Legislation establishing the state of Illinois’ premiere working capital revolving loan fund for small, minority and disadvantaged business contractors is now on the way to the Governor’s desk thanks to the efforts of State Sen. Mattie Hunter.

“This loan fund is a novel program that we need as it’s going to bring new economic opportunities and benefits to Illinois minority and disadvantaged business contractors,” Hunter said.

Hunter, chief sponsor of House Bill 3267, says the legislation allows the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to provide low-interest loans from the established Working Capital Revolving Loan Fund to minority and disadvantaged business enterprise contractors.

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Progress toward establishing the state of Illinois’ premiere working capital revolving loan fund for small, minority and disadvantaged business contractors has been made thanks to the efforts of State Sen. Mattie Hunter.

“This loan fund is a novel program that we need as it’s going to bring new economic opportunities and benefits to Illinois minority and disadvantaged business contractors,” Hunter said.

Hunter, chief sponsor of House Bill 3267, says the legislation allows the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to provide low-interest loans from the established Working Capital Revolving Loan Fund to minority and disadvantaged business enterprise contractors.

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Responding to the significant need to provide for the health care of Illinois’ elderly, Sen. Mattie Hunterbacked legislation offering relief for the Illinois Department on Aging’s Community Care Program that offers in-home care and community-based services for senior citizens.

“This issue is important to me and the 3rd District I represent that maintains one of the highest populations of residents receiving Medicaid and where many residents benefit from the senior home health services provided with this program,” Hunter said. “That’s what I support and that’s what we here in the General Assembly are accomplishing with this effort.”

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State Senator Mattie Hunter today proudly spoke out in support of Small Contractor Bridge, a new loan program that has been created (greatly in response to her efforts) to help small contractors as they compete for public works projects.

Hunter has been vocal for the past several years in respect to identifying the problem of and addressing the need for small business loans and allowing for minority contractors’ participation in bidding on public works projects. She has advocated in the General Assembly for small and minority businesses, having supported in the past programs working to leverage state resources to aid businesses in competing on an equal playing field. Hunter was also among the first to identify the need for a state solution through a working capital program for M/W/DBE (minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged business enterprises) contractors who find themselves unable to bid on public work projects due to high financial barriers and lack of access to working capital.

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