CommunityLink.com
Table of Contents
1 800-455-5600
production vp of production operations Amanda White
director of photography Jay Nehrkorn
director of publication design Kelly Friederich
photography Kevin May Photography
managing editor Laura Wilcoxen copywriting David Ballard Amanda Knoles Jay Nehrkorn P eoria Area Chamber of Commerce
website creation & support Josh Chandler director of media purchasing Diana Vaughn
marketing consultant Rader Walker
director of outside sales Debbie Moss
customer service director Kathy Risley
business development manager Bonnie Ebers
customer service representative Lisa Dolce
advertising ad traffic Carol Smith
Business in the Lead
Building a Stronger Peoria....................................................................................12
Education
Report Card: K–12...................................................................................................18 Strength & Diversity: Higher Education..............................................................20
ad design Mindy Brock
administrative support
account support Terri Ahner
Newcomers Guide
Notes to Know on Your New Home.......................................................................8
director of business development George Prudhomme
administrative support Kathy Hagene Carol Smith
From the Chamber of Commerce...........................................................................4 Chamber Programs & Services..............................................................................6
lead design Josh Mueller
business development
ad research Mary Kopshever Mildred Walker
Welcome
human resources assistant Teresa Craig
City Sampler
What’s Playing in Peoria........................................................................................22 Peoria Public Parks................................................................................................24
mailroom technician Melinda Bowlin
information technology
Health Care
publishing systems specialist Christopher Miller
Methodist Medical Center....................................................................................28 OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.......................................................................30 Proctor Hospital......................................................................................................31 Family House...........................................................................................................32 Illinois CancerCare.................................................................................................33
executive leadership chairman and founder Craig Williams
chief financial officer Rhonda Harsy
ABOUT This book is published by CommunityLink
and distributed through the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. For advertising information or questions or comments about this book, contact CommunityLink at 800-455-5600 or by e-mail at
Shopping Scene
Wonderful Wares & Fine Fare..............................................................................34
info@CommunityLink.com.
FOR INFORMATION Peoria Area Chamber of
Homes & Neighborhoods
Family-Friendly to Up-and-Coming......................................................................36
Commerce, 100 SW Water St., Peoria, IL 61602, Telephone 309-676-0755, Fax 309-495-5932, www.peoriachamber.org
History & Heritage
Two Hundred Years & Counting...........................................................................38 Peoria Chamber: 100+ Years of Service..............................................................39 Sites & Sights of the Historical Society..............................................................40
© 2012 Craig Williams Creative, Inc., 4742 Holts Prairie Road, Post Office Box 306, Pinckneyville, IL 62274-0306, 618-357-8653. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the publisher.
Visit Peoria online
Transportation
Navigating Peoria...................................................................................................41
Peoria NEXT
Fostering Small Business Growth........................................................................43
http://communitylink.com/peoria-illinois/
Economic Scorecard
Rating Our Region...................................................................................................46
Preferred Business Listings
Thank You for Your Support of This Project.......................................................56
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Index of Advertisers Academy of Screenprinting & Awards, Inc.........................................5
Illinois American Water.........................................................................35
allcharts™................................................................................................33
Illinois Business Financial Services...................................................14
Alzheimer’s Association........................................................................11
Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation...........................28
AmericInn................................................................... Inside Front Cover
JM Industrial Supply..............................................................................15
Associated Bank.....................................................................................14
Kevin May Commercial Photography....................................................3
Austin Engineering Company Inc.........................................................42
KONE Inc...................................................................................................10
Baer Glass, Inc.........................................................................................10
Lippmann’s Furniture & Interiors..........................................................16
Berger Accounting & Tax Service, Inc.................................................7
Longhorn Steakhouse...............................................................................5
Better Built...............................................................................................10
Mangieri Companies, Inc.........................................................................5
Busey.........................................................................................................15
Methodist Medical Group......................................................................28
