Choose Greater Peoria

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Choose Greater Peoria

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There’s 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞* here than people think. Follow along to see how you can live, work and play greater in Greater Peoria. 😎

The Choose Greater Peoria page is a place to amplify positive stories about the region. It's a community where people can share their passion for and interact with others who choose Greater Peoria as their place to live, work and play. Our goal is to create a positive and engaging environment. We encourage you to interact with us often and to comment on and share the content you find here. That said, we also ask that you stay on topic, respect other people’s opinions, avoid profanity, offensive statements, illegal content, and anything else that might violate Facebook's Community Standards. Choose Greater Peoria will not tolerate and reserves the right to remove any posts or comments that:
• are hateful, discriminatory or offensive;
• are abusive, bullying, threatening, or harassing others;
• contain spam, promotional material, or links to third-party websites;
• refer to criminal or illegal activity;
• are politically motivated;
• are sexually explicit or pornographic;
• include Personally Identifiable Information (i.e. email address or phone number);
• are fraudulent, deceptive or scammy. In cases of repeat occurrences, we reserve the right to ban users from the page. Please be aware that while administrators regularly moderate the page, we cannot immediately review every comment posted. Opinions expressed in non-Choose Greater Peoria posts or comments are not necessarily shared by Choose Greater Peoria, and we can’t guarantee the accuracy of this information.

10/26/2026

10/15/2026

❤️🤍

10/14/2026

We're big fans of First Fridays Amplified! 🎨 🎶

We sat down with Dr. Mae Gilliland Wright, Executive Director of ArtsPartners of Central Illinois, to learn more about this awesome initiative celebrating local art, music and creativity across Peoria.

We also stopped by the Contemporary Arts Center, My Writing Shed, Soulside Healing Arts and Casa de Arte to get a firsthand look at the talented people and creative spaces that make up Peoria's arts scene.

First Fridays Amplified is supported by a Greater Peoria Leaders Sprint Grant, helping build on an already great Peoria tradition.

10/13/2026

Number 1 in the nation?! 👀

Yeah, we're gonna have to brag about this one. According to a new Apartments.com study, Peoria tied for the top spot among small U.S. cities where renters get the most for their money in 2026.

The average one-bedroom rent is $818 per month, and housing costs are more than 30% below the national average. But it's not just about what you save. It's about what you get.

Great restaurants, arts and entertainment, outdoor recreation and plenty of opportunities to enjoy life without breaking the bank. More* bang for your buck, as they say. Another reason to .

Check out the full article: https://kvia.com/stacker-real-estate/2026/10/09/the-10-best-small-us-cities-where-renters-get-the-most-for-their-money-in-2026/

Small cities are gaining popularity as renters realize their budget can go further there. With lower rents than major metros, small cities boast a more favorable rent-to-income ratio for many renters. Yet, with thousands of these cities across the country, it can be tough to narrow them down. New Ap...

10/12/2026

Awesome segment from WTVP's Vibe 309 — featuring GO DAY Peoria! Were you at GO Day? Maybe you're on television. Check out the vibes below. 😎

10/10/2026

Some shots from Thursday's ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the new Campustown parklet! 📸

What used to be three parking spaces outside CxT Roasting Company is now an outdoor gathering spot for Bradley University students, residents and visitors to enjoy.

Big Picture Peoria, Bradley University, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and several other community partners helped make this project possible, supported by a Greater Peoria Leaders Sprint Grant.

Special thanks to Bill and Brad Joseph of The Joseph Companies for helping make this happen!

Pretty cool to see what a little creativity and a lot of collaboration can do for a neighborhood. 👏

10/06/2026

Join us Thursday at 12:30pm!

A new place to gather, right near Bradley! ☕️🎨

This Thursday, we're celebrating the new Campus + Community Connector at CampusTown, created through a partnership between Big Picture Peoria, Bradley University, Choose Greater Peoria, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, CxT Roasting Company, Joseph Companies, and Greater Peoria Leaders.

From this angle, you can see exactly what we mean by "campus meets community" – with the new parklet in the foreground and the Harper Hall mural helping frame the bigger picture behind it.

The mural was created by Bradley University graduate Olivia Moore, who now works at Simantel, and dedicated in April 2026 as a backdrop to the new Main & University campus gateway. It was a collaboration between Big Picture Peoria, Greater Peoria Leaders, and Bradley University.

Join us Thursday, October 8 at 12:30 PM at Main & University for the dedication and celebration.

CxT will be serving FREE coffee, while supplies last! ☕️

Come help us pack the parklet!

10/03/2026

"Pack the Parklet!" ☕️🎨

Join Big Picture Peoria, Bradley University, Choose Greater Peoria, and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, October 8 at 12:30 PM as we officially dedicate and celebrate the new Campus + Community Connector at CampusTown!

Funded by a Sprint Grant from Greater Peoria Leaders, the new parklet was created to bring a little more color, creativity, and connection to the corner of Main & University - a place where Bradley University and the surrounding community come together.

We'll be joined by Bradley University President Jim Shadid, Councilman Alex Carmona, representatives from the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce and Greater Peoria Leaders, the Big Picture Peoria board, and our partners at CxT Roasting Company and Joseph Companies.

And yes... CxT is bringing the FREE coffee, while supplies last! ☕️🙌

As Big Picture Peoria President Mark Misselhorn put it, "This is where campus meets community." The project builds on the positive momentum already happening at Bradley's "front door," including the new campus gateway and Harper Hall mural.

📅 Thursday, October 8
🕧 12:30 PM
📍 CampusTown at Main & University
☕ Free coffee from CxT Roasting Company, while supplies last
🙌 Open to the public

Come help us pack the parklet and celebrate a new gathering place for students, neighbors, and the Peoria community!

09/30/2026

First Friday is almost here! 🎨 🎶

Explore galleries, catch live music, discover local artists and bounce around some of the coolest creative spaces across Peoria — all for FREE.

Check out the map, pick a few stops and make a night of it this Friday, October 2!

Address

5823 North Forest Park Drive
Peoria, IL
61614

Telephone

+13092650162

Website

https://choosegreaterpeoria.org/

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