City of Aurora

With a population of 157,267 according to the 2003 special census, the City of Aurora has steadily grown throughout the years to become the second largest city in the state. The City is accessible through five interchanges on the East/West Tollway. Corporate offices and commercial growth on the city’s east and west sides continue to expand the city’s boundaries, now stretching from Route 59 on the east to portions beyond Orchard Road on the west. The far east side of the city includes the regional Westfield Fox Valley Shopping Mall and residential areas, and is projected to house 60,000 people within the next twenty years. The city extends into four counties, Kane, DuPage, Kendall, and Will. There are six school districts and seven townships covered within the city limits. There are four historic districts and a large number of individual landmark designations for many of the city’s buildings. Read more about the City of Aurora.

City of Naperville

With a population of approximately 145,000, Naperville is the fourth largest city in Illinois. Located 28 miles west of downtown Chicago, Naperville business owners enjoy easy access to major interstate highways, O’Hare International and Midway airports and passenger and freight railroad systems. Naperville is a major business center with several national and multi-national corporate headquarters located along or within the city limits. From the quaint shops in the historic downtown to the bustling Route 59 shopping malls, Naperville is home to many of Chicagoland’s most popular retailers and a wide assortment of four-star and casual dining establishments.

Major area private employers include Lucent Technologies, Nicor Gas, BP Amoco, Tellabs, Ondeo Nalco, ConAgra Foods, Laidlaw, Calamos Investments, Solar Communications and Kraft Foods. In April 2008, Fortune Small Business magazine listed Naperville as #29 in its Top 100 Best Places to Live and Launch for 2008. The list ranks individual cities and towns within 296 major metropolitan statistical areas based on business friendliness and lifestyle offerings and followed this up with interviews of entrepreneurs, local officials and business expert.