Fighting Economic Blight: Introducing a Statewide Model for Betting on Main Street

S.L. Owens, esq. is an award-winning attorney, U.S. Fulbright recipient, and small business development practitioner, known for designing and delivering clinical economic development programs for capital disadvantaged entrepreneurs across distressed communities and corridors. S.L. holds a Bachelor of Arts in African American Studies and a Juris Doctorate Degree, both from the University of Wisconsin at Madison. Prior to entrepreneurship, S.L. led a career in corporate law, advising global brands on franchise, distribution, licensing, and supply chain law. Now, U.S.-based economic development leaders retain S.L. to execute clinical economic development projects through public, private, and academic partnerships. S.L. is frequently tapped to build new entrepreneurial ecosystems, helping economic developers remove low performing systemic, business, or regulatory barriers.

Sam Owens, esq. is an esteemed attorney and business banking and compliance practitioner, currently managing over $2.5M in assets under compliance for economic development projects supporting entrepreneurs and small business development in the U.S. Sam’s advocacy focuses on cultivating bankable and capital-ready pathways for underserved entrepreneurs. Under Sam’s management, LATF has created six-and-seven-figure award winning startup enterprises, through the firm’s technical assistance programs. Furthermore, Sam has extensive experience monitoring, managing, and building compliant economic development programs, with diverse partners including county (USA), state (USA) and federal (USA) government agencies, chambers of commerce, economic development corporations, and financial institutions. Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics Degree from the University of Chicago, and a Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

Jason Lee Garcia, esq. is a distinguished economic development practitioner, civically engaged in community development initiatives, particularly for Chicago's at-risk youth. Jason is an educator at heart, with prior experience teaching in Chicago's alternative school system. Lately, Jason is leveraging his socioeconomics background into building entrepreneurial ecosystems for entrepreneurs, protecting family legacies for small business owners, and helping underserved communities lawfully launch into highly regulated business industries. Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies from Northeastern Illinois University, and a Juris Doctorate Degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Jason's public service includes civic initiatives with the Hispanic Lawyers Association and the United Latino Cannabis Industry Alliance.