Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner visited a startup incubator in Peoria Tuesday touting his pro-business agenda.
Governor Rauner greeted a room of young business owners, software developers and designers essentially saying 'I Was like you once.'
“I was a venture capitalist myself for 32 years before going into public service. I know firsthand how hard it is to start a business and build a business, how much risk and sacrifice and sweat and worry is involved in it,” said Rauner.
Except, Rauner said, he was investing millions of dollars and getting hundreds of millions of dollars in return.
The governor repeated something he’s said often during the 11 months the state has gone without a budget.
“My job as governor is to create an environment where business can thrive,” said Rauner.
He said lower property taxes would lure more entrepreneurs,like those in the room, to Illinois, people who are essential to the survival of the state.
Rauner said eliminating “red tape” and lowering taxes are part of the solution.
"Where businesses can compete. Where cost structures are reasonable. Where they have a great trained workforce that is highly educated, and highly skilled so they can bring that talent in to help their businesses thrive," said Rauner.
One particular startup present caught the governor’s eye. It’s back-end software designed to eliminate paperwork required in filing government forms.
Rauner put that business owner in touch with the state’s economic development agency.
After Rauner left, one software developer said he would have liked to have heard more details about the budget. Others nodded in agreement.