Olympia Fields is a southern suburb of Chicago, located 25 miles from the Loop. The upscale village was founded in 1913 by Charles Bach who was looking to establish a golf club catering to Chicago’s wealthy. Bach envisioned the area of lush woodlands and rolling terrain to be ideal for not just one but several golf courses and a surrounding residential community. Bach’s 72 hole Olympia Fields Country Club hosted the 2003 U.S. Open on its fabled North Course.

Olympia Fields is about a 30 minute drive from downtown Chicago via Interstate 57 and the Dan Ryan Expressway. Express Metra trains reach the Randolph Street Station in the Loop in 45 minutes from the Village’s two commuter stations. Interstate 80, which runs across the country, intersects I-57 just a few miles north of Olympia Fields. Eight interstate highways crisscross the south suburbs: I-57, I-55, I-80, I-94, I-294, I-355 and I-394.

Currently, Midway Airport (22 miles away) and O’Hare International Airport (45 miles away) serve the area with passenger and freight service via every major airline. A proposed third airport in Peotone, 18 miles south of Olympia Fields along Interstate 57, is expected to serve 2.5 million passengers annually and be a significant factor in the area's economic development.

Olympia Fields is considered part of the Chicago Southland which encompasses roughly 71 individual communities and represents more than 2.5 million residents. Driving the region’s economy is its ready access to all modes of transportation and labor. The region’s workforce is well-educated and welltrained thanks to its excellent school systems, colleges and universities. More than 1,200 companies contribute to the strength of the Southland’s economy. Among the well-recognized corporate names in the area are Owens-Corning, Turtle Wax, Best Foods, Bliss & Laughlin, Clark Oil, Mobil, Ford, Clorox and Signode.

Economic incentives such as low interest loans, TIF Financing and Enterprise Zones are used to attract and spur business investment and industry. Over 35 banks and savings institutions serve the area, foster business growth and provide a sound economic foundation. The Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce focuses on supporting the growth of local firms and attracting new business development. The Chamber has undertaken a five year strategic initiative which seeks to create 10,000 new primary jobs, 14,980 service sector and support jobs, increase capital investment in the area by $750,000,000 and increase area payrolls by $473,000,000 annually. According to State of Illinois figures, the number of private sector jobs in the region increased by 11,000 in 2004.

Olympia Fields enjoys a thriving commercial economy largely based around the Governor’s Office Park which totals 12 office buildings on 61 acres of land. Olympia Fields’ largest employers include Saint James Hospital, Beverly Bank and the Olympia Fields Park District. The current population of Olympia Fields is 4,732. Population projections from the northeast Illinois Planning commission predict that the village will grow both in population and household formation over the next 20 years. The current rate of population growth is projected to increase by 51%, while household formation is expected to grow by 75% from 1,479 in 2000 to 2,584 in 2020. The average home price in the Village is $340,660, the highest in the southern suburbs of Chicago. Average household income within a mile of Governor’s Office Park is $142,364, well above local, metropolitan and national averages.