Naperville was first settled in 1831 by Captain Joseph Naper and his brother, John, and became a city on March 17, 1890. From a population of 2,600 in 1900, Naperville has become one of the fastest growing communities in the Midwest with a current population of over 130,000, and the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in that growth.

The Chamber was originally founded in 1913 as the Naperville Association of Commerce. Over the years, the organization has worked to improve the business climate. From working to improve the city's streets and sidewalks as early as 1917, to advocating the establishment of a paved highway going south in 1929 (it is now State Road 59), to lowering city electric rates in 1935 to encouraging downtown redevelopment, the Chamber has been at the forefront of economic growth and prosperity for our community.

In early 2004, the Chamber moved to the brand-new Main Street Promenade, ushering in an exciting new era. Having provided business leadership for nearly a century, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to many more years of "helping business succeed." 

Chamber historical highlights include:

1913 - Chamber founded as the Naperville Association of Commerce. 

1918 - Membership reached 65 Members as Naperville became the largest city in DuPage County with a population of 5,917.

1919 - The Association passed a resolution asking the city of Naperville to offer free electrical power to any new industries considering locating in Naperville.

1920 - Formed the Building and Loan Association in order to increase housing availability in the city. 

1924 - The Association of Commerce put on the city’s July 4th celebration and helped fund the Naperville Municipal Band. Membership dues for 1924 stood at $2.00 per member.

1929 - Worked to establish a paved Highway going south (ILL 59). 

1935 - A drive raised Membership from 47 to 122 by the end of the year. 

1947 - The Naperville Association of Commerce had changed its name to the Naperville Chamber of Commerce. 

1961 - Helped organize the Downtown Retail Council. Started the Greeter Service.

1964 - Hired the first full-time Executive Director and started publishing the official Chamber Bulletin, “Napernotes.”

1965 - The Chamber helped set up the Downtown Development Committee, joined the US Chamber of Commerce, and began publishing an annual membership directory.

1966 - Helped organize the Naperville Park District.

1967 - The Chamber moved its offices from 5 W. Jefferson to 232 S. Washington.

1968 - The Chamber changed its name to the Greater Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, revamped its organizational structure, and revised its fiscal year to run from January to December. An Executive Committee was formed which included the Chamber President, president-elect, treasurer, and the vice-presidents.

1979 - The Chamber office moved back to the downtown area. 

1983 - The first Community Leadership Program was held. The Chamber also moved its offices into the Sun Building at 9 W. Jackson and purchased its first computer.

1984 - Chamber membership reached the 500 mark.

1986 - The first two-day Business Expo was held, membership eclipsed 900 firms and the Chamber supported the construction of a parking deck in the downtown area.

1987 - The Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce became one of the largest Chambers in the State of Illinois as its membership reached 1000 during 1987. 

1989 - The Chamber of Commerce formed a partnership with the DuPage County Convention and Visitors Bureau, lobbied for the widening of Route 59 and produced its first video about the Naperville area.

1990 - The Chamber published its first Visitor’s Guide.

1991 - A one-day “Calling for Commerce,” Membership blitz brought 60 new members in only an eight hour span. The Chamber also helped fight legislation trying to significantly increase business property taxes in DuPage County.

1993 - The Chamber changed its logo to the one it presently uses. 

1994 - With the help of its Health Care Council, the Chamber was allowed to offer its members a cooperative health care purchasing program, and moved to 131 West Jefferson Ave., where its offices would remain for ten years. 

1995 - The Chamber established a home page on the Internet, received a $10,000 grant to initiate a drug free work place program for Chamber members, and with the help of AT&T offered discounted long distance telephone rates for Chamber members.

1996 - The Chamber created a vision statement, adopted a new mission statement and rewrote its goals. 

1997 - The Chamber announced its "2,000 by 2000" campaign. With a membership of 1,200 the Chamber needed to add 30 members every month to achieve this number by the end of the financial year 2000. An Employee Assistance Program was also introduced as a result of a partnership with Linden Oaks Hospital, and the first Leadership Academy was launched.

1998 - The Small Business of the Year Awards were inaugurated, with Hitchcock Landscape Design Group the first winner.

2000 - The Chamber reached its goal of 2,000 Members! Also that year, the Business Greeter Program was introduced along with the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Free drug testing for Members became another benefit of membership later that year.

2001 - The tradition of the Changing of the Gavel began, taking place at the annual Inaugural Ball. The South Chamber Alliance was formed to support the growing south Naperville area.

2002 - Community Leadership celebrated its twentieth anniversary. Noted speaker and author, Jack Canfield, creator of the popular “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books kicked off a highly-successfully series of “Peak Performance” programs.

2003 - The Chamber made plans to move from its offices at 131 W. Jefferson to the Main Street Promenade.  The Chamber worked diligently to increase its advocacy efforts on behalf of its Members with local, sate, and national officials and legislators.

2004 - The Chamber moved to new offices at 55 South Main Street, Suite 351, in the new Main Street Promenade and launched the Promenade Business Center. The Chamber also successfully launched a new website which enhanced marketing capabilities for our Members and community. 

2005 - The Chamber's Board of Directors implemented a new Membership Model, Business Connect, giving all existing Members two years to transition their Membership.  The Chamber also helped celebrate Naperville's 175th Anniversary by publishing 175 Years of Success (still available for purchase).  The Chamber also founded the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee (NACPAC), a separate organization to help further the Chamber's legislative agenda.