Peoria Standard

State Sen. Sally Turner (R-Beason) heard from several business owners about their experiences on staffing difficulties since the COVID-19 pandemic hit the economy.

At the Senate Tourism and Hospitality Committee hearing held at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Turner listened to Brenda Whitaker, a Granite City restaurateur, who said she can’t get people to work.

“What a hard-working woman you are,” Turner told Whitaker. “I wanted to ask you, you said you're only open two days a week. Have you reached out to individuals and asked why they don't want to come back to work?”

Whitaker owns four restaurants but they are not open daily, not only because of restrictions but because of lack of staff.

“A lot of my positions are entry-level, lower level, so they are making more money to stay at home (on unemployment) than they would be working,” she told Turner.

She touted that the working schedules at her establishments have been ideal for working parents.  

“My hours were perfect, especially for mothers with children in school, because they could drop their kids off at school, come and work, and be done to pick their kids up,” Whitaker added. “That worked out well for a long time. I know it's not just Granite City, it's everywhere.”

Turner understood her difficulties and appreciated her honesty.

Whitaker also shared with the committee and other witnesses that she started her businesses with her pension after losing her job. She is the founder and executive director of Alfresco Productions which also operates the Alfresco Arts Center.

As a former steelworker, she said she knew that showcasing that industry in an art form “would not only give probably civic pride to the people within the community, ... it would allow the outside community to see it in a different light.” She then suggested that the tourism industry could change gears and leverage arts for tourism potential.