February 5, 2026
Dear editor;
Every year, we hear reminders to “shop local” during the holidays…reminders that fade as we settle into the New Year. For Black-owned businesses in Aurora, it’s year-round support and patronage we need most.
Black entrepreneurs continue to face barriers that others do not. A recent study found that nearly 40% of Black-owned businesses were denied a loan or line of credit.
To help address this persistent gap in access, I started Black Business Connections. What began as a small virtual community in Aurora has grown to more than 2,800 members, connecting Black entrepreneurs with customers, collaborators, and peer-to-peer support that can make the difference between surviving and shutting down. It’s become clear that success for many of these business owners isn’t just about hard work. It’s about access. Access to customers. Access to networks. Access to tools so they can compete.
Social platforms help businesses reach new audiences, while affordable AI tools simplify processes and support growth. Innovation in tech has leveled the playing field for Black entrepreneurs in remarkable ways, and countless Black-owned businesses rely on it to keep the doors open.
The current debate happening in Washington around technology matters here in Illinois. In the year ahead, Black business owners need lawmakers to champion innovation, not attack it. When technology is restricted or weakened, it’s small businesses — especially those owned by people of color — that stand to lose the most.
I encourage Aurora residents to make a point to support local Black-owned businesses throughout the year. And I hope our elected officials will do the same by backing the tools and technologies that give these entrepreneurs a fair shot.
Elogeia Hadley, Aurora