As One Chicago returns for the new season on October 7, its lasting impact on Chicago’s economy comes into focus. Beyond the screen, the franchise has supported jobs, local businesses and opportunities for the city’s next generation of production professionals.
According to an October 1 announcement from NBCUniversal, One Chicago has supported approximately 1,500 jobs per season and generated nearly $2 billion in economic impact across Chicago and Illinois over its run.
The figures reflect the production footprint of Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D. and Chicago Med. For Chicago’s film industry, the franchise’s longevity means sustained production activity and business for the vendors who help keep those shows running.
Chicago Fire’s cast and crew celebrated production of the series’ 300th episode in Chicago in September, NBCUniversal confirmed. The series premiered in 2012 and became the foundation for the interconnected One Chicago franchise.
The economic impact extends beyond the people working directly on set. In a separate report published October 13, 2025, NBCUniversal said the productions had supported more than 5,000 small businesses over the preceding decade.
For the season covered in that earlier report, the three shows collectively spent more than $6.5 million at over 1,200 restaurants and caterers. Those purchases offer a concrete example of how television production spending reaches businesses throughout the region.
Workforce development is another part of the franchise’s local presence. In 2017, NBCUniversal helped launch the CineCares Workforce Training Program through a partnership with Wolf Entertainment, the CineCares Foundation and IATSE Local 476.
The program provides local young adults with practical experience on Chicago productions and helps them build careers in film and television. It also covers associate fees that can pose a financial barrier to entering the industry.
As of NBCUniversal’s 2025 report, 90 trainees had participated, with more than half of those on the union track earning their union cards.
Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Chicago P.D. return to NBC on Wednesday, October 7, at 7 p.m., 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. Central, respectively. New episodes stream the following day on Peacock.
