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Proud to CHOOSE GREATER PEORIA

November 04, 2020

Local Organizations Taking Action to Tackle Civic Challenges as a Result of Recent Big Table Feedback

As part of Global Entrepreneurship Week the Peoria Area Chamber of CommercePeoria Innovation AllianceDistillery Labs, and the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council are hosting a week-long series of civic innovation workshops focused on a “Return to Better” by taking meaningful and tangible action to tackle the most pressing community challenges as identified by attendees of this year’s Big Table Greater Peoria program.

These workshops are intended to engage a diverse cross-section of the entire Greater Peoria community and will utilize proven methodologies and processes that have led to successful projects and pilot programs across the nation.

“Peoria is a community of Do’ers; this strength has been evident at every juncture of the Peoria story, and that strength will be vital as we navigate through this pandemic and into a brighter future. After careful analysis of the feedback we received from The Big Table, community members have identified many key challenges that face our region; the Civic Innovation Challenge is a call to action to solve those problems together. This challenge is open to all community members, and it is my hope that all of Peoria is represented as we take these very important steps to Return to Better.”

Joshua Gunn, President & CEO at the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce.

Starting on Monday, November 16th, workshop participants will be presented with the top 5 challenge statements generated by survey results from the recent Big Table Greater Peoria. Individuals will then break into groups of 5-7 participants where a facilitated discussion will be held to walk through an abbreviated version of the Business Model Canvas on their challenge of choice.

Throughout the week, participants will apply learnings from design thinking, creating a value proposition, identifying and interviewing potential customers/users, and developing a potential solution/program/pilot project to address their chosen challenge statement. The event will conclude during Friday’s session with a virtual pitch presentation and awards judged by local entrepreneurial leaders.

“Our community must take an innovative approach to solve the systemic issues that impact our daily lives. By applying tried and true methods rooted in entrepreneurial thinking, we believe that meaningful change can be realized by approaching our challenges through the lens of innovation and design thinking. We hope that this inaugural program can expand across our region in the coming years and an innovative mindset can be instilled in all of our citizens as a way to approach solving problems.”

Jake Hamann, Founder & Executive Director at the Peoria Innovation Alliance

For more information and to register for the workshops, participants are encouraged to visit www.changegp.com.


Media Contacts

Joshua Gunn
Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce
jgunn@peoriachamber.org

Jake Hamann
Peoria Innovation Alliance
jake@peoriainnovaitionalliance.org