Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc

12/06/2025

The Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc will be adding 3-5 new board members, an advisory board and committees for 2026. We will focus on our 5-year $1 Billion Economic Agenda (Business and Community Development and Workforce Training). We will be seeking to raise $1 Million Match for a reimbursable grant.

03/08/2025

09/16/2024

If you are in the cannabis industry feel free to join us for this free networking event. Pass the word.

02/10/2024

CBCC Pres/CEO Arness Dancy at the Inaugural Chicago Titan 100 of Industry at Navy Pier.

05/25/2023

Black Business Owners and Entrepreneurs you are invited to our monthly networking event. Share with other business owners. See u there.

02/26/2022

The Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce celebrates Black History Month with our black economic agenda:

The CBCC agenda "Sector Development - Black Business Districts - Community Benefits Initiatives"

Englewood Sector Development - Sector Development - Black Business Districts.

Coming Soon - Englewood Halsted Street Project Phase 1 - 59 units townhomes and apartments and 20,000 sq ft retail/commercial space. $20.9 million. Entire project $70 million 240 Units townhomes/apartments and 20,000 square feet retail/commerce space. Total project will take 3 years.

Englewood Renaissance 1 - 260 units of for sale housing including single and multi family. Investment property, Airbnb, cooperatives and rentals within 1.2 miles of the Englewood Halsted Street Project. Estimated $50 million. 5 years

Englewood Renaissance 2 - 150 - 250 units of renovated properties. Rent to own program. Estimated $30 million. 5 years
Englewood Renaissance 3 - Commercial and mixed use developments along 63rd Street. Halsted to Ashland. Estimated $15 million. 5 years.

All projects are in opportunity zones.

We have been working with Deputy Mayor of Neighborhood Development Samir Mayekar and Deputy Commissioner of Housing Brian Esenberg.

Arness Dancy - Founder/Pres/CEO
Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc

Chenise Offord - Chairperson
Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce Inc.

01/20/2022

January 19, 2022

Greetings Honorable Chicago City Council Black Caucus Members:

The Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically supports the Rivers McCormick East Casino proposal for the following reasons:

• Location, Location, Location (The eastside of Lakeshore Drive is the ideal location and would bring additional value added development to the South Loop and the Chicagoland region). Generating contracts, jobs and a tax base.
• The $500 million renovation of an underutilized asset would be a huge economic shot in the arm for Chicago taxpayers and residents. McCormick Place plus the Arie Crown Theatre would be renovated.
• The Rivers McCormick East Casino would take 12 months to build. Whereas new construction will take 2-3 years to build. Cost of new construction is higher and will lower the return on investment (ROI) for taxpayers.
• The Rivers McCormick East Casino would start generating revenue in 12 months.
• Revenues generated from the casino could be used to help pay down the City of Chicago massive pension obligations. In addition revenue could be used for economic development, public safety and social programs.
• A majority of the construction team will be minority. 51% of the construction team will be minority.
• 25% of the ownership team will be minority.

The Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc strongly encourages the City Council Black Caucus to support the Rivers McCormick East Casino proposal. If you have any questions feel free in contacting us at (708)964.9761.

Best Regards,
Arness Dancy Chenise Offord
Arness Dancy, Founder/Pres/CEO Chenise Offord-Chairperson
Co-Chair Housing Committee
Co-Chair Real Estate and Economic Development Committee
Co-Chair Public Policy Committee

cc: Honorable Alderman Pat Dowell (3rd Ward)
Honorable Alderman Sophia King (4th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Leslie Hairston (5th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Roderick Sawyer (6th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Gregory Mitchell (7th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Michelle Harris (8th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Anthony Beale (9th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Stephanie D. Coleman (16th Ward)
Honorable Alderman David Moore (17th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Derrick Curtis (18th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Jeanette B. Taylor (20th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Howard Brookins (21st Ward)
Honorable Alderman Michael Scott Jr (24th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Walter Burnett Jr (27th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Jason Ervin (28th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Chris Taliaferro (29th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Carrie Austin (34th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Emma Mitts (37th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Matt Martin (47th Ward)
Honorable Alderman Maria Hadden (49th Ward)

09/28/2021

Special Congrats to our Pres-CEO and lifelong Englewood resident Arness Dancy on being 1 of 25 nationwide recipients of an opportunity zone scholarship awarded by the national Opportunity Zones workgroups.

It is an honor to collaborate nationwide with Developers, General Contractors, Investors, Lawyers and Accountants as we work on best practices in Opportunity Zones Development.

We look forward in continue to bring investment to communities around the Chicagoland market place.

09/25/2021

Wishing the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce happy

09/13/2021

As part of Governor JB Pritzker’s overall economic recovery strategy, the $250 million Back to Business (B2B) grant program aims to deploy small businesses recovery grants for those hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. The B2B grant program builds on the success of last year's Business Interrup...

08/01/2021

The CBCC would like to extend its sincerest condolences to Harry C. Alford and the National Black Chamber of Commerce on the passing of its Co-Founder Kay Debow (Alford). Kay was an extraordinary woman and business executive. I had the opportunity to meet Harry and Kay back in 1999 when I attended the NBCC Convention in New Orleans. It was the best move of my life as the NBCC welcomed us with open arms. The NBCC taught us how to use economic public policy to fight for economic opportunity such as Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights of 1964, Section 3 of the HUD Act, New Market Tax Credit Program. We were told go back to your cities and town and fight. We did just that for the last 20 years.

The NBCC accepted us when we couldn't get support here in Chicago for our black economic agenda.

Job well done Kay u will be missed.

Arness Dancy, Pres/CEO
Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc and the CBCC Board