Greater Peoria Economic Development Council

Greater Peoria Economic Development Council The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council drives economic growth in Greater Peoria through targeted business and talent development and attraction.

This is what partnership looks like. Peoria County Government owns the land; the City of Peoria Illinois - Government cr...
09/04/2026

This is what partnership looks like. Peoria County Government owns the land; the City of Peoria Illinois - Government created the TIF and rezoned it; Rep. Darin LaHood carried the funding through appropriations, and GPEDC is working to make sure the site is ready when a company comes looking.

We lose growing companies for one reason more than any other: no site, no building, no time to wait. Every industry-ready acre in Greater Peoria is a project we get to compete for.

Great news for Morton families! 🏥Springfield Clinic broke ground this week on a new multi-million-dollar facility on Sou...
09/02/2026

Great news for Morton families! 🏥

Springfield Clinic broke ground this week on a new multi-million-dollar facility on South Detroit Avenue, a 21,000-square-foot clinic set to open in the summer of 2027.

The new building will bring pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, and specialty care all under one roof, with 36 exam rooms plus on-site X-ray and lab services. It consolidates two existing Morton locations and doubles the space available for pediatrics.

The reason behind it? Morton is growing, and clinic leaders said they need the space to keep up. That is a good problem to have.

Congratulations to Springfield Clinic and the Village of Morton!

A great afternoon of real conversation with our region's manufacturers! 🏭Yesterday, our Greater Peoria Manufacturing Net...
08/28/2026

A great afternoon of real conversation with our region's manufacturers! 🏭

Yesterday, our Greater Peoria Manufacturing Network, the Strategic Manufacturing Group, and Illinois Central College gathered at Distillery Labs for a joint meeting with ICC President Dr. Jamonica Rolle.

Instead of a formal presentation, we built the session as a listening session, so manufacturers could share what they are seeing in hiring, the challenges they are facing, and the training their teams need going forward.

We were glad to have Alcast, Quality Metal Products, Philippi Hagenbuch, Alto Ingredients, Pegasus Manufacturing, Maui Jim, ARI Global Services, Hardin Industries, Enercon, and Rivian in the room, along with partners from Illinois Central College and Junior Achievement of Central Illinois.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in person and virtually. The conversation kept going over food and networking afterward, which is always our favorite part.

When our manufacturers and our colleges talk directly to each other, our whole region gets stronger. 💪

A major investment in the future of health care in our region! 🩺Methodist College - Peoria, IL has announced a lead gift...
08/27/2026

A major investment in the future of health care in our region! 🩺

Methodist College - Peoria, IL has announced a lead gift of nearly $850,000 from the Gilmore Foundation, made through Carle Health Center for Philanthropy, to establish a new doctoral Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program launching in 2028.

Nurse anesthetists are among the most in-demand health care professionals in the country. This program means nurses right here can pursue advanced education close to home instead of leaving the region to find it, and more patients gain access to the surgical and procedural care they need.

Educating talent here and keeping talent here is how our region grows stronger. Congratulations to Methodist College, the Gilmore Foundation, and Carle Health!

https://ow.ly/xYsP50ZGb4n

Good policy is only as good as the people who can put it to work.We were happy to host the Illinois Department of Commer...
08/26/2026

Good policy is only as good as the people who can put it to work.

We were happy to host the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity for the local installment of their annual Road Show, held at Distillery Labs. Communities and organizations from all 10 counties of the North Central region gathered to hear about the past year's successes and what is coming in new programs and initiatives.

Alongside the DCEO, resource presentations came from the Illinois EDC, the Illinois Office of Broadband, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development. Together, they covered the tools available to communities working on everything from business growth to broadband access to rural investment.

The goal was simple and important: arm the boots on the ground with the information they need to help their communities, businesses, and citizens thrive. When local leaders know what is available, they can move faster and reach further.

Thank you to DCEO and all of our partners for bringing the Road Show to Greater Peoria.

Greater Peoria was represented in Washington, D.C. last week.CEO Chris Setti and VP of Programs Sally Hanley joined more...
08/24/2026

Greater Peoria was represented in Washington, D.C. last week.