Carter Paper & Packaging Inc..............................................................21
Mid-America Systems............................................................................39
CEFCU........................................................................................................14
Moser’s Shoes, Inc..................................................................................15
Central Illinois Bank.................................................................................7
Olive Garden...............................................................................................5
CGN............................................................................................................44
PCCEO........................................................................................................45
CityLink......................................................................................................42
Pearl Companies.......................................................................................3
Community Foundation of Central Illinois..........................................38
Peoria City/County Health Department...............................................29
Conference Technologies, Inc..............................................................43
Peoria Public Schools............................................................................19
Coyle Insurance Agency, Inc................................................................13
Peoria Rescue Ministries......................................................................11
Cullinan Properties, Ltd..........................................................................39
Portable Moving & Storage of Central IL, Inc.....................................1
DNDC Telephone Company......................................................................6
Proctor Endowment Home.....................................................................15
Enercon Engineering, Inc...................................... Outside Back Cover
Proctor Hospital.......................................................................................31
Federal Warehouse Company...............................................................45
Richard L. Renner, CPA...........................................................................15
First Mid-Illinois Bank & Trust............................ Outside Back Cover
River City Construction.............................................................................9
Foth.............................................................................................................13
SAL Child Care Connection...................................................................35
Fritch Heating/Cooling Inc....................................................................29
Springdale Cemetery & Mausoleum...................................................39
Gar Business Consultant – Gary Gerhold...........................................13
SpringHill Suites by Marriott................................................................27
GIVSCO Construction Company............................................................15
Stoney Creek Inn & Conference Center..............................................25
The Grand Hotel & Conference Center...............................................17
Traders Insurance Agency Corp...........................................................37
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America..........................11
Ulftring Subaru.........................................................................................10
Hardware by Design...............................................................................37
University of Illinois Springfield..........................................................19
Husch Blackwell.......................................................................................6
Walmart.....................................................................................................16
HyVee.........................................................................................................15
Workforce Network............................................................................5, 17
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Welcome
From the Chamber of Commerce
I
n its mission statement, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce clearly defines the main goal: to be the leading voice and resource for business in the region. The Chamber is a pro-active organization that provides value to its members by maintaining strong leadership in dealing with critical business issues. The Chamber seeks to advocate for business sense through selective involvement on issues of local importance. These issues are those on which the Chamber has credibility as well as the ability to influence the outcome. The Chamber works diligently to enhance both the business climate and the quality of place in Greater Peoria through both invaluable member-only and overall community
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development. In regards to member benefits, the Chamber leverages, promotes and increases the visibility for members and keeps them well connected through a multitude of leadership and networking opportunities. The Chamber prides itself on its unique position as a strategic catalyst and sometimes a community convener to bring together many organizations and individuals in the community to address key issues. In the fall of 2011, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors approved a comprehensive three-year strategic plan. The plan provides a roadmap for the Chamber’s next 100 years. There are four guiding principles in this plan: be the leading voice for business in the region through political advocacy; be inclusive
P e o r i a A r e a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e
and diverse in our approach to work; advocate to improve the region’s quality of place; and be a source for strong leadership development. Each guiding principle, along with the strategies and tactics that support them, serve to motivate the volunteer and staff leadership to build a strong organization for our second 100 years of leading the business community in Greater Peoria. The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce extends its thanks to our members for the past 101 years and looks forward to the next year of positive changes and growth both within the organization and the Greater Peoria region.
