By bringing companies together, a Hub will help find business opportunities and assemble flexible teams to create new MM&E supply chains connected to Southland manufacturers. Through market research, inter-company cooperation, and networking, firms can combine resources to:
Creating a Metals Hub.

- enter new markets
- collaborate to extend market penetration
- gain and exchange knowledge
- acquire technologies and resources
- build economies of scale
In addition, as MM&E firm capabilities and capacity are assessed for collaborative supply chain formation, the Hub can also work with participating firms to enhance their technological and operational capabilities and address workforce and other needs.
Joining the Hub is open and free because of the vision, leadership and support of Cook County and the Southland Development Authority.
Stronger Together.
The Southern Suburbs of Chicago are rich with strong metals, machinery and equipment (MM&E) companies, large and small.
The Southland Development Authority, along with influential backers, is working to knit individual entities into a powerful metals collaborative—with the depth and scale to lead or support supply needs for any manufacturer, anywhere.
Qualify to participate.
Participation is open to any MM&E firm in the Southland. A simple, 3-step assessment process is taking place now via conference calls and small online group meetings.
- Introduce your metal-related business.
- Interview to explore capabilities, capacity, equipment, needs, and interest.
- Invitation/Acceptance.

Derek Sherman, Metals Hub lead
Contact us.
If you’d like to apply for the hub or shop our suppliers, email us at metalshub@southlanddevelopment.org.
About the Hub.
We started our Hub feasibility study with two goals—to solve shared problems and create new revenue opportunities for metal, machinery and equipment companies in the Chicago Southland. The qualification process is identifying shared needs and gauging manufacturers’ interest in working together to succeed individually. If you are an executive with an MM&E company, we’re here to listen and work with you.
Our target areas include the following communities in Cook County, IL:
Alsip │ Blue Island │ Calumet City │ Calumet Park │ Chicago Heights │ Crestwood │ Dolton │ East Hazel Crest
Ford Heights │ Glenwood │ Harvey │ Hazel Crest │ Homewood │ Lansing │ Lynwood │ Markham │ Olympia Fields
Posen │ Riverdale │ South Chicago Heights │ Sauk Village │ South Holland │ Steger │ Thornton