Grounded in Chicago's civic pulse
Whether you're a newsroom chasing the next budget headline, a business scouting leads, or a resident curious about City Hall spending, our team of data journalists is ready to help you interpret Chicago's $16.6 billion municipal ecosystem.
We work across Chicago's neighborhoods, from Uptown to Pullman, surfacing city salary data, capital projects, and economic development leads. Choose the path that best matches your request.
Share story leads about Chicago agencies, request coverage of council votes, or ask how to trace payroll lines by department.
Tap into raw overtime feeds, overtime burn-down dashboards, and predictive insights for Chicago's growth industries.
Book our editors for interviews on pensions, track record spending by mayoral priority, or secure visuals for your next investigation.
Pick a focus area to see where investment, jobs, and civic innovation are accelerating across Chicago's 77 neighborhoods.
Chicago's central business district remains the city's revenue engine with tourism rebounding above 2019 levels and more than 110,000 weekday commuters returning to the Loop.
Opportunity: Pair hospitality leads with upcoming hotel renovations near the Chicago Riverwalk.
Explore source datasets ↗Chicago's Money was born in Bronzeville, inspired by community organizers who needed clearer views into City Hall payrolls. Today we publish explainers that connect the dots between the City Council, the Department of Finance, and neighborhood-level impact.
We trace Invest South/West commitments, Small Business Improvement Funds, and TIF spending to show where streetscapes and storefronts are transforming.
Monitor CTA ridership, Chicago Department of Transportation capital plans, and O'Hare modernization contracts to inform logistics and travel partners.
Track Chicago's tree canopy investments, Department of Water Management tunnel projects, and 311 climate-ready requests to forecast sustainability opportunities.
Share how Chicago's Money can support your project. We respond within one business day and route messages to the right beat reporter or analyst.
Our hybrid newsroom meets inside the historic Civic Opera Building overlooking the Chicago River. Schedule an appointment to walk through live dashboards and map overlays tailored to your beat.
Chicago's MoneySelect a travel mode to reveal tailored tips.
The Loop elevated lines and Metra commuter trains deliver you within two blocks. Use the CTA Trip Planner for precise timing.