Minority business entrepreneurs in Peoria have a new place to take root.
Illinois' Governor attended the launch of the business incubator Advancing Development for Minority Entrepreneurs or ADME in Peoria.
The competitive ADME program provides training and assistance in getting a loan for new businesses in Peoria, Rockford and Chicago. Rauner told the 35 business leaders selected for ADME that entrepreneurs are the key to Illinois’ economic growth.
“Along with making sure that we put our money, our hard-earned taxpayer money, into our schools, in every community, in every neighborhood, so that we have the best schools in America, in every neighborhood.
Peoria was recently ranked one of the worst places in the country for African Americans to live, considering disparities in variables like education and income. Rauner says with entrepreneurs like them in mind, he’s advocating for business-friendly changes, like restructuring Illinois’ tax system.
When Rauner departed, many business owners in the room seemed cool to the idea they had anything in common with the venture capitalist turned governor. The state has been without a budget approaching two years. Minorities and the poor are disproportionately affected by the budget impasse.
Kevin McClure is a senior partner at AEON, a new mental health startup getting support from ADME. McClure says he would have liked to hear the governor talk about the budget.
“I don’t even imagine to know what it’s like to be a politician right now in Illinois, but the people of Illinois are hurting, and this has got to stop. We have got to move forward in some way, shape or form from here.”
AEON isn’t a Medicaid provider, but McClure says the business works with low-income clients for $25, due to a growing waiting list.