Mission
Promoting an environment that creates success for local businesses and our community.
Goals and Objectives
The Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry accomplishes our Mission through the following:
Networking and Referral
We publicize, promote and refer member businesses to our community and to one another through ongoing programs and special events.
Business Promotion
We provide community projects and events which showcase member businesses and link them to the community by their involvement.
Governmental Affairs
We represent our member’s concerns and interests before local, state, and federal government by providing information, communication and coordinating action on their behalf.
Business Education
We provide educational opportunities for our member businesses that challenge and equip them for improvement, growth and greater success.
Leadership Building
We provide an example of strong community leadership by demonstrating loyalty, integrity and professionalism in every facet of our organization.
About Us
Established in 1918, the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit business organization that promotes an environment that creates success for local businesses and our community.
As part of our Chamber’s 100th Anniversary in 2018, the ECCI Centennial Celebration NFP was created as a 501c3 not-for-profit charitable entity to solicit tax-deductible donations in support of the Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment at Elmhurst University, Civic Hall of Fame Public Memorial (currently housed at the Elmhurst Public Library) and Second Century Fund.
Our Chamber serves the needs of some 425 member businesses, not-for-profits and individuals through programs, products, services and events that provide opportunities for networking and business referral, business promotion, business education, governmental affairs and leadership building.
Members promote their goods and services to residents and businesses through a variety of ways:
- A “responsive” website (elmhurstchamber.org) featuring a member business directory, Hot Deals coupons, job postings, business news, community calendar and more
- Postings to our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn social media pages
- Every-Door-Direct-Mailed Elmhurst Community Directory
- Hand-delivered New Resident Greeter Totes;
- Professional Speakers Series presentations
- News & Notes columns published in the Elmhurst Suburban Life
Our Chamber has forged strong business partnerships with the City of Elmhurst—especially the Economic Development Commission—and special interest business organizations such as Elmhurst City Centre, Spring Road Business Association and the York & Vallette Business Association as well as the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau and the City’s Explore Elmhurst Advisory Committee to promote the visitor and tourism industry.
Our Chamber also represents the interests of business on legislative issues at the local, county, state and federal levels. In 2024, our Board of Directors supported a $89.95 million referendum for the Elmhurst Park District 205 to rebuild the Joanne B. Wagner Community Center and more. Also, our Chamber has regularly endorsed townhome and luxury apartment residential developments in the heart of downtown Elmhurst.
A leader in business education, our Chamber partners with fellow chambers, business associations, businesses, not-for-profits and individuals to provide both niche and mass-appeal programs.
Annual special events include the Annual Awards Gala (March), multi-chamber Economic Outlook Luncheon (April) and other multi-chamber programs and events, New Teachers Luncheon (August), Golf Outing (September) and B2B Expo (September), while our members host the monthly Membership Breakfasts and Business After Hours.
As a select United State Chamber of Commerce Federated Membership partner, ECCI is recognized in Illinois and nationally as an organization that is committed to excellence in all of its endeavors.
Membership
Awards
Affiliations
Our Chamber is affiliated with a variety of business organizations and professional associations
at the local, regional, state and federal levels, including:
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Elmhurst Chamber is both a member and Federation Partner of the U.S. Chamber. Small business owners can utilize their membership in the Elmhurst Chamber to gain access to more than 10,000 pages of information exclusively for the nation’s small business at the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Center.
Illinois Chamber of Commerce
The Elmhurst Chamber is an active member of the Illinois Chamber, which is the state’s oldest, largest broad-based business advocacy group.
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce
The Elmhurst Chamber is a member of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, which is a regional association that provides business assistance and support economic development in the six-county Northeast Illinois Region (Cook, DuPage,Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will counties).
Illinois Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (IACCE)
Elmhurst Chamber staff are active members of the IACCE, a statewide association which is an accessible and valuable resource for the professional development of Chamber of Commerce executives and staffs in Illinois.
West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Executives
The Elmhurst Chamber is an active member of the West Suburban Chamber of Commerce Executives, a countywide association of Chamber Executive Directors, Presidents and CEOs mostly from DuPage County.
Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)
Elmhurst Chamber staff are members of the ACCE, which is a national association which provides support and development for Chamber of Commerce professional to lead businesses and their communities.
Partnerships
Our Chamber works on business and economic development initiatives in partnership with the City of Elmhurst,
and partners with business associations to better serve their respective shopping districts.
