Peoria County’s program aimed at helping minority and women business owners is preparing to enter its next phase. But Peoria Public Radio’s Alex Rusciano reports on some possible growing pains with the program:
The Minority Business Enterprise Contractor Development Initiative has been about five years in the making. It includes the Minority Business Development Institute and the Black Chamber of Commerce. But one contractor who’s signed-up two months ago says he hadn’t heard anything from the consultant running the development assistance program. Andre McKnight owns Louis Michael Construction in Peoria.
”More communication, communication is the ley with anything. If you let me know you’re at a standstill and that you’re working on some things, I can have more patience with you.”
The consulting firm running the program says it’s been having some problems getting local contractor’s to enter business information online at CDIPeoria.com. It says it’s taking more time to instead get the information over the phone. Larry Ivory heads the Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce. He says area contractors need to feel engaged when signing up and going through the program.
“A point that perhaps we overlooked, but nonetheless a very good point so I think we learn, we listen and we make ourselves better.”
The marketing, finance and bonding classes are set to start by early next month.