Chicago has one of the world’s largest and most diversified economies, with nearly 4.3 million employees and a gross regional product (GRP) of more than $500 billion. It is an efficient economic powerhouse that is home to more than 400 major corporate headquarters, including 29 Fortune 500 headquarters. Among the most diverse economies in the nation, Chicago is a key player in every sector from risk management innovation to manufacturing to information. Chicago continues to grow: total trade reached $177 billion in 2011 (up from $133 billion in 2007). Chicago is top-ranked for economic potential among major cities across the world, and in 2011, World Business Chicago identified more than 300 new & expanding facilities announced, under development or completed in the metro area, representing a total of more than 18 million square feet (up from 14 million in 2010) and $2.6 billion in economic development activity (up from $2 billion in 2010). In 2011, Inc. Magazine included 212 companies from the Chicago region in its annual list of the 5,000 fastest-growing companies in the U.S., placing Chicago 3rd among metro regions for number of jobs created by ‘Inc. 5000’ companies; the city itself was represented by 84 companies on the list. Chicago Business Growth Profile 2011 (pdf).