Peoria – The Peoria County Board’s Minority Business Ad-hoc Committee is hosting the first of a series of quarterly meetings for minority, women, and disadvantaged business owners and entrepreneurs (collectively, MBEs) on Thursday, February 28. Local MBEs are encouraged to attend one of two meetings held at the Tri-County Urban League that day: 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. or 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. The Tri-County Urban League is located at 317 S. MacArthur Highway in Peoria. Each meeting will feature two panels: one of small business service providers and a second panel comprised of local minority, women, and/or disadvantaged business owners who will offer advice and answer questions of those present.

Committee Chair and County Board Member Rachael Parker explains, “Not only will these quarterly meetings help Peoria County continue to identify specific areas of need to facilitate expansion and development of minority businesses, but they also offer us a more public venue to raise awareness of business opportunities and resources currently available in our community.” Previously, the Ad-hoc Committee garnered input from the MBE community through a needs assessment survey and a series of outreach meetings held last year.

The Minority Business Ad-hoc Committee meets regularly, at 4:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month in Room 402 of the Peoria County Courthouse, 324 Main Street. Committee meetings are open to the public. For more information on the Committee or its quarterly public meetings, please contact Mark Rothert, Assistant County Administrator for Economic Development, at (309) 672-6056.