Empowering small business in Chicago’s Southland for over two decades.

Sponsor Spotlight

ComEd, an Exelon Company

Utility

After a century of service, everyday we still ask the question, "How can we better serve our customers?"

What is today Comed began as the Western Edison Light Company, one of several companies owned by inventor & researcher Thomas Edison. As you may know, Edison experimented with electric currents & created an early light bulb that wasn't ready for mass use. It didn't last long enough. One of Edison's employees, African-American draftsman & engineer, Lewis Latimer, perfected the longer-lasting carbon filament, which would revolutionize the world. In July, 1892, another Edison employee moved to Chicago to run Edison's local company, Chicago Edison. Sam Insull had a sharp business mind & eagerly increased his knowledge of electricity. Through improved marketing & increased demand for electric lighting, Commonwealth Edison was born in September 1907.

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ: EXC), a Fortune 200 energy company with approximately 10 million customers. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population.

ComEd's service territory borders Iroquois County to the south (roughly Interstate 80), the Wisconsin border to the north, the Iowa border to the west and the Indiana border to the east.

Click here to read more about ComEd

SSSBA 2025 22nd Annual Summit Awards

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We ❤️ Entrepreneurs!

Congratulations! You’ve taken the first steps in pursuing your dream, starting a business. South Suburban Small Business Association is here to help. Not only do we love entrepreneurs, we love Chicago’s Southland. (It’s in the name!) We’ve been connecting people with resources in the South Suburbs for over two decades. Join us and find out how we can help support your dream.

We Connect People

Listen, it’s not rocket science

It comes down to good old-fashioned networking. We happen to have one of the largest networks in Chicago Southland. The best way for your business to succeed is to network with other people. People who are like you, just starting out, or people who have been-there-done-that. By helping you make these connections, we help your business grow. Simple!

“Great! How are these connections made?”

We’re glad you asked! Like we said, we’ve been serving the Chicago Southland for over two decades. And in that time, we’ve made a bunch of friends. (A few thousand friends!) We host events and invite all of our friends. Friends with businesses big, small and everything in-between. Once we get everyone in a room, the magic happens!

Events

We host events that not only connect you with other people, they allow you to learn and connect with resources across The Southland.

After/BeforeHours

Before and After Hours, we bring experts in to teach a skill, trade or new niche that will benefit your business.

Holiday Party

The Holiday Party is always one of the first of the season, we partner with Aunt Martha's to collect donations to those in need while coming together for some much needed networking!