About the Chamber
A century of representing the businesses that employ Waukegan.
Founded in 1916, the Waukegan Chamber of Commerce is an independent, member-funded organization working on behalf of the city's business community.
Our mission
To strengthen Waukegan's economy by helping its businesses succeed.
Waukegan's economy is unusually broad for a city of its size: heavy and precision manufacturing, a regional healthcare system, a working harbor, a courthouse district, and hundreds of independent storefronts and service firms.
The Chamber exists so those businesses are not navigating growth alone. We are funded by our members, governed by a volunteer board of local business leaders, and accountable to the people who build things here.
We are not a government agency. We are the organized voice of Waukegan business, and we work alongside the City, Lake County, the College of Lake County, and regional development partners to get results for members.
What we do
Four commitments, kept every year.
Connect
We put business owners in the same room, on purpose and often. Most member value starts with a conversation that would not have happened otherwise.
Support
Permits, grants, lending, hiring, marketing. We shorten the distance between a business problem and the person who can solve it.
Advocate
We represent the business perspective with the City of Waukegan, Lake County, and state agencies — consistently, and on the record.
Invest
We work with development partners to attract investment, fill storefronts, and keep talent in Waukegan.
450+
Member businesses
Across Waukegan and Lake County
60+
Events each year
Networking, education, and ribbon cuttings
1,800
Businesses served
Referrals, resources, and advocacy
110
Years serving Waukegan
Founded in 1916
Our history
From lake port to modern economy.
The Chamber was formed in 1916 by a group of merchants and manufacturers who wanted a coordinated voice for a fast-growing lake port city.
A century later the industries have changed, but the work has not: convene the business community, remove obstacles, and make the case for investment in Waukegan.
Grow Your Business. Strengthen Your Community.
Membership connects you to the people, resources, and visibility that move a Waukegan business forward.