County Board: Minority Business Enterprise Ad-hoc Committee
Peoria County's Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Ad-hoc Committee was created to address a glaring lack of county dollars spent on contracts with, and procurements from, minority, women, and disadvantaged-owned businesses (collectively known as MBEs). Representatives from minority advocacy groups, local trade unions, institutes of higher education, private business, and the faith-based community join Peoria County board members and staff on this committee.
The MBE Committee's mission is to create an environment that stimulates greater participation from all parts of the community with particular emphasis on new and minority owned businesses. The MBE Committee has adopted a strategic plan to achieve the following goals:
- Participation: Increase Peoria County bid awards to MBEs
- Capacity: Build MBE capacity within the community
- Outreach: Raise awareness of the opportunities and resources available to new and minority business owners
The MBE Committee strives to create an environment that fosters expansion of small businesses and serves as a catalyst for new enterprises. The Committee intends to elevate and stimulate MBE growth, cultivate mutually beneficial partnerships, expand financial sustainability for local businesses, and engage the community to improve the quality of life for all citizens of Peoria County. Eventually, Peoria County's MBE initiative will become the leading model of excellence in county governments nationwide.
To achieve its mission, the MBE Committee recently formed three sub-committees, each charged with advancing one of the committee's three goals.
MBE Sub-committees
Participation: Increase MBE participation within the Peoria County organization
In the past three years, the MBE Committee has experienced much progress, most notably a ten-fold increase in spending with minority-owned businesses over the previous five-year period and an increase in the County's bid threshold. To simplify the bidding process, the County has enhanced its website to include information on becoming a vendor and how to register for a bid. We have also contracted with CertifiedMinorityBiz.com, an online tool that notifies minority business owners of compatible bid opportunities with Peoria County.
Capacity: Build MBE capacity within the community
With assistance from the City of Peoria, the Black Chamber of Commerce, the State of Illinois, and other partner agencies, Peoria County was able to develop a comprehensive database of local minority-owned businesses. Establishing this list gives the County a starting point from which to build capacity.
Peoria County provides financial assistance to entrepreneurs through its Government Assistance Program or GAP Loan Program. Entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to expand their business are able to get low interest loans through Peoria County to help fill the "GAP" that may exist between bank financing and personal investment. For more information on the GAP Loan Program, please call (309) 672-6056.
The MBE Committee hopes to create a "one-stop shop" to serve as a central resource for entrepreneurs. Short term tasks include sowing partnerships with local advocacy groups and service providers, cultivating a successful mentoring program from these partnerships, and facilitating resources for budding businesses. These steps will increase MBE capacity within the community by providing a conduit from conception to completion for entrepreneurs and existing MBEs hoping to expand.
Outreach: Raise awareness of the opportunities and resources available to new and minority business owners
The MBE Committee is using many outlets to raise awareness of opportunities and resources that are helpful to local MBEs. They are also bringing attention to minority business owners' success stories. Outreach methods include articles in local business publications, e-Newsletter features, participation in business trade shows, periodic workshops and forums, and personal contacts with local business owners. Raising awareness of the Committee and its efforts is crucial to the program's success; if people do not know a resource is available to them, they cannot benefit from the resource.
Interested entrepreneurs and minority business owners may contact Peoria County for more information about our MBE initiative:
Purchasing Officer: (309) 672-6931
EEO Specialist: (309) 495-4860
MBE Committee's Strategic Plan
Other Resources
Illinois Business Financial Services
124 SW Adams Street, Suite 190
Peoria, IL 61602
(309) 674-5800
www.ibfs.org
Illinois Black Chamber of Commerce
331 Fulton Street, Suite 530
Peoria, IL. 61602
(309) 740-4430
www.ilbcc.org
Illinois Finance Authority
100 S.W. Water Street
Peoria, IL. 61602
(309) 495-5959
www.il-fa.com
Peoria Black Chamber of Commerce
331 Fulton Street, Suite 530
Peoria, IL. 61602
(309) 672-1365
Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC)
Illinois Central College, North Campus
5407 N. University
Arbor Hall, Suite 126
Peoria, IL. 61635
(309) 690-6818
www.icc.edu/ptac
Small Business Administration
Chapter #0090
100 S.W. Water Street
Peoria, IL. 61602
(309) 676-0755
www.scorepeoria.org
Turner Center for Entrepreneurship
Illinois Small Business Development Center
1501 W. Bradley Avenue
141 Jobst Hall
Peoria, IL. 61625
(309) 677-4321
www.bradley.edu/turnercenter