BusinessWeek Logo
Chicago

Chicago

Local First Chicago
Founded in 2005
Member businesses: 118 paying members, 2,400 participating businesses
Staff: 1

Started in the Andersonville neighborhood in 2005, Local First Chicago became a citywide organization the following year because of popular support. Since last summer, the group has dramatically expanded its reach from less than 1,000 newsletter subscribers to nearly 10,000 now.