SomerCor Partners With Aurora Regional Economic Alliance
SomerCor and the Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (Alliance) are proud to announce a new partnership.
Formed in January 2025, the Alliance united four organizations—the Aurora Regional Chamber of Commerce, Invest Aurora, Aurora Downtown, and the Quad County African American Chamber of Commerce—into a single entity focused on advancing economic development.
Together, SomerCor, the Alliance, and the Alliance Foundation, are focused on expanding economic opportunity throughout the greater Aurora region. By pairing SomerCor’s expertise in Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 lending and grant administration with the Alliance’s strong local presence and focus on inclusive growth, the partnership aims to empower entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and financing they need to succeed.
“Aurora has long been a center of industry, and today it’s evolving into a hub for technology, entrepreneurship, and innovation,” said SomerCor President and CEO, Manuel Flores. “Joining the Alliance allows us to build on this exciting momentum, supporting local businesses, creating quality jobs, and directing investment to drive transformational impact in Illinois’s second largest city.”
“When business owners have the capital that they need to grow, the entire community benefits,” said Alliance President and CEO Kelly O’Brien. “This partnership with SomerCor strengthens our small business lending and grant capacity, key to positioning Aurora as a model for how mid-size cities can thrive in today’s dynamic economy.”
Visit www.somercor.com and www.auroraregionaleconomicalliance.org to learn more about their programming and partnership
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The SomerCor mission is to grow businesses, create jobs, and increase impactful investment in every community through the SBA 504 loan program and other financing and grant initiatives. SomerCor serves the entire state of Illinois, Kenosha and Rock counties in Wisconsin, and Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter counties in Indiana.
SomerCor is one of the largest non-profit SBA lenders in the Midwest and consistently ranks in the top 15 of CDCs nationwide. Since its founding in 1992, SomerCor has deployed $1.81 billion in SBA loans to 3,873 businesses, leading to the creation of 47,252 jobs. For more information visit www.somercor.com.
About Aurora Regional Economic Alliance
The Aurora Regional Economic Alliance (Alliance) is an Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce corporation charged with fostering equitable and sustainable economic growth. By joining forces through the Alliance, the region will present a unified front in support of existing businesses, advocate for a positive economic environment, amplify the voices of women- and minority-owned businesses, and attract investment. Its work will support and complement Aurora’s development and redevelopment initiatives by marketing the city’s assets and competitive advantages and supporting existing businesses. For more information visit http://www.auroraregionaleconomicalliance.org.
