Cedar Rapids: It’s always a good idea to learn from your peers, so a small Greater Peoria contingent visited Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Wednesday to learn more about their startup ecosystem. Cedar Rapids and Peoria are very similar communities in terms of population, demographics and industry profile. Our delegation included folks from Greater Peoria EDC (including board member and CEDS Committee chair, Reuben Cummings), Distillery Labs and the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. We spent the day with the staff of the New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative, better known as NewBoCo. Their innovation center just outside of downtown Cedar Rapids is sort of like the Distillery Labs of their community and was the creator of the first startup accelerator program in the entire state of Iowa. We toured their building and learned about their programming that inspires, supports and connects entrepreneurs. We also visited NewBo Market, a remarkable business incubator that provides low cost “stalls” for startup restaurants and retail operations in a public market setting. The nonprofit organization that runs the space (one of the few like it in the country) has launched dozens of businesses into their own spaces over the past 13 years. Finally, we met with the President and Associate Vice President of Coe College to learn about how they have partnered with NewBoCo to connect Coe students with the wider startup ecosystem in the community. We really valued the time spent and lessons learned, and are planning to reciprocate by hosting the NewBoCo group in Peoria later this year. (Hat tip to David for organizing a great day.)
Quarterly Workforce Indicators: Kirsten, our data manager, put together a summary and analysis of the Quarterly Workforce Indicators (QWI) that is produced by the US Census Bureau. The QWI provides detailed workforce trends based on administrative and survey data. These indicators track employment, hiring, separations, earnings, and job stability across various industries and demographics. While the QWi calculated quarterly for the nation, local data is available much later – sometimes a year later. So when you see that this report is about the second quarter of 2024, you aren’t looking at an old report. (Well, it’s “old” data, but the most recent, if that makes sense.) You can dive into the report here. Kirsten will be updating this report each quarter.
We’re Hiring: If you know someone who is passionate about workforce and education, great with people, an excellent communicator, and is adept at managing multiple projects, please tell them that I am looking for our next Director of Workforce Solutions. The GPEDC team is a great group of professionals, and we are looking for the last piece of the puzzle. You can see the LinkedIn job posting here and the job description here.
AgTech Connect: On June 4, GPEDC and Distillery Labs will host the next Greater Peoria AgTech Connect event—this time focused on empowering educators and community partners to integrate entrepreneurship into the classroom. The morning program will highlight practical tools for engaging students in business concepts, including podcasting, pitch development, and marketing strategy. The event will also provide insights on how to help students tap into Greater Peoria’s innovation ecosystem and explore entrepreneurship as a career path. Following the sessions, attendees are invited to stay for a food tasting featuring Reilly Vegan Eats and Treats, one of the culinary ventures growing out of the Distillery Labs Commissary Kitchen. This event is free to attend, but RSVP is required. Reserve your spot here.
Manufacturing Excellence Awards: Congratulations to two locals named as finalists for the Manufacturing Excellence Awards, organized and hosted by the Illinois Manufacturers Association and Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center. Morton Industries (a member of the Greater Peoria Manufacturing Network) is one of three finalists for the “Workforce Excellence” award. Steve Flinn, an instructor in ICC’s Agriculture and Industry Technology department, is one of three finalists for to be named Educator of the Year. We’ve had chances to work with both of these finalists and don’t think their competition stands a chance! The winners will be announced at a ceremony on June 26. Good luck!
Big Table Greater Peoria 2025 is open for registration! Join us October 17–18 at the Four Points Sheraton Peoria for two days of bold conversations, fresh ideas, and regional collaboration. This year’s theme—Innovation as a Regional Growth Strategy—will guide our discussions on workforce, entrepreneurship, livability, and opportunity. Whether you’re a business leader, educator, resident, or changemaker, your voice belongs at the table. Register today to attend or serve as a table facilitator and help shape the future of Greater Peoria. www.bigtablegp.com.
Have a great weekend.
Chris