Welcome Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce 100 SW Water Street Peoria, Illinois 61602 phone: 309-676-0755 :: fax: 309-676-7534 www.peoriachamber.org
Staff Jim McConoughey Chief Executive Officer 495-5901 • jmcconoughey@h-p.org
Kylie Rupe Sales Director 258-1329 • krupe@chamber.h-p.org
Roberta M. Parks President 495-5920 • rparks@chamber.h-p.org
Tessa Bonello Administrative Assistant 495-5970 • tbonello@chamber.h-p.org
Megan King Director of Marketing 495-5974 • mking@chamber.h-p.org
Jolene Cole Front Desk/Receptionist 676-0755 • jcole@h-p.org
Board of Directors Thomas Fliege Hawk Agency Chairman Will Ball Caterpillar, Inc. Vice Chairman Brent Eichelberger Commerce Bank, N.A. Treasurer Michael Wiesehan Lippmann’s Furniture and Interiors Past Chairman Darrin Autry Commerce Bank, N.A. David Cochran South Side Trust and Savings Bank Robert Gates Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick Karen Jensen Farnsworth Group Tom Landon Calihan Pork Processors
Michael Maloof Jim Maloof Realtor Jim McConoughey The Heartland Partnership Kelly Petersen Absolute Risk Management Strategies Charles Purcell G & D Integrated Debbie Ritschel Water Street Group Mary Jo Schettler Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino Vicky Stewart Illinois Central College Josh Waite Northwestern Mutual David Walty Heart Technologies, Inc. Bob Woolsey Jones Bros. Jewelers, Inc.
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Welcome
Chamber Programs & Services
T
he Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce is the leading voice and resource for business in the region. How do we do that? We focus on four main areas, all part of our strategic plan. We are engaged in political advocacy, we are involved in leadership and leadership development, we focus on quality of place within the region, and we are inclusive in our work with members and their employees to meet their needs and interests. To break that down and be much more specific is very easy. In political advocacy we work to represent the interests of our members, particularly at the state and local levels. We do that by keeping membership informed. We have a Government Affairs e-newsletter that keeps members current on what is happening and calls them to action when needed. We survey our members to understand their perspectives on issues of importance. We host events to give members face-to-face access with elected officials throughout the region. We bring business people together to share their perspective with elected leaders. We meet regularly with the Peoria City Council and the Peoria Public School Board to make sure we understand each other’s perspectives. We have a strong legislative agenda that guides our work. We make trips to the State Capitol to talk with our legislators in their environment. Some of that work is done through Central Illinois Regional Chamber Legislative Effort (CIRCLE). We were part of the early formation of CIRCLE three years ago and it has now expanded to include 18 communities and chambers throughout the central part of the state. We do all of this and more to make sure area elected officials hear and understand the voice of business. We play an active role in leadership within the community and take seriously our role in leadership development. The Chamber’s Community Leadership School has been developing leaders for over 30 years. Our Young Professionals of Greater Peoria (YPGP) is focused specifically on making sure that the next generation of leaders are connected to both the Chamber and the overall community. YPGP provides professional development; access to mature community leaders; social opportunities; involvement in charitable activities; and more. YPGP is also a benefit
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Welcome
to member companies as they seek to attract and retain young professionals within their organization. Quality of place is critical to business success. The Chamber works to enhance our quality of place through many educational activities. Whether it is active involvement in the math, science and technology charter school or recruiting companies and volunteers to help with Reading Buddies in the Peoria Public Schools, we know that educational attainment is a critical factor for both individual and community success. Additionally we work to make sure young people see and understand the career options that exist right here in Greater Peoria and what it takes for them to be successful in those careers. We want to be part of building our future workforce. But beyond just education, we know there are other important issues and projects that enhance the quality of place, so we are involved in those also. This could be anything from supporting referenda issues to addressing big community problems. The Chamber is seen many times as a community convener. And finally, we offer a wide array of programs, marketing opportunities, networking events and more to make sure our members are building their businesses and their employees for success. Our programs range from large events — like the State of the City or the State of the Schools, where leadership in those organizations talk about past successes and future plans — to a business-to-business trade show that gives members the opportunity to introduce new products and services to the larger business community. But we also offer up-close and personal program opportunities, from small one-on-one Speed Networking to our larger monthly Business After Hours, along with seasonal networking events — the Thanksgiving Day Luncheon and Annual Golf Outing. The Chamber also provides various workshops
and webinars to help keep employee skills and knowledge current and relevant. The Chamber completed a new three-year strategic plan in the spring of 2012 and has begun to implement that plan. Our goal is to drive extraordinary value to our members. Members will see increased government affairs work; new program delivery platforms to allow them to access Chamber services at their convenience; more personal contact from staff and volunteers to better understand member interests; increased partnerships with other business organizations around the region and state; and an emphasis on regionalism. So stay tuned and watch the changes unfold in YOUR Chamber of Commerce.
