Shop and conduct business locally to: create jobs for residents; generate sales tax dollars; keep dollars in the local economy; sustain vibrant, walkable town centers that are environmentally friendly; maintain Lake Forest's diversity and distinctive character; and help businesses build a healthy, sustainable community and contribute to local charities and non-profits.

For information on business initiatives, visit individual program and topic pages listed on the left side of this website.

The city's economic development mission is to enhance the vitality of Lake Forest business districts, maintain its outstanding quality of life through the retention and expansion of existing businesses, as well as attract new businesses to the community.

With a population of more than 20,000, Lake Forest is one of the largest communities on the North Shore and in Lake County, Illinois. Located 30 miles north of downtown Chicago, Lake Forest business owners enjoy easy access to major interstate highways, O'Hare International Airport and Waukegan Executive Airports and passenger railroad systems. Lake Forest is a major business center with several national and multi-national corporate headquarters located within or adjacent to the city limits. From the quaint shops in the historic downtown to the major corporations off of bustling I-94, Lake Forest is home to several of Chicagoland's most popular retailers and a wide assortment of four-star and casual dining establishments. Major area private employers include Abbott, Hospira, Tenneco, Trustmark, Brunswick, Pactiv, Grainger, the Chicago Bears, and the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.