Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a member?

Our membership application is available here.

How many members does the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce have?

The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce (LPCC) has approximately 500 members from all over the Chicagoland area. There’s truly a place for everyone with the LPCC.

Membership Dues:

Your number of full-time employees determines the cost of your membership:

1-5 Employees - $235
6-25 Employees - $315
26-50 Employees - $410
51-100 Employees - $615
101+ Employees - $815
Associate* Membership - $100

* The addition of a representative or location to the main membership.

Please note: All new members also pay a one-time only administrative fee of $25.

What is an associate membership? If my company is an LPCC member, can I be an Associate?
Associate members are additional branches or agents of full-paying members in good standing. For instance, let’s say that Bank ABC is a full-paying member of the LPCC. Three of its branches would also like to become LPCC members. As long as these branches are connected locations, they can each pay for an Associate membership.

Business owners who own multiple locations are also eligible for the Associate rate for the additional locations, provided the additional locations carry the same name as the primary business. This also includes franchises, provided the locations are all owned by the same person.

However, some exceptions do exist, such as for independent contractors, networking groups or other membership organizations. To learn more or to find out if you’re eligible for the Associate membership designation, please contact the director of member services and events at (773) 880-5200.

How long will my membership last?
Membership is good for one full year, beginning with the date you join.

Does my business have to be located in Lincoln Park to be a member?
The boundaries of Lincoln Park are Diversey to the north, North Avenue to the south, Lake Michigan to the east and The John F. Kennedy Expressway to the west.

Businesses do not have to be located in Lincoln Park to be a member. Businesses located outside the boundaries of Lincoln Park find that their association with LPCC allows them to extend their business base and generate revenue through their contacts.

Can I join if I’m a home based business?
Yes, the LPCC welcomes home-based businesses into our membership.

What’s included in my membership?
Membership with the LPCC provides a number of benefits for local businesses. The LPCC provides visibility for your business in a variety of ways, such as a listing in the Discover Lincoln Park 2012, which 20,000 copies are distributed citywide, and a listing in our online directory on the LPCC website.

The LPCC website also offers members the opportunity to promote their business through Hot Deals, job postings and member news submissions. The LPCC enables businesses to become more knowledgeable through business education seminars, LPCC publications, and meetings tailored to different membership segments. Additionally, members enjoy ongoing networking opportunities, luncheon meetings with notable speakers and involvement opportunities through work groups, task forces and committees.

What is the breakdown of membership (category and size?)
The LPCC membership consisted of approximately 550 businesses, with the majority of members employing 25 or fewer employees. The top five industries are Retail, Restaurants, Real Estate, Financial and Health Care, although dozens of business categories are represented.

How do you tailor programs for different segments of your membership?
The LPCC has created a variety of programs that specifically focus on different types of businesses. Below is information on three task forces that address the needs of specific segments of our membership.

What have been some of the LPCC’s major accomplishments and/or initiatives over the years?
The LPCC has a long history of providing new and innovative programs to help our member businesses succeed and grow, and this past year was no exception.

In our continued efforts to promote our members as effectively as possible, the LPCC created a new website with expanded opportunities for membership promotion and advertising, such as news features, free Hot Deals discount coupons, and banner ads on heavily-visited web pages.

To achieve our goal of providing members with expanded educational and networking resources, we also began several new initiatives geared towards providing programs to address specific needs our members face based on their industry and location. Additionally, we continued our partnership with the Chicago Police Department to provide monthly CAPS meetings for our restaurant and bar owners to provide valuable information from and connections to their local police officers.

The LPCC plans to create even more member segment groups in 2010 to remain relevant to the changing face of Lincoln Park and our membership.

The LPCC also strives to be an effective advocate for our members within our local city and state government. To this end, the LPCC formed a Government Affairs Committee to take a proactive approach to legislative issues affecting the Lincoln Park business community. This committee is responsible for researching local issues and recommending policy positions. They also held public meetings and seminars throughout the year to address issues such as the Illinois Constitutional Convention and Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics.

What are LPCC’s current strategic goals?
In 2008, the LPCC Board of Directors underwent an intensive strategic planning process. Gathering input from members, staff and other interested parties, they re-invigorated the LPCC with an ambitious and forward-thinking belief statement and accompanying mission and operating principles.

Belief Statement

Your business’s prosperity contributes to the vitality of the Lincoln Park community.

Our Mission

To serve as a catalyst for business success and economic development in Lincoln Park, we:

•    promote and champion our members
•    advocate for our members with City, County, and State governments
•    connect our members to each other and to valued programs and services
•    educate our members on strategies for business success

Our Core Values

In accomplishing this mission, our focus is on:
•    Relationships
•    Advocacy
•    Integrity
•    Innovation

Our Strategic Initiatives

•    understand LPCC members’ various (unique) needs
•    communicate and demonstrate our relevance
•    build alliances with the community and government
•    improve operational excellence
•    diversify and develop revenue streams

We are also continuing to partner local government to resolve local issues and provide legislative programs, as well as expanding our networking opportunities through networking events, focus groups, industry task forces and other work groups and programs as needed.

The LPCC actively and constantly looks for ways to help our members succeed and thrive without additional costs or work on their part. We truly believe that the success of each member is vital to the success of every other member - and to Lincoln Park residents and businesses alike.