Chicagoland Chamber Commends Mayor Emanuel's Business License Reform Initiative

CHICAGO, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce fully supports Mayor Rahm Emanuel's announcement today to reform Chicago business licensing system and reduce the number of licenses by half.

Mayor Emanuel's reform initiative will allow Chicago to be more flexible in issuing licenses to new businesses reducing the wait time to open. "One of the biggest challenges for businesses in Chicago is to obtain all the necessary licenses to be able to open their doors to start generating revenue," said Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.  

Currently, Chicago leads the nation in the number business license types with 117. Under the reform initiatives announced today, the number of business license types would be cut to 49 types of licenses, fewer than New York City's 81 and Philadelphia's 50 license types.  This initiative represents progress in helping to achieve the Chamber's goal of making Chicago the most business-friendly city in the nation.

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce has been a long-time supporter of streamlining the City's business licensing process. The license reform initiative is another positive move by Mayor Emanuel to spur growth and sends a signal to Chicago businesses community that the city wants to be a partner in ensuring its success.

About The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Founded in 1904, we are a private, non-profit business assistance and economic development organization. With 2,600 members, representing over 1.3 million individual employees in the six-county Northeastern Illinois region (Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry & Will), we are the largest Chamber of Commerce in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation. Our mission is to make Chicagoland the most business-friendly region in America and to enhance our members' success through aggressive advocacy, member benefits, services, and actionable information.

SOURCE Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce