Robbins to host minority business symposium

Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward will host the first-ever Minority Entrepreneur Interactive Solution Symposium on March 1, 2019, which aims to connect entrepreneurs with other business owners. Photo by Wendell Hutson
Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward will host the first-ever Minority Entrepreneur Interactive Solution Symposium on March 1, 2019, which aims to connect entrepreneurs with other business owners. Photo by Wendell Hutson

Robbins to host minority business symposium

BY WENDELL HUTSON Contributing Writer

The village of Robbins will host an upcoming business summit with the goal of connecting black entrepreneurs with one another to help them grow their businesses.

The Minority Entrepreneur Interactive Solution Symposium (MEISS) will take place from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday, March 1 at the Robbins Community Center, 13800 S. Trumbull Ave. in south suburban Robbins. And Robbins Mayor Tyrone Ward said he plans to make the first-ever event annual.

“This summit was created to make sure small businesses have the opportunity to network with other businesses. By doing so that will allow them to learn, gain and build off of each other,” explained Ward. “We [Robbins administrators] wanted to also make sure they are able to gain access to important information like how to get certified for public programs and grants.”

The six-hour event is free for business owners to attend but they should register online at meissexpo. org. A continental breakfast will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. followed by an afternoon lunch.

According to Ward, 40 vendors have already registered to attend. “There will be panel discussions talking about how to maintain and grow a business after starting up,” said Ward. “Kenny Lewis, founder of Kenny Ribs and Dusties Buffet, and Mae Whiteside, president and CEO of CKL Engineering LLC will lead panel discussions.”

Several elected officials also are expected to attend, said Ward, such as U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Cook County Commissioner Deborah Sims (D-5th Dist.), whose districts include Robbins. There will also be keynote speakers from the business industry and representatives from the state, federal, county, and Chicago procurement departments.

And Ward said representatives from Wintrust Bank and First Midwest Bank will discuss funding options.

“It’s hard to grow without funding and too many black businesses struggle with getting enough funding to keep things going,” said Ward.

“Sometimes a business owner may not meet all requirements for a bank loan, so they might have to secure funding elsewhere like applying for grants. But to do any of this you have to know what’s available and how best to go about doing it.”

One small business owner said he plans to attend the symposium to learn more about funding.

Johnny Francis operates a car repair shop in south suburban Dixmoor but does not have enough funding to hire employees or purchase more equipment, which he said would allow him to offer more services.

“Like so many entrepreneurs, I started my business by saving my money up and paying for things as I go along and I know that is not the best way to maintain and grow a business,” said Francis.

Normally, a local Chamber of Commerce would provide information to businesses about how to grow their businesses and secure funding, but Robbins no longer has a chamber.

“It [Chamber of Commerce] sort of died out shortly after I took office but there are discussions from people who previously were involved to get it going again,” said Ward.

Economically, Robbins is among the poorest municipalities in Illinois, according to census data, which list the predominately black south suburb with a 5,480 population and the average median income at $32,175, compared with the state median income at $60,960.

But Ward said the village is making progress with attracting new families to the area and improving its economic stance.

“Our annual budget is $2 million and yes, we have had some struggles

and continue to have them, much like any other government, but we are improving day by day,” contends Ward.

At a time when Ward said crime is down in Robbins, the village’s police department consists of 35 officers, all part-time and a full-time police chief, while the fire department is made up of 15 employees. And with so many families moving out of Chicago due to rising taxes, inadequate neighborhood schools and crime, Ward said those families should consider moving to Robbins.

“Our property taxes are among the lowest in the state; schools in the district are getting better and furthermore Robbins is a safe place to live,” said Ward, who is also a teacher at Keller Middle School in Robbins. “Robbins is a citizen friendly town.”

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