Black Business Power Summit: ILBCC Calls for Unified Economic Action to Close Illinois’ Business and Wealth Gap


Black Business Power Summit: ILBCC Calls for Unified Economic Action to Close Illinois’ Business and Wealth Gap

Two‑day statewide conference at Wind Creek Southland rallies Black organizations to pool resources, scale businesses, and strengthen economic influence.

The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce (ILBCC) will convene its 21st Annual Statewide Conference on September 9–10 at the Wind Creek Chicago Southland Casino & Hotel, 1300 Broadway Avenue, Hazel Crest, bringing together the state’s most influential Black business, civic, and economic leaders for a high‑stakes call to collective action.

With DEI rollbacks now reshaping corporate and government priorities, ILBCC is urging Black organizations, contractors, executives, and entrepreneurs to strategically align their resources to accelerate business growth, expand contracting opportunities, and close the widening wealth gap. The conference theme, “No Longer Divided,” signals a shift toward coordinated economic strategy across industries and communities.

Dr. Larry Ivory, Founder and President of ILBCC and the chairman of the Board of the National Black Chamber of Commerce in Washington DC, said unity is now an economic imperative.

“No one can do this by themselves,” said Dr Ivory, who established the organization 29 years ago. The industries must come together to grow the business sector in the African American community. We can no longer afford to be divided amongst ourselves.”

He added, “If we stand together with a clear and decisive voice, we can scale our businesses, increase employment, and change the economic trajectory of our communities.”

Dr. Ivory said Illinois is home to 188,000 Black‑owned businesses, yet only 6,000 have employees, leaving 97 percent unable to scale. Meanwhile, white male‑owned firms receive 95 percent of government contracts, despite representing just 31 percent of the state’s population. The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce (ILBCC) conference aims to reverse these trends by equipping Black businesses with the partnerships, capital pathways, and policy influence needed to compete.

Dr. Deloris Thomas, President of the Joseph Business School in Forest Park, which has launched a campaign to help 100,000 businesses of color scale their businesses to at least $1 million, will deliver a message on the power of unified economic ecosystems.

“Around the world, unified, targeted economic strategies have transformed entire nations,” Dr. Thomas said. “When we collaborate and work in the best interest of the collective, we rise. That’s how we build an inclusive economic ecosystem that lifts all tides.”

The conference will feature national and statewide leaders including John W. Rogers, Jr., Chairman & Co‑CEO of Ariel Investments; Former NBA Star Terry Cummings, President & CEO of The Economic Club of Chicago; Dr. John E. Harmon, Sr., President & CEO of the African American Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey; and executives from ComEd, University of Illinois, SBA, and leading Black contractor organizations.

Registration is open now.

  • One Day General Admission: $200
  • Two‑Day Full Access Pass: $375
  • Register at ILBCC.org/conference or contact info@ilbcc.org.

ABOUT THE ILLINOIS STATE BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (ILBCC): Founded in 1997 by Dr. Larry Ivory, The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce (ILBCC) is the state’s leading advocate for Black‑owned businesses, representing a network of more than 100,000 enterprises across Illinois. ILBCC’s mission is to drive economic growth, expand access to capital, increase participation in public and private contracting, and close the racial wealth gap by building a scalable, competitive ecosystem of Black‑owned firms. Through statewide chapters, strategic partnerships, policy engagement, and industry‑focused initiatives, The Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce (ILBCC) supports entrepreneurs in sectors ranging from construction and professional services to technology and energy, while serving as a trusted advisor to government agencies, corporations, and institutions seeking to advance supplier diversity and inclusive economic development.

For information about the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce (ILBCC) and the conference, visit https://www.ilbcc.org. 

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