Ideally located just 17 miles northwest of the Chicago Loop, Des Plaines has a diversified, vibrant and growing business community. In addition to being the home to several Fortune 500 companies and international businesses, there is a comfortable blend of commercial, financial, industrial, professional, service-oriented and retail sectors. Des Plaines provides a demographic cross section of employee skill levels supporting high tech, industry, manufacturing and distribution concerns. The city is serviced by state and interstate highways, Metra rail line, PACE bus, and all forms of business, freight and passenger flights at nearby O’Hare International Airport.

Chamber Directory and Community Guide

The 2010 Chamber Directory and Community Guide is now available on-line by clicking here.

State officials outline tax holiday rules

Effective August 6, 2010, through August 15, 2010, a state sales tax holiday will be implemented and certain items purchased during this time period will have a reduced sales tax rate. The sales tax rate you will be required to collect during the holiday period is the rate currently in effect on the date of the holiday minus 5 percent.

The Illinois Department of Revenue's list of qualified items is constantly evolving. For updates, visit the DOR's website at tax.illinois.gov.

Des Plaines Casino

Midwest Gaming & Entertainment, LLC was awarded the 10th Illinois casino license in December 2008. The casino will be located in Des Plaines, Illinois on 21 acres at the northwest corner of Des Plaines River Road and Devon Avenue. Construction at the new site is expected to begin in February 2010. If you would like information on applying for employment at Midwest Gamines & Entertainment, LLC or if you would like to do business with Midwest Gamines & Entertainment, LLC., please visit their website at www.midwestgaming.com.

SCORE 'Counselors to America's Small Business' is a nonprofit association dedicated to entrepreneur education and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide.  The Chicago Chapter of SCORE provides free business counseling, free counsulting, inexpensive workshops and other resources to entrepreneurs and small business through locations in the Chicago area.

SCORE counselors are at the Des Plaines Chamber offices the 2nd and 4th Monday of every month. To make an appointment click here or call 847-824-4200.

Entrepreneurs can take advantage of new, free online training and other resources offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration to assist them during this period of economic recovery. For more inforamtion visit http://www.sba.gov/services/training/onlinecourses