The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council is pleased to announce Casey Peterson as the new Director of Rural Outreach and Development. Peterson is a graduate of Illinois State University where he earned his Master’s in Community and Economic Development. He previously worked in Silicon Valley in various administrative roles including a solar energy systems analyst for Tesla Motors and recently with the McLean County Regional Planning Commission.
He also volunteered as an ESL teacher at the Sacramento Food Bank and as a refugee vocational ESL teacher for the International Refugee Committee. From 2016 to 2018, Peterson served in Peace Corps in Ukraine. His experience working in a developing country abroad led him to understand the value of public service through economic development. Having grown up in a small gold-rush town in the hills of Northern California, he hopes to assist rural communities with reaching their full potential.
Casey is looking forward to using his previous experience in data analysis, planning, and community engagement to support rural development throughout the five counties supported by the GPEDC.