Rockford Sun

Congressman Darin LaHood recently welcomed Kelly Loeffler, the Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), to Peoria, Illinois, as part of her Manufacturing in America Road Tour.

Loeffler and LaHood conducted a roundtable discussion at the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. The conversation focused on the challenges and opportunities facing manufacturing leaders in Illinois.

The visit also included a tour of Rheo Manufacturing, where they learned about ongoing projects and discussed reducing regulatory barriers to boost American manufacturing.

“We were thrilled to have Administrator Loeffler in Peoria to highlight manufacturing and what the Trump administration is doing to support small businesses,” said Rep. LaHood. “The Administrator already mentioned this, but small businesses are the backbone of our economy and are massive employers for our country. It was great to tour the Rheo Manufacturing plant to hear about the challenges they’re facing from a regulatory, tax, and workforce standpoint. I was honored to have Administrator Loeffler in the district. There are many other places she could have traveled to, but she chose to visit Peoria, and it was great to have her!”

Loeffler's visit is part of an effort by the SBA's "Made in America" initiative aimed at boosting manufacturing jobs and supporting small businesses across the nation.

Administrator Loeffler hails from Central Illinois and graduated from Olympia High School.