By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says government is not always the best option when it comes to private business.

The governor spoke at the groundbreaking for a grocery store in the Madison County city of Venice.

The project is partially funded by state taxpayers with a grant of $2.4 million through the Illinois Grocery Initiative.

Deputy Governor Andy Manar said Pritzker directed him and his staff two years ago to help Illinois become the national leader in tackling the problem of grocery deserts.

“And the presumption in the governor’s direction at the time was that state government can and should play an appropriate role in fixing this problem,” Manar said.

The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity opened Round II of the Illinois Grocery Initiative Equipment Upgrades Grant Program in January 2025. The rolling grant opportunity remains open until Dec. 15, 2025, or until funding is exhausted.

Pritzker was asked why the private sector couldn’t solve the problem.

“These things are better run if they are run by private companies. I’ve always believed that government isn’t always the best option if there’s a private sector option. What we’re trying to do is reduce the risk, bring the private sector in and make it available to the people who live here in Venice,” Pritzker said.

The governor disputed a reporter’s suggestion that prices go up whenever government intervenes.

“I don’t disagree with you that sometimes government doesn’t do it as well as the private sector, but I also believe that government has to do some things to help the private sector be successful. For example, the private sector doesn’t build you roads,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker said he is a capitalist.

“I’m not a believer that government should do everything, but there are some things government has to do,” Pritzker added.

The governor agreed that the project was not a state-run grocery store but a “state-sponsored” business.

Pritzker did not express support for proposals by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and New York Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani for government-owned grocery stores.

Republican gubernatorial candidate James Mendrick told The Center Square last month that the governor does not understand how money works.

“Money is just an object to get something done that he wants. It’s not the taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars that we have to really be careful with,” Mendrick said.