City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce

What City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce does

The City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership organization serving businesses in Waukegan, Illinois, and the surrounding Lake County area. It is governed by an Executive Committee and Board of Directors composed of local business owners and government representatives, and operates from a single headquarters office at 100 N Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in downtown Waukegan with a staff of seven. The Chamber offers tiered annual memberships ($200 for 1-5 employees, $325 for 5-10 employees, $650 for 11+ employees, and $150 for non-profits), hosts recurring signature events including Business After Hours, Wake Up with Waukegan, Lunch and Learn, the Annual Golf Outing, the Holiday Soiree, and Scoop Waukegan, and publishes an annual Community Resource Guide and Member Directory along with a mobile app on iOS and Android. Its go-to-market is event-driven, with members and revenue acquired primarily through networking events, corporate sponsorships, and referrals, and the value proposition emphasizes collective advocacy, access to local government, business referrals, and community visibility.

Name

City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce

Legal name

City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce

Website

https://waukeganchamber.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership organization serving businesses of all sizes in Waukegan, Illinois, generating revenue from tiered annual dues ($150-$650), event ticketing, and corporate sponsorships, and offering networking events, advocacy, and an annual Community Resource Guide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Chamber of Commerce / Business Membership Services

NAICS

Professional Organizations (813920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Development & Business Licensing (Local) (BPAIACAN)

Keywords

• Business membership organization
• Chamber of commerce services
• Business networking events
• Corporate sponsorship programs
• Community resource directory

Headquarters

HQ city

Waukegan

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues billed based on number of employees. Tiers range from $150 for non-profits to $650 for businesses with 11+ employees.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue from ticket sales for signature events including Golf Outing, Wake Up with Waukegan, Lunch and Learn, Holiday Soiree, and other networking events.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Sponsorship opportunities for the Annual Golf Outing and other signature events, with multiple sponsorship tiers available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership organization that provides tiered business memberships, signature networking and professional development events, an annual Community Resource Guide and Member Directory, a college scholarship program, ribbon cutting ceremonies, and a member-to-member discount program to businesses operating in Waukegan and Lake County, Illinois. Membership is sold on an annual subscription basis with tiered pricing based on business size.

Product overview

The City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce offers a membership-based service portfolio centered on business networking, professional development, and community engagement. The core offerings include tiered membership programs (Levels 1-3, Non-Profit, and 501(c)(3)), comprehensive event management and ticketing for signature programs (Business After Hours, Wake Up with Waukegan, Lunch and Learn, Annual Golf Outing), an annual Community Resource Guide and Member Directory published digitally via FlipDocs, a college scholarship program for local graduates, ribbon cutting ceremonies for member businesses, and a mobile application for iOS and Android. All offerings are designed to promote business growth, facilitate networking, and serve members through advocacy and professional development within the Waukegan community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chamber Membership Programs Tiered membership program offering Level 1 (1-5 employees, $200), Level 2 (5-10 employees, $325), Level 3 (11+ employees, $650), and Non-Profit ($150) options. Benefits include networking events, advertising, referrals, sponsorship opportunities, and member-to-member discounts.
• Signature Events and Event Ticketing Organizes and sells tickets for signature networking and professional development events including Business After Hours, Wake Up with Waukegan breakfasts, Lunch and Learn sessions, Annual Golf Outing, Holiday Parties, and Scoop Waukegan community events. Pricing varies by event type.
• Community Resource Guide & Member Directory Annual digital publication featuring a member business directory, community information, local history, accommodations, dining options, and tourist locations. Published as a flipbook and digital edition via FlipDocs.
• Scholarship Program College scholarship program offering up to two $1,000 scholarships annually to Waukegan high school graduates, awarded based on community service, interviews, and essay responses.
• Ribbon Cutting / Grand Opening Ceremonies Coordination and hosting of ribbon cutting ceremonies for member businesses celebrating grand openings and expansions, providing public visibility and community promotion.
• Member-to-Member Discount Program Discount program enabling Chamber members to offer exclusive deals to other members (announced for 2027 rollout).
• Waukegan Chamber Mobile App Smartphone application providing members and the public with access to the Chamber member directory, upcoming events, and chamber news. Available on Google Play and Apple App Store.
• Corporate Sponsorship Program Multi-tier corporate sponsorship opportunities for Chamber events and signature programs, including the Annual Golf Outing and Holiday Soiree.

Quantifiable outcome

• Two $1,000 scholarships awarded annually to Waukegan High School graduates

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Old National BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the Chamber, providing financial services to the local business community. Victor Gonzales serves as the contact.
• City of HopecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHealthcare provider and corporate sponsor offering cancer treatment and healthcare services in the Lake County area.
• American Place CasinocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and member, gaming and hospitality venue in Waukegan.
• MedlinecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and member, manufacturer of medical supplies headquartered in Waukegan.
• Vista Health SystemcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and member, health system providing medical services in Waukegan area.
• Express Employment ProfessionalscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and member, staffing agency providing employment services to local businesses.
• ARCOAcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor and member, manufacturing company in Waukegan.
• NRGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor that partially funds the Chamber's annual scholarship program for Waukegan High School students.
• City of WaukegancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner collaborating on economic development initiatives, ribbon cuttings, and community events. Steven Lenzi from City of Waukegan serves on the Board of Directors.
• Lake CountyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government partner, with Lake County Chairman Aaron Lawlor participating in Chamber events.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): A national nonprofit providing free mentoring, workshops, and resources to small businesses. While not a chamber, SCORE addresses an overlapping pain point (small business support, networking, professional development) that competes for the same member attention and sponsorship dollars.
• Main Street America: A community economic development organization that supports downtown and neighborhood revitalization through local programs. Comparable economic-development mission and local-network structure, though not a chamber per se.

Broad incumbents

• Illinois State Chamber of Commerce: The statewide chamber of commerce, of which local chambers like the Waukegan Chamber are typically members. Comparable advocacy, networking, and policy function but operating at the state level rather than municipal.
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce: The national umbrella chamber organization representing businesses across the United States. Operates in the same membership-organization category as the Waukegan Chamber but at vastly greater scale, providing advocacy and resources that local chambers channel to members.

Direct peers

• Lake County Chamber of Commerce (Illinois): A county-level chamber serving businesses across Lake County, Illinois — overlapping geography and member base with the Waukegan Chamber. Comparable mission of business advocacy, networking events, and economic development at a slightly larger geographic scope.

Regional players

• Lake County Visitors Bureau: The destination marketing organization for Lake County, Illinois — overlapping geography and overlapping interest in promoting Waukegan as a place to live, work, and visit. Comparable sponsorship/event model and member business directory, but tourism-led rather than business-led.
• Greater Chicago Chamber of Commerce: A metropolitan Chicago chamber serving businesses in the broader Chicago region. Comparable networking, advocacy, and event-driven membership model but operating at a regional scale rather than Waukegan-local.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/waukeganchamber
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZxXqUBqLKz
• Facebookfacebook.com/WaukeganChamber
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/city-of-waukegan-chamber-of-commerce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about City of Waukegan Chamber of Commerce