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Newcomers Guide
Notes to Know on Your New Home Area codes are 309 unless otherwise specified.
Population Peoria Metro Area......................................................... 376,046 Peoria County................................................................. 185,108 Marshall County............................................................... 12,763 Stark County....................................................................... 6,086 Tazewell County............................................................. 133,863 Woodford County............................................................. 38,226 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Age/Gender Demographics Peoria Metro Area
Total
Percentage
18 years and over................... 285,013.............................75.8% Over 65 years of age................ 55,168..............................14.7% Median age................................ 38.3 Male..................................................................................48.8%
Stark County................................................................... $25,311
500 to 1,500 Employees
Tazewell County............................................................. $27,036
AmerenCILCO............................................................... 672-5252
Woodford County........................................................... $29,475
Bradley University........................................................ 676-7611
Illinois State................................................................... $28,782
CEFCU....................................................................800-633-7077
U.S.................................................................................. $27,334
City of Peoria................................................................ 494-8565
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
G&D Integrated Manufacturing Logistics Inc.............. 284-6700
Cost of Living Peoria Metro Area Composite............................................................................ 92.9
Illinois Central College................................................. 694-5558 Keystone Steel and Wire Co....................................... 697-7020 Kroger Co. All locations in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford counties
Grocery Items....................................................................... 91.1
Par-A-Dice Casino........................................................ 699-7711
Housing................................................................................ 84.4
Peoria County............................................................... 672-6056
Utilities................................................................................. 99.9
Peoria Journal Star...................................................... 686-3000
Transportation.................................................................... 106.0
Proctor Hospital........................................................... 691-1000
Health Care.......................................................................... 93.4
United States Postal Service....................................... 671-8800
Miscellaneous Goods and Services.................................... 94.4
All locations in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford counties
U.S. average for all indices is 100.0.
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria... 671-3000
Female...............................................................................51.2%
Source: ACCRA Cost of Living Index, 2011 Annual Average Data
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Source: Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, February 2012
Distances to Major Cities (Miles)
Employment and Income
Within 250 Miles
Labor and Workforce Statistics
Springfield, IL.......................................................................... 72
Labor Force – Peoria MSA............................................. 202,482 Unemployment Rate...........................................................9.0% Employed........................................................................ 184,204 Unemployed..................................................................... 18,278 Source: Illinois Department of Employment Security, February 2012
Median Household Income Peoria Metro Area......................................................... $52,451 Peoria County................................................................. $68,043 Marshall County............................................................. $58,911 Stark County................................................................... $64,295 Tazewell County............................................................. $66,170 Woodford County........................................................... $77,920 Illinois State................................................................... $55,735 U.S.................................................................................. $51,914 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Per Capita Income Peoria Metro Area......................................................... $27,739 Peoria County................................................................. $28,157 Marshall County............................................................. $24,991
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Chicago, IL............................................................................. 141 St. Louis, MO........................................................................ 158 Indianapolis, IN..................................................................... 201 Milwaukee, WI..................................................................... 233
Over 250 Miles Atlanta, GA........................................................................... 685 Dallas, TX.............................................................................. 806 New York, NY........................................................................ 901 Denver, CO............................................................................ 914 Los Angeles, CA................................................................. 1,953 Source: Economic Development Council for Central Illinois
Chamber Member Major Employers 15,000+ Employees Caterpillar, Inc.............................................................. 675-1000
1,500+ Employees
Education K-12 Peoria Public Schools, District 150..................www.psd150.org Concordia Lutheran School..............www.concordiapeoria.com Peoria Academy..................................www.peoriaacademy.org Peoria Christian School....................... www.peoriachristian.org Quest Charter Academy........................... www.questpeoria.org
