was in an excellent position to benefit from the then-strong economy, 90 percent of Chicagoland businesses were small to mid-size firms seeking support and mentoring to facilitate their growth and development. The studies determined that there were many supportive agencies for entrepreneurs, but most had a narrow focus that didn't allow for the type of comprehensive guidance high-growth businesses often require.
It was clear that a single point of access for the region's entrepreneurs was needed to ensure consistency of information and quality, offer a wide variety of practical and educational forums, and be useful to both those just starting out as well as to those in the crucial growth phases that follow.
