Brand new vibes in downtown Peoria 🎉 Let’s Hang! launches TODAY 🌞 📍 Visitor Center + Sun Plaza 🕚 11 AM–1 PM | every Wed through Aug 27 🎶 Music | 🌮 Food trucks | 💬 Community Just show up. It’s free. #LetsHang #ChooseGreaterPeoria #DowntownPeoria

This week’s Weekend Update: AgTech grant from Compeer, farewell to amazing intern Alika, Q2 wins across Greater Peoria, Big Table 2025 & Rainbow Resilience event coming soon. ow.ly/QgvM50WoA1t #EconDev #GreaterPeoria

🌈 Have you registered for Rainbow Resilience yet? 📅 July 17 | 🕠 5:30PM 📍 Distillery Labs, Peoria 🎟️ Free panel on supporting LGBTQIA+ businesses – RSVP: ow.ly/zLUF50WmxYq #RainbowResilience #InclusiveBusiness #RiverCityPride #GPEDC #PeoriaEvents

Join us at Distillery Labs to hear how biz & community leaders are supporting LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs in Peoria. 📍 5:30 PM networking | 6:15 PM panel 🎟️ Free + open to all! Updated panel includes: Deric Kimler, Devon Hawks, Courtney Garrett & more.

🚜 AgTech Connect is headed to Beck’s Hybrids! 📅 Aug. 18, 2025 | 🕙 10:00–11:30 AM 📍 El Paso, IL Get a behind-the-scenes look at seed innovation, farmer insights & leadership Q&A. ✅ Register by Aug. 17: ow.ly/guYY50WuKch #AgTechConnect #GreaterPeoria #FarmInnovation

This week’s Weekend Update: GPMN meeting on workforce & disaster planning, a new tri‑county emergency resilience partnership, recap of Rainbow Resilience on LGBTQIA+ business inclusion, and Big Table 2025 registration! Update: ow.ly/JrY650WvgeT #GreaterPeoria #EconDev

Distillery Labs is turning ONE—and the whole region is invited to the party! 🎉 📍 Fulton Plaza, Peoria 🗓 Thursday, July 31 ⏰ 10 AM – 4 PM 🍔 Food trucks 🚀 Startup demos 🎶 Music + Live DJ Stop by anytime and see what’s powering Peoria’s innovation engine.

🚜 AgTech Connect is headed to Beck’s Hybrids! 📅 Aug. 18, 2025 | 🕙 10:00–11:30 AM 📍 El Paso, IL Get a behind-the-scenes look at seed innovation, farmer insights & leadership Q&A. ✅ Register by Aug. 17: ow.ly/guYY50WuKch #AgTechConnect #GreaterPeoria #FarmInnovation

This week’s Weekend Update: 🎉 Distillery Labs’ 1st birthday bash, 🌱 AgTech Connect on Aug. 18 at Beck’s Hybrids, and 📚 Ameren Illinois backs Big Table book for 2025. Register now to join the convo! ow.ly/xhpm50WyBu5 #EconDev

We’re honored to host Victor Hwang at #BigTableGP2025. In his new Inc. article, he states “Small businesses drove 55% of all job creation between 2013–2023… Every 1% rise in entrepreneurial activity correlates with a 2% poverty decline.”  Join us Oct. 17‑18 thebigtablegp.com

We’re excited to welcome Carolyn as our new Director of Workforce Solutions! She brings talent & community expertise from EDPA’s Alabama Experience and CRW Consulting. Kicked things off GPEDC-style—with tacos at Coco’s! 🌮👏 #WorkforceDevelopment #TeamGPEDC #WelcomeAboard

🌾 Two weeks to go until AgTech Connect at Beck’s Hybrids! 📅 Monday, Aug. 18 | 🕙 10:00–11:30 AM 📍 El Paso, IL Explore seed innovation, engage with leadership, and connect with the AgTech community. ⏳ RSVP by Aug. 17: ow.ly/GJMs50WzxUS #AgTechConnect #GreaterPeoria

GP CareerSpark is Oct 1–2! We’re seeking volunteers to help 8th graders explore careers through hands-on activities. Inspire, support, connect — your time can spark a brighter future! 🔥 #CareerSpark #VolunteerPeoria #WorkforceDevelopment #GPEDC Sign Up: ow.ly/TY2Z50WAepX

📍Municipal leaders: Meet reps from the National League of Cities in Peoria on Aug 22! ✅ Learn about national funding + resources ✅ Connect with peers ✅ Bring tools back to your town 🕚 11AM–12:30PM @ Distillery Labs 🔗 RSVP: ow.ly/K4lZ50WBxvE #GPEDC #NLC

Tres Rojas Winery & Sarah Beth’s Homemade Dips earn a spot in the 2025 Illinois Made Makers! 🎉 Their stories showcase the talent and passion that make Greater Peoria shine. Congrats! ow.ly/Ot1g50WBxQT #IllinoisMade #PeoriaProud #SupportLocal

Pekin’s $50M Veterans Drive extension is more than a road—it’s a game-changing connection to I-474 unlocking growth for Greater Peoria. 🚧 Read how this long-awaited project is setting the stage for regional development: 🔗 ow.ly/9wgr50WBxTW

Distillery Labs just celebrated one year of powering #Peoria’s startup energy! 🎉 250+ founders. $1.5M+ raised. Innovation, food, and tech — all in one place. Year two is looking even brighter. 🔥 📖 ow.ly/GIKJ50WC2Kq #DistilleryLabs #StartupPeoria

This week’s #WeekendUpdate: 🔹 Welcoming Carolyn Williams to the GPEDC team 🔹 Chip’s Tool & Machine joins GPMN 🔹 Cibes Symmetry: a global elevator company with deep Peoria roots 🔹 AgTech & Big Table updates Read more: ow.ly/g6vF50WC2tJ #GreaterPeoria #EcoDev

A win for small biz + downtown vitality! 🚀 Chef Jeremy Washum’s Reservations is relaunching inside Distillery Labs, using innovation infrastructure to stay nimble and serve the community. Lunch + economic impact? We’ll take both. ow.ly/jccI50WGBbJ

This week’s Weekend Update: We shine a light on Enercon’s global impact, host entrepreneurs from India, celebrate Children’s Home expansion, and highlight AgTech Connect + more. Update ow.ly/qVUJ50WGBS8 #GreaterPeoria #EconomicDevelopment