Peoria County is looking to get federal help in landing money for high poverty areas. The County Board will consider allowing staff to apply for a federal ‘Promise Zone’ status for areas on Peoria’s South Side and East Bluff. Mark Rothert is the county’s Assistant Administrator for Economic Development. He says the status gives the areas bonus points when applying for federal grant funding:
“It directly puts a bright spotlight on the poverty issue in Peoria. Which, I think, a lot of times in the past several years, or even decades, we’ve never really addressed head on as a community. And so I think this is one way to do that.”
Rothert says, if successful, the County would also set aside $500,000 to loan businesses in the Promise Zone. He says applicants for the next round of Promise Zone areas should hear back by early next year.