Startup Showcase: Join the community next Tuesday, May 13 starting at 5 pm for the Startup Showcase. This event, hosted in partnership with Distillery Labs, gener8tor, and the Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, will feature local startup demos, networking, and a fireside chat with founders sharing why they chose Peoria as their startup home. It’s a celebration of our region’s innovation economy—and an invitation to build what’s next, together. RSVP & details here.
Big Table Greater Peoria Press Conference: On the heels of the Startup Showcase, we are also hosting a press conference on May 15 at 10 am at Distillery Labs to kick off the next Big Table. We’ll officially announce the 2025 Big Table Greater Peoria, reveal our keynote speaker, and open public registration. This year’s Big Table will be one of our most community-centered to date, and we hope you’ll help us spread the word and energize participation across your networks.
Congrats, Sara! On Wednesday, GPEDC’s Workforce Solutions Partner Sara Kupperschmid graduated from the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce’s Community Leadership School (CLS). Sara and her classmates dedicated dozens of hours over the past few months to learning about our region, meeting community leaders, visiting core institutions, and building camaraderie. (The fact that they meet at 7 am on Friday mornings is a testament to their commitment!) Sara was part of a smaller group of CLS students who worked on a special project to improve the visibility of services provided by the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Bradley University. Participating in a CLS cohort is a great way for young professionals to build a great peer network and leads to greater involvement in the community.
Welcome, PJ Hoerr: I am grateful to PJ Hoerr for becoming the latest investor in Greater Peoria EDC at the “Friend” level. PJ Hoerr is one of our region’s great general construction companies. You’ve seen their work: They built the Workforce Sustainability Center at Illinois Central College and are currently building Komatsu’s new engineering building. You’ll soon see them at work building the new Tazewell County Justice Center Annex. We are thankful to Scott Rinkenberger and the team at PJ Hoerr for valuing the work we do, and investing in our ability to do more.
Transportation Safety: Join the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission for a Public Open House to learn more about the Comprehensive Safety Action Plan—a regional strategy designed to make our transportation network safer for everyone across Peoria, Tazewell, and Woodford counties. The event will be held on May 29 from 5 pm – 7 pm in the East Peoria City Hall Atrium (401 W. Washington St.). Launched in 2024 through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All program, the plan addresses current safety challenges and outlines strategies to eliminate roadway fatalities and serious injuries in the Tri-County area. This event is an opportunity for community members, stakeholders, and local leaders to review the draft Safety Plan, including recommended safety improvements and share feedback to help shape safer roads across our region. More about the Safety Plan here.
Have a great weekend.
Chris