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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State Senator Mattie Hunter honored a group of students and administrators from Urban Prep Academies at the State Capitol on Wednesday, April 17.
 
For the fourth consecutive year, 100 percent of the Urban Prep Englewood campus’ senior class and the inaugural graduating class from Urban Prep's West campus has been accepted to four-year colleges and universities.
 
“I am impressed with these young men, their drive and commitment to scholarship,” Senator Hunter said. “I was proud to support and acknowledge the gentlemen of Urban Prep when they visited the General Assembly and wish them the best in their futures of continued dedication to academic excellence.”
 
Urban Prep Academies operates a network of all-boys public schools in Chicago, including the country’s first charter high school for boys. Urban Prep’s mission is to provide a high-quality and comprehensive college-preparatory educational experience to young men that results in graduates being prepared for attending and succeeding in college.

State Senator Mattie Hunter saw her legislation opening up greater opportunity for minority women and their business enterprises pass the Senate Friday.

“Why should we deny minority women the ability to classify their business as a woman-owned and a minority-owned business if both these titles define them?” Hunter said. “I maintain that if a business is owned by someone who is a racial minority and female, how that enterprise is classified and marketed should be allowed to reflect that.” 

Senate Bill 2320 allows minority women entrepreneurs to elect to participate as both a minority-owned and woman-owned business in Central Management Services’ Business Enterprise Program.

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Part 1: The Past

Part 2: The Present