South Cook News

State Sen. Elgie Sims Jr. (D-Chicago) is giving thanks to the Small Business Association (SBA) for being a friend to the local business community.  

“The @SBAgov’s small business loans have helped our local businesses, especially ones in underserved communities, stay afloat,” Sims Jr.  posted on Facebook. “Entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy, and these loans will continue to support them as we continue to recover.”

In fiscal year 2021, U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman recently announced the agency has funded small businesses to the tune of $44.8 billion through more than 61,000 traditional loans.

“In the midst of a once-in-a-generation pandemic, the SBA’s mission-driven team delivered a record number of SBA’s traditional loans to our nation’s small businesses – in addition to more than $1.1 trillion in COVID-related relief since the start of the pandemic,” Guzman said. “While progress has been made, our data also tells a deeper story: historic inequities in accessing capital persist, and we must do more to lower the barriers of entry to opportunity for all our entrepreneurs. We will continue to build on our impactful programs to meet small businesses where they are and connect them with the resources needed to thrive.”

The Kankakee Times reported Sims was also behind legislation aimed at creating affordable housing for students attending Illinois community colleges. After passing both chambers, House Bill 374, seeking to give colleges the flexibility to develop affordable housing for their students, recently headed to the governor’s desk.

“This is about bettering the college experience for every student in this state,” Sims wrote in a May 4 Facebook post. “Research shows that students who live on campus have higher GPAs, and when students live on campus they are more plugged-in to the campus community and have more opportunities to join clubs, attend events and meet new people.”

Sims also recently came to the defense of Gov. J.B. Pritzker, with the West Central Reporter reporting he exchanged words with state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) over a news report that the administration was holding private sessions with Democrats over the state's redistricting process.

"I am unaware of any meetings taking place," Sims responded at the Oct. 14 Senate Redistricting Committee hearing. "I've not seen the article so I can't comment on those meetings or that article."