Peoria city leaders adopted a five-year strategic plan in 2024 that includes an embrace of diversity, equity and inclusion as one of its six key priorities.
City manager Patrick Urich says that priority remains in place amid efforts by the Trump Administration to roll back DEI initiatives all across American government.
Urich says the Peoria’s DEI office focuses not only on employment opportunities, but also including minority businesses on public works projects.
“It’s important that we stress that there are many in our community, particularly people of color, who are disadvantaged and have been disadvantaged by systems in this community,” said Urich. “We need to work to make sure that we address that, and that’s something we will continue to do and that we feel strongly that we need to do.”
Urich also noted that the city remains a committed partner in working with the Peoria City/County Joint Commission on Racial Justice and Equity.
Asked if the city is concerned about a potential loss of federal grant funding because of its commitment to DEI, Urich said “not at this time.”
“How the federal government decides how they want to allocate their resources, we’ll have to wait and see what that is,” he said.
The city announced it will host an Equity In Procurement Expo in partnership with the NAACP Peoria Branch, Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce and other partner organizations on March 27 from 5-8 p.m. at the Peoria Civic Center.
The event is aimed at connecting minority business owners, entrepreneurs and construction professionals with resources and other opportunities to grow their businesses. Attendees will be able to learn more about government procurement, register with the city’s minority and women-owned business registry, and participate in panels on regulations, finance and banking, partnering with contractors, and effective bidding.