Higher Education Benedictine University..........................................www.ben.edu Bradley University...........................................www.bradley.edu Eureka College.................................................www.eureka.edu Illinois Central College........................................... www.icc.edu Midstate College......................................... www.midstate.edu Midwest Technical Institute..................www.midwesttech.edu Robert Morris University.............www.robertmorris.edu/peoria U of I College of Medicine at Peoria........ www.uicomp.uic.edu U of I at Springfield – Peoria Center.....................www.uis.edu
Methodist Medical Center........................................... 672-5522
Illinois State Taxes
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center............................... 655-2000
Percentage of Net Income
Peoria School District 150........................................... 672-6559
Corporate Income Tax.......................................................9.50%
Wal-Mart
Personal Income Tax.........................................................5.00%
All locations in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford counties
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Source: Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, 2011
Newcomers Guide Climate/Topography
Water
NBC (WEEK)................................................................. 698-2525
Region..............................................................Eastern Midwest
Illinois American Water............................................... 671-3701
www.cinewsnow.com
Average high temperature...................................................60째F Average low temperature....................................................41째F Source: Economic Development Council for Central Illinois
Utilities
Media Newspaper Peoria Journal Star...................................................... 686-3000 www.pjstar.com
Cable
Television
Comcast....................................................................... 688-9828
ABC (WHOI).................................................................. 698-2525
Electricity
www.cinewsnow.com
AmerenCILCO............................................................... 677-5271
CBS (WMBD)................................................................ 688-3131
Natural Gas AmerenCILCO............................................................... 677-5271
Telephone AT&T............................................................................. 495-0769
www.centralillinoisproud.com FOX (WYZZ).................................................................. 688-3131 www.centralillinoisproud.com MY Network (WAOE)................................................... 674-5900
Public (WTVP)............................................................... 677-4747 www.wtvp.org
Tourism Arts & Science Lakeview Museum....................................................... 686-7000 www.lakeview-museum.org Peoria Area Civic Chorale............................................ 693-6725 www.peoriacivicchorale.org Peoria Ballet................................................................. 690-7990 www.peoriaballet.com Peoria Symphony Orchestra......................................... 671-1096 www.peoriasymphony.org
www.my59.tv
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Newcomers Guide Theatre Corn Stock Theatre...................................................... 676-2196 www.cornstocktheatre.org Eastlight Theatre.......................................................... 694-0138 www.eastlighttheatre.com Peoria Players.............................................................. 688-4473 www.peoriaplayers.org
Sports Bradley University Athletics............... www.bradleybraves.com Peoria Chiefs Pro Baseball.......................................... 680-4000 www.peoriachiefs.com Peoria Rivermen Hockey.............................................. 676-1040 www.rivermen.net Steamboat Classic....................................................... 676-6378 www.steamboatclassic.org
Shopping Evergreen Square..................................................312-675-5423 www.josephfreed.com/evergreen.html Junction City................................................................ 740-0808 www.newjunctioncity.com Metro Centre................................................................ 692-6690 www.shopmetrocentre.com Northwoods Mall......................................................... 688-0444 www.simon.com The Shoppes at Grand Prairie...................................... 692-3672 www.theshoppesatgrandprairie.com Westlake Shopping Center.......................................... 671-1000
Recreation Clubs at River City....................................................... 693-5700 www.clubsatrivercity.com
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Newcomers Guide Par-A-Dice Casino........................................................ 699-7711 www.paradicecasino.com Peoria Park Districts..................................................... 682-1200 www.peoriaparks.org Peoria Civic Center....................................................... 673-8900 www.peoriaciviccenter.com Wildlife Prairie State Park.......................................... 676-0998 www.wildlifeprairiestatepark.org
Number of Major Hotels/Motels Peoria County.......................................................................... 31 Tazewell County...................................................................... 24 Woodford County...................................................................... 1
Important Phone Numbers Emergencies.......................................................................... 911 Economic Development Council ................................. 495-5953 Federal Court Building................................................. 671-7215 Illinois State Police...................................................... 693-5181 Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce............................ 495-5900 Peoria Area Convention & Visitors Bureau................. 676-0303 Peoria City Hall............................................................ 494-8500 Peoria County Courthouse........................................... 672-6056 Peoria Fire Department (non-emergency).................... 494-8700 Peoria Police Department (non-emergency)................ 673-4521 Peoria Public Library.................................................... 497-2000 Peoria Public Schools................................................... 693-4400
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Business in the Lead
Building a Stronger Peoria
F
rom international giants like Caterpillar to home-grown entrepreneurs, Peoria has always maintained a diverse mix of business and industry. Peoria’s private sector continues to build on a long heritage of strength and vitality.
