The Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center and 1871 announced that McDonald’s will be named the 2017 Corporate Champion at the 10th Annual Momentum Awards Dinner on November 2 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel Chicago. McDonald’s is being honored for its continued commitment to the Chicagoland community and economy. The company announced in the past year the relocation of its headquarters to downtown Chicago. “Innovation is key to our commitment to building a better McDonald’s for our customers so to be recognized by a technology leader like 1871 is an honour,” said McDonald’s President and CEO Steve Easterbook. “We look forward to returning our headquarters to Chicago in the spring, opening the doors to a modern environment that enhances our ability to innovate on new and better experiences for our customers.”

1871 and McDonald’s have partnered on creative and inspiring events, like the recent “NEXT GEN: Entrepreneurs You Should Know” event, which brought together entrepreneurs ages 12 to 18 to share their stories of founding impactful companies. Additionally, McDonald’s has participated in 1871’s Innovation Day program, which aims to bring together budding startups with large corporations. “McDonald’s is an iconic example of how Chicagoland businesses can begin with humble roots and become internationally recognized giants,” said Jim O’Connor, Jr., CEC Board Chairman. “We couldn’t be more proud to call them a partner, and we thank them for their continued commitment and leadership in the local economy.”