They were having a tough time before COVID-19, too.
That s the lament of Larry Ivory, president and CEO of the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce. He also is current chairman of the National Black Chamber of Commerce.
Based in Downtown Peoria, the state chamber seeks to create sustainable opportunities and reduce economic disparities for businesses owned by minority groups and by women.
According to the chamber, more than 144,000 Black-owned businesses exist in Illinois. But Ivory estimated less than 1% of the businesses in Peoria are owned and operated by African Americans.
In a recent conversation, Ivory discussed local Black-owned enterprises, why local residents can be mindful of them and how local governments and other entities can assist them.
PEORIA – The lights will soon be on 24/7 in a Downtown office building that has been dark since 2016.
About 400 employees will work in OSF HealthCare’s new OnCall building at 330 SW Adams St., the former Caterpillar LD building.
“It’s been sitting for a long time,” said Jim Mormann, chief executive officer of Integrated Solutions at OSF HealthCare, while standing in the lobby of the newly remodeled building Tuesday morning. “It was a dormant building owned by Caterpillar that hadn’t had any activity in five years.”
OSF purchased the building not long after acquiring the historic Block and Kuhl building, which is currently being remodeled to house OSF’s corporate headquarters.
PEORIA – The old Cornerstone Building at the edge of Downtown Peoria is quiet again. For how long depends on COVID-19, apparently.
Obed & Isaac s Microbrewery and Eatery has been closed for about two weeks. A post on the Facebook page of the restaurant at 321 NE Madison Ave. stated coronavirus-pandemic restrictions resulted in the closure. We will be back open and stronger than ever, when the time is right, a post from Obed & Isaac s management stated.
Current COVID mitigation mandates from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker prohibit indoor dining, although some jurisdictions around the state don t appear to be enforcing them.
Obed & Isaac s was open for carry-out and outdoor dining until it closed completely.
PEORIA – The Marriott Pere Marquette and adjacent Courtyard by Marriott are under new management.
Atlanta-based Davidson Hotels & Resorts is taking over the operations of the Downtown Peoria lodging complex. First Hospitality Group, based in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, had overseen the Peoria hotels since 2014.
The change in management is to result in a renovation of Pere Marquette guest rooms and public areas, according to a news release Davidson issued Wednesday. No specifics were included.
The release was issued a day after the former owners of the hotels, Monte Brannan and Gary Matthews, were indicted on money-laundering charges. National Real Estate Advisors purchased the bankrupt hotels last year.