Caterpillar www.cat.com
For more than 85 years, Caterpillar has been making sustainable progress possible and driving positive change on every continent. With hundreds of locations worldwide, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines, and diesel-electric locomotives. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. Caterpillar has long regarded investing in communities as fundamental to good corporate citizenship. Since its inception in 1954, the Caterpillar Foundation has assisted the company in further maintaining the legacy of good
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work in the communities where Caterpillar employees live and work. In 2011, through the employee/retiree matching gifts program and the Foundation’s dollar-for-dollar match to qualified charities, as well as the United Way Appeal, the Foundation contributed more than $14 million to local charities. Caterpillar’s 16,000 employees, as well as retirees, in central Illinois routinely volunteer in their communities, and some join efforts with nonprofit organizations. Caterpillar is proud that community service continues to be an integral part of its corporate culture. In 2012, Caterpillar announced it was conducting an in-depth study for upgrading and modernizing its corporate headquarters presence in downtown Peoria. The company has contracted with four companies that offer extensive design and build experience that will complement the study efforts. The study will help the company determine the options and timing for establishing a headquarters footprint in the downtown Peoria area that is more suited to the company’s long-term future.
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B y A manda K noles Haddad’s www.haddadsmarket.com
Haddad’s Market has been a landmark in West Peoria since 1964, offering old-fashioned service with a smile. With a long history as a family-owned business, Haddad’s began as a small grocery in 1919 and expanded over the years to become a full-service market. Started by Joseph Haddad, it was later run by his son Fred and grandson Fred Jr. When Fred Jr. sold the store to Garrett Wrhel in 1996, a new family legacy began. Mark Wrhel started as a stocker and night manager and learned the ropes of the grocery business from his father. Over the years the Wrhels added new features to the store, including more specialty items and home delivery service. In 2004 Mark took over management of day-to-day operations and made several improvements, including remodeling of the meat, produce and deli departments and adding catering to the list of services. A fire on New Year’s Eve 2010 left Haddad’s in ruins. After months of intensive construction work, the store reopened in November 2011, with most of the previous staff back at work and fanfare that included a grand reopening
Business in the Lead celebration and prizes. Featuring a larger counter and new seating area in the deli, wider aisles, and new equipment, the store is 4,000 square feet larger than the previous building. While the staff and longtime customers have fond memories of the old store, the new and improved Haddad’s is going strong thanks to Wrhel, his loyal employees and a community that has provided unwavering support.
Kickapoo Creek Winery www.kickapoocreekwinery.com
Located just 10 minutes west of Peoria off I-72, Kickapoo Creek Winery is a fun destination for outdoor lovers who enjoy the scenic hiking trails and a favorite spot for wine aficionados who can sample and purchase an assortment of fine wines.
