Pilsen, CHICAGO, IL - Alex Esparza, Executive Director and CEO issues the following statement in response to the Friday, May 6, WGN evening news interview with Miguel Torres from The Pilsen Chamber of Commerce to challenge his misinformed claim. The Chamber member who is also a small business owner was asked why they were bringing a chamber now. Mr. Torres said the following, “There’s an opportunity during the pandemic where a lot of our small businesses didn’t get a lot of resources that are available to us on a governmental level.” Watch the interview here.
Like many local small businesses, I am confused and frustrated by these allegations that came to light during the interview. This is an example of what continues to divide and hold us back from the progress we need to make so that our local economy and small businesses rebound and recover.
As an economic development nonprofit organization serving Pilsen and the business community, we will continue doing the work we have done for the past 46 years. We have proven experience in pivoting and innovating with the changes, whether it’s in a pandemic climate or working to enhance the prosperity of this diverse neighborhood.
Since the start of the pandemic, my staff and I have worked diligently to help and support local businesses navigate through the pandemic in their preferred language. We have testimonials from our local businesses overcoming obstacles during that time. These stories cover how ESDC helped them with city or state grants or like the one we established on our own, ESDC Resiliency Fund.
These success stories are featured in the newly designed website we launched at the start of the year and are also prominent in our ESDC QUARTERLY newspaper for our clients to access. Many of them have also been part of mainstream media such as WTTW, WGN, Univision, Telemundo, and Block Club Chicago. These businesses include Yvolina’s Tamales, Pochas Pet Boutique, Verde Holistic Wellness Studio, Mole Village and others.
In March 2021, ESDC created the Shop Pilsen campaign to unify initiatives such as Mole de Mayo, Buen Provecho, Halloween retail promotions, Pilsen Christmas Window Walk and others to bring more diners and shoppers to our commercial corridor. Our work to promote local business is not only local but also international through partnerships like Choose Chicago and the Consulate General of Mexico in Chicago.
To find further proof, Mr. Torres and board members of the newly created The Pilsen Chamber of Commerce, we ask you to scroll on our social media platforms to find photos and posts on virtual webinars, advising sessions on grant topics for B2B, PPP, COVID Relief, DCEO, SBIF and others that target all-size businesses and even the artist community.
We acknowledge The Pilsen Chamber of Commerce and hope to see it succeed as well as be a true and honest partner. And not just with ESDC, but with the community at large. Furthermore, we would be interested in learning the added value in the form of strategies and actionable items and understanding what you will provide to the community that is not already offered by ESDC or any other organization in Pilsen.
Last, ESDC will not stay idle and unresponsive to false claims that refer to nothing that has been done to assist local businesses and entrepreneurs in Pilsen during the harshest times of COVID-19. We extend an invitation to The Pilsen Chamber of Commerce members and its associates to meet with our ESDC staff and me to dispel any misinformation. Let us set the record straight by educating and walking you through our services.
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Communication and Media Contacts:
Becky Lopez, 872-215-2572
Salvador Cerna, 773-822-7326
