Here are some GPEDC updates to end your week:
You’re Hired!: If you’ve been around the GPEDC or Workforce Solutions for any length of time, chances are that you’ve heard of CareerSpark, our career exploration experience for 8th graders. What you may have missed is that we are now offering a digital CareerSpark experience for high schoolers as well called CareerSpark: You’re Hired! This four-month digital experience is focused on jobs, internships, and apprenticeships available for high schoolers and soon-to-be high school graduates in our region and gives you the opportunity to promote your company to thousands of regional high schoolers. We currently have over 4,000 high schoolers registered to participate and over 30 companies signed up to be featured. We will launch on February 3rd and be “live” through June. If your company would like to participate as an exhibitor with a digital booth or as a featured guest in our virtual Q&A speaker series, contact Kari Rauh at krauh@greaterpeoriaedc.org. (Please reach out soon, as spots are filling up fast!)
Peoria Tour Continues: Last week, I told you the story about Alexandre Chequiem and his Brazilian AgTech startup. Alexandre continues his exploration of Greater Peoria and its viability to play host to his company’s first North American office. This week, Andrew took Alexandre to visit the Stewart family farm in Morton. (Pictured below, left to right, are Alexandre, Steve Stewart and Garret Stewart; the second picture is Alexandre and Garret.) He got to demonstrate his software platform and learn about farming in Central Illinois. Lenora also connected his family with a local real estate agent to show them some areas of our community, and Chris was able to secure them some Bradley basketball tickets courtesy of PNC Bank. And thanks to Rick Swan, we were able to get free passes to the gym at Eastside Center (Alexandre’s son loves to play basketball.) We continue to set up meetings with other local partners and potential customers.
CREW Forming: Lenora, along with Debbie Van Sickle (City of Peoria) and Katie Kim (The Kim Group), have started an effort to create a local chapter of CREW (Commercial Real Estate Women). Women working in or adjacent to the commercial real estate industry are invited to join the Greater Peoria CREW Chapter formation meeting to learn about the fantastic opportunities the CREW Network offers members locally and globally. Professionals in fields like real estate, financing, construction, and architecture are all potential members. On Wednesday, January 25 between 3:30 and 5:30 at the Missing Zither (6035 N Knoxville, Peoria), participants will learn how CREW connects professionals from all aspects of the real estate industry so they can do more business together and best leverage how their sectors interact – all while supporting the mission to transform the industry by elevating women. Additionally, there will be a tour of Keller Station’s Microsuites and Phase 3 Developments under construction right now. RSVP here.
Ameren Streetlightint Initiative: A quick note to our local government partners: Municipalities can use Ameren’s Municipality-Owned Streetlighting Initiative to upgrade to LED streetlights, parking lot lights, park pathways and decorative lights, allowing communities to improve the quality of light they provide and more uniform illumination for better safety and security. These lights reduce energy costs and maintenance costs as well. For more information, visit AmerenIllinoisSavings.com/Government or call 1.866.800.0747.
Have a great weekend.
Chris