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Business in the Lead
The tasting room features the full line of Kickapoo Creek wines along with local cheeses, jellies and other gift items. Lunch is served in the tasting room six days a week (closed Monday), with a menu that features a varied selection of sandwiches, soups, salads, pastas and other entrees. The scenic, 250-acre property, surrounded by tall oak trees and gorgeous gardens, is a popular spot for picnics, family gatherings and weddings. Maps are available at the Tasting Room for selfguided walking tours. A favorite photo spot is Bridge Gerry, with its view of Lake Elizabeth. Groups who make reservations in advance enjoy a ride around the grounds on the Grape Train. With vineyards spanning 14 acres, Kickapoo produces close to 50 tons of grapes per year, or 8,000 gallons. The winery currently offers
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24 varieties of red, white, rosĂŠ, infused and dessert wines. PĂŞche Blanc, a refreshing white wine infused with peach flavor, was the Silver Medal Winner in the 2011 Illinois State Wine Competition. Kickapoo has also created an infused raspberry wine, Susan, to honor Peoria native Susan G. Komen. In recent years Kickapoo has expanded its catering business and offers a variety of facilities and event planning staff to accommodate outdoor weddings, corporate dinners, bridal showers and other functions. Kickapoo is a member of the Illinois River Wine Trail.
Peoria Civic Center http://peoriaciviccenter.com
The Peoria Civic Center, managed by SMG, is an entertainment and convention venue visited
Business in the Lead by nearly 700,000 people each year. Built in 1982 and expanded in 2007, the PCC has had a significant economic impact on the Peoria region, estimated at $20 million annually. Featuring an arena, exhibit hall, theater, ballroom and meeting rooms, the PCC is home to the Peoria Symphony and Peoria Ballet as well as the Bradley Braves men’s basketball team and the Peoria Rivermen hockey team. Offering a seating capacity of 12,145 for concerts, Carver Arena hosts a variety of performances, sports and special events throughout the year. The popular arena hosts concerts from top-name performers like Elton John and Metallica, as well as the Broadway Theater Series, featuring shows like WICKED. Other events include notable speakers, dance troupes and family entertainment like Disney on Ice and the Harlem Globetrotters. Situated within walking distance of major hotels, restaurants, the Peoria Riverfront Museum and Caterpillar’s Visitor’s Center, the PCC provides an ideal location for conventions, meetings, consumer shows and events. As the largest exhibition facility in downstate Illinois, the Civic Center’s 110,000-square-foot Exhibit Hall has the flexibility of being dividable into four halls. Facilities also include a beautiful ballroom with pre-function space, a 2,200-seat theater and 16 breakout rooms connected by a magnificent glass arcade. The experienced PCC staff works with meeting planners to coordinate everything from in-house catering to technical requirements of each convention or event.
Willett’s Winery & Cellar www.willettswinery.com
Founded by the late Dan Willett and his wife Cris, Willett’s Winery & Cellar, at 105 East Market
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Business in the Lead
Street in Manito, opened in 2005, five years after the Willetts established their 10-acre vineyard and orchard near Spring Lake in Tazewell County. Occupying a restored 1893 building and situated on a street filled with quaint stores, the winery has a charming European ambience. In addition to traditional red and white wines, Willett’s offers a variety of fruit wines, including Blueberry Chill, Midnight Cherry, Apple Splash and Strawberry Breeze. Willett’s Frontenac was awarded the 2009 Governor’s Cup Gold at the Illinois State Fair and continues to be a customer favorite, along with Willett’s Vignoles, a 2008 INDY International Medalist. Increasing sales of its popular wines have allowed the winery to add a restaurant and banquet room and open a wine store at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria. “Winemaker Bradley Beam and Vineyard Manager Doug Abbott are extremely instrumental in our success,” said owner Cris Willett. The Ironstone Restaurant features a menu of wine-complementary cuisine prepared by Executive Chef Kevin Roecker. An adjacent banquet room is available for wedding receptions and other special events. Willett’s also hosts Wine & Dine Experience, Murder Mystery Dinner Theater, live music outdoors from June through October, and other seasonal celebrations throughout