I have never been one for New Year’s resolutions, or at least following through on them. Like many, I know I need to lose some weight and get back to the gym. I start the year with the best of intentions, but life (and laziness) gets in the way. Bu ...
Writing this newsletter article might just be my last official act in 2021. Christmas is drawing near, and like many of you reading this, the combination of paid holidays and unused vacation days means my time in the office is limited. I’m actually ...
With its active DoD installations and diverse industrial base, Illinois has strong links to the military and the companies and people that support it. The Greater Peoria region plays an important role in the national defense industry with its stro ...
It was such a joy to join so many of you at the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Thanksgiving Luncheon last week. It has always been one of my favorite events, but I think I join many of you in feeling that this year’s luncheon was more spe ...
This week the Illinois Central College, Eureka College, and Bradley University held a summit of stakeholders to solicit feedback, inputs, and employer commitment to developing a joint grant application for the Good Jobs Challenge. This grant hope ...
Late last week I was contacted by a reporter for The Atlantic who wanted to know more about the Peoria region. She was following up on a study that talked about changing voting patterns in “factory towns.” Though I’m a politics junkie, I know bette ...
Earlier this month, a large group gathered on the sun deck of the Peoria Riverfront Museum to launch Greater Peoria 2030, a dynamic multi-media marketing campaign aimed at attracting people to our region. The initiative is dedicated to amplifying ...
Last week, the State of Illinois began accepting applications for the Back to Business grant -- a $250 million pot of money available for small businesses who were financially impacted by COVID. Grant sizes range from $5,000 to $150,000, depending ...
I typically use this space in our monthly newsletter to discuss a broad topic regarding our regional economy, whether that has been about talent attraction, the importance of manufacturing or the rise of the healthcare industry. But this month I ju ...
I moved to Peoria 18 years ago. We relocated here from Denver, but I’m originally from the Los Angeles suburb of Burbank. We chose Peoria for a pretty ordinary reason: my wife, who I first met while living in Chicago, is from Peoria Heights. With o ...
