Illinois Rental Dealers Association (IRDA) hits Capitol Hill – meets with U.S. House members and senators

Rent One’s, Larry Carrico, Trent Agin and David Keen, and Arona Corporation’s Brent Gregorek, joined IRDA President, Casey Pristou, in meeting with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation to discuss rent-to-own, provide an update on the industry in Illinois and highlight key issues important to its dealers, customers and business partners.  The effort was part of APRO’s 2017 Dave Egan Legislative Conference held February 7^th – 9th. The impact of RTO in Illinois is significant.  Illinois is home to more than 220 rent-to-own stores, serves more than 120,000 customers each month and employs more than 1,300 statewide. Moreover, the RTO industry is undergoing a number of dramatic changes which present intriguing growth opportunities for the small business owners who operate most of the stores in Illinois.  The IRDA shared its vision of how it can grow the industry in the years ahead and how congress may be able to help foster this growth.

Collectively the IRDA met with the offices of both senators and with 16 of the 18 congressional districts.  “The legislative conference this year was one of the best we have ever had,” commented David Keen.  “These meetings were a great follow-up to the very successful grassroots outreach the IRDA conducted in 2016 during which members of congress visited rent-to-own stores operating in their home districts,” observed Larry Carrico.   A highlight of this year’s conference was the open house breakfast the IRDA hosted at Tortilla Coast.  “D.C. is especially busy and quite charged-up this year.  Legislators’ schedules are jam-packed.  The breakfast was an efficient way for some members to meet with us,” related Casey Pristou.  “The breakfast enabled us to have serious discussions with key members of congress and their staff that would have otherwise been impossible,” Pristou added. Click here to see more photos of APRO’s 2017 Dave Egan Legislative Conference. About IRDA The Illinois Rental Dealers Association (IRDA) works closely with the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations (APRO) to provide membership and the general public with the latest information regarding legislative initiatives concerning the rent-to-own industry. The IRDA works to ensure a vital future for its industry through networking, education, political outreach and legislative vigilance.