U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen returned to Peoria on Tuesday to hear from entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders and adult learners preparing for careers in the clean energy sector. His visit to the Minority Business Development Center focused on workforce training, barriers facing minority-owned businesses and the region’s economic future.
Key takeaways
- Sorensen met with a clean energy workforce training class on Peoria’s South Side.
- Entrepreneurs described work in drones, cybersecurity, information technology and financial literacy.
- The congressman emphasized career-focused training and stronger support for minority-owned businesses.
- He said renewable energy and nuclear power will be important to Central Illinois’ economy.
The discussions gave Sorensen an opportunity to hear directly from residents and business owners about the opportunities and obstacles shaping Peoria’s economy.
Entrepreneurs describe opportunities and barriers
During a roughly 30-minute roundtable hosted by Minority Business Development Center founder and CEO Denise Moore, Sorensen spoke with emerging entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders. Participants discussed start-ups involving drone technology, cybersecurity, information technology and financial education.
Some business owners described the challenges of entering industries where they felt they were starting at a disadvantage. Sorensen said the development center can help entrepreneurs navigate those barriers, connect with resources and move forward with their ideas.
He also said conversations with local business owners help him better represent the communities in his district. Understanding what entrepreneurs need, he said, is essential to shaping effective legislation and support programs.
Clean energy training targets future careers
Before the roundtable, Sorensen visited a classroom of adult learners enrolled in clean energy workforce training. He encouraged students to view their education as preparation for long-term careers rather than simply a way to obtain their next job.
Sorensen pointed to Illinois’ ongoing emphasis on clean energy development as a potential source of job growth in Central Illinois. He told students their willingness to build new skills could position them as leaders in industries that are still expanding.
The training is intended to prepare adults for employment connected to emerging energy technologies and infrastructure, while helping address the need for workers with specialized skills.
Sorensen links energy development to affordability
Speaking with reporters afterward, Sorensen said the nation needs to move quickly on renewable energy, including wind and solar, as well as nuclear power. He argued that expanding energy production and strengthening the workforce behind it will be important as electricity prices rise.
For Central Illinois, he said, clean energy development could create high-paying career opportunities while supporting broader economic growth. The visit underscored his view that workforce preparation, business development and energy policy are closely connected.
Sorensen’s Peoria stop followed a recent visit in which he discussed affordability concerns with residents at a Peoria Township office.
