Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber Endorses Alexi Giannoulias for Chicago Mayor (Chicago, IL) — The Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber of Commerce has endorsed Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias for mayor of Chicago in the 2027 election, saying the city needs a new approach to economic development, public safety and its relationship with the business community.
The chamber said it voted decisively to support Giannoulias after conducting a comprehensive review of the current field of mayoral candidates.
In announcing the endorsement, the organization pointed to several challenges facing Chicago’s economy, including post-pandemic commercial vacancies, the departure of major employers and what it described as an adversarial relationship between City Hall and the private sector.
The chamber said its endorsement places it alongside other business organizations and neighborhood chambers that support Giannoulias’ economic agenda.
“Chicago’s business community requires an immediate course correction and a partner in City Hall who understands that economic growth and public safety go hand-in-hand,” a chamber spokesperson said. “Alexi Giannoulias has demonstrated a unique ability to bridge the gap between labor and capital.”
The spokesperson said Giannoulias’ emphasis on administrative competence, technological modernization and safety in commercial areas could help improve conditions for businesses throughout the city.
The chamber also argued that Chicago’s economic difficulties have had an especially severe effect on small and Black-owned businesses. It cited limited access to capital, lengthy permitting processes and other bureaucratic barriers as obstacles that prevent businesses from surviving or expanding.
According to figures cited by the chamber, approximately 80% of Black-owned small businesses fail within their first 18 months. The organization also said Black entrepreneurs represent about 11% of Illinois’ marketplace but that only 2% successfully grow into businesses with employees.
The chamber said Giannoulias’ proposals would address some of the bureaucratic delays contributing to those outcomes.
A central part of his platform, according to the organization, is reducing government bureaucracy by modernizing Chicago’s licensing, permitting and zoning systems. The chamber pointed to the “Skip-the-Line” program implemented through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office as evidence that Giannoulias can simplify government services and reduce waiting times.
The organization also highlighted Giannoulias’ commitment to expanding the city’s tax base without placing additional financial burdens on existing businesses. His approach includes recruiting major corporations to Chicago while supporting local startups and helping smaller companies grow.
Public safety is another major component of the agenda. The chamber said safer commercial corridors would help restore pedestrian traffic, strengthen tourism and protect retail districts across Chicago’s 50 wards.
The endorsement also reflects the chamber’s support for what it described as a more collaborative relationship between City Hall and the private sector. The organization said Giannoulias has committed to working with regional business groups and giving employers and entrepreneurs a meaningful role in decisions affecting the city’s economy.
“We are entering a critical chapter for Chicago’s financial future,” the chamber spokesperson said. “Alexi Giannoulias brings the entrepreneurial background and executive experience necessary to manage our city efficiently, attract new investment and lead a pro-growth renaissance that lifts up every storefront, including the Black-owned businesses that form the backbone of our neighborhoods.”
Greater Chicagoland Black Chamber Endorses Alexi Giannoulias for Chicago Mayor