CEO Chris Setti and VP of Programs Sally Hanley joined more than 80 manufacturing leaders from across the country at the Manufacturing Momentum Summit, hosted by the American Manufacturing Communities Collaborative. Chris served on a panel about the many partners it takes to strengthen manufacturing: employers, colleges, workforce boards, local government, and the people who connect them.

Sound familiar? It is the same conversation we have here most weeks. Good to know the rest of the country is having it too.

Pictured: Chris on the panel in D.C.

More national recognition for Bradley University!🎓The Princeton Review MCAT has named Bradley one of its Best Colleges f...
08/24/2026

More national recognition for Bradley University!🎓

The Princeton Review MCAT has named Bradley one of its Best Colleges for 2027, placing it among the nation's top 392 schools out of roughly 2,800 four-year institutions. Bradley was also named among the best colleges in the Midwest and included on the best value list, with high marks for professor accessibility and campus safety.

Here is what makes it stand out: the rankings are built from surveys of more than 172,000 students, so this recognition comes straight from the people who know the campus best.

It caps off a big season for Bradley, which recently announced a $25 million residence hall renovation and reported first-year student deposits up more than 30%.

A strong university means a stronger region. Congratulations, Bradley University!

https://ow.ly/nLKJ50ZEQgb

Great news for one of our region's largest employers! 🏥Forbes has named OSF HealthCare one of Illinois' top employers fo...
08/14/2026

Great news for one of our region's largest employers! 🏥

Forbes has named OSF HealthCare one of Illinois' top employers for 2026, and OSF made a big jump, climbing from 67th last year all the way to 37th. Its health care ministry also landed among the top 10 in the state in its category.

That recognition reflects the work of 27,000 OSF employees, including the teams right here at Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

A great place to work is a great reason to stay, and that is good news for Greater Peoria families and for our region's future. Congratulations to the whole OSF team!

https://ow.ly/gmlt50ZzTSL

Want to see the future of Greater Peoria business? Here is your chance! 🚀The gBETA Distillery Labs 2026 Showcase is happ...
08/13/2026

Want to see the future of Greater Peoria business? Here is your chance! 🚀

The gBETA Distillery Labs 2026 Showcase is happening Wednesday, August 19, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Distillery Labs, 201 SW Adams Street.

Five of our region's startups will take the stage to pitch what they have been building: Aegis Adaptive, Arphion Diagnostics, OpenSurg, SuDe Beauty, and Symbio Bioculinary. Expect founder pitches, great conversation, complimentary appetizers and bar, and even a surprise at the end of the night.

gBETA is a free, no-equity accelerator, and since 2015, its alumni have raised more than $1 billion and created over 7,000 jobs nationwide. Big things start in rooms like this.

Hosted in partnership with Peoria County, OSF HealthCare, Distillery Labs, Hanson, INB, and Attollo.

RSVP and join us! https://ow.ly/SeR250ZznhF

We need you! 🎉 CareerSpark turns 10 this year, and volunteers make it all possible.Join us on October 28 and 29 at the P...
08/13/2026

We need you! 🎉 CareerSpark turns 10 this year, and volunteers make it all possible.

Join us on October 28 and 29 at the Peoria Civic Center for the 10th Annual CareerSpark Expo, where our region's 8th-grade students explore careers, meet real professionals, and start imagining their own futures right here in Greater Peoria.

Can you spare a few hours? Even half a day helps! You do not need a fancy title or a presentation. Just come share what you do and how you got there. Sometimes one conversation is all it takes to spark something in a student.

A couple of deadlines: first-time volunteers can request a blue volunteer shirt through September 27, and all-day volunteers can sign up for a complimentary box lunch through October 12.

Register Here: https://ow.ly/VWRF50ZznGu

Junior Achievement of Central Illinois
Learn more and watch last year's recap video at www.gpcareerspark.org

Address

201 SW Adams Street
Peoria, IL
61602

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+13094955910

Website

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