Did You Know?: I am going to start using this space to highlight some of the cool companies that call Greater Peoria home that you might never have heard of. This week we are shining a light on Enercon, an East Peoria company that Cynthia had a chance to visit recently. If you drive east on I-74 through East Peoria, you’ve seen Enercon’s giant crane system just off the right side of the highway. That’s because Enercon designs and manufactures some big things, all in the power delivery industry: precision-engineered switchgear, control panels, generator docking stations, and power packaging systems. It’s some of those power packaging systems – used for everything from data centers to defense – that require that big crane. Enercon boasts over 50,000 projects completed across 110+ countries. Lots of cool products, but the one that might surprise you the most is that Enercon designed and made the power packaging system behind the THAAD missile defense system that is deployable by the US military across the globe. Enercon is also a member of our Greater Peoria Manufacturing Network. If you know of an interesting business you’d like us to meet, drop me a line.
Empowering Women Globally: Peoria welcomed female entrepreneurs from India this week through the Empowering Women Globally, a program run through Bradley University and its Turner School for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Our guests spent a full week touring and learning. They took a tour of Excalibur Seasonings in Pekin, visited the Peoria Next Innovation Center (pictured below) and Distillery Labs, cooked dinner for the families at the Ronald McDonald House, and showcased their own products at an open event at Bradley. We love playing host to entrepreneurs from across the globe, and it’s particularly special to connect these women with our own vibrant Asian Indian community.
Children’s Home: It was a hot, but festive, day for the ribbon cutting of the new Community Services Building of the Children’s Home Association. Nearly 100 people gathered to celebrate this great $2 million project. Social services like Children’s Home are just as important to the local economy as our for-profit corporations. Not only are they a vital part of the community’s social safety net and help ensure individuals, families and children can have happy and productive lives, they are also employers who pay good wages to their employees. If all of our human services agencies were one company, they would be the 5th largest employer in Greater Peoria. Thank you to the board, staff and donors of Children’s Home Association for continuing to make a difference in our community.
Quick Hits: Lots of things going on in the next few weeks, so check your calendar and then click below:
- AgTech Connect: One week to go! AgTech Connect is being held on August 18 from 10 – 11:30 am at Beck’s Hybrids in El Paso. Beck’s state-of-the-art seed processing facility will serve a great backdrop for a discussion about business innovation. Please RSVP here by August 16.
- National League of Cities Meet & Greet: We’re hosting a special Meet & Greet with the National League of Cities at Distillery Labs on Thursday, August 22 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This is a great opportunity for local leaders to connect with NLC representatives and learn about national programs, funding opportunities, and resources available to municipalities of all sizes. Register here to join the conversation and explore how your community can benefit.
- Bradley Small Business Awards: The annual celebration of our great small businesses and the people that support them will be held on August 28 from 4 – 6 pm at Bradley’s Peplow Pavillion. The event is free, but please register here.
- Career Spark: GPEDC and Junior Achievement are looking for volunteers to help with the 9th annual Career Spark on October 1-2. Learn more and sign up here.
- Big Table: If you are interested in attending the next Big Table (October 17-18), or better yet serve as a volunteer table facilitator, you can register here.
- IRCTI First Annual Meeting: The Illinois River Cities & Towns Initiative (IRCTI) unites over 15 Mayor-led communities along the Illinois River. Their mission is to advocate for the region’s economic, infrastructure, and environmental interests at both state and national levels. IRCTI is hosting their first annual meeting of member communities and stakeholders on November 5-6 in downtown Peoria. RSVP here.
Have a great weekend.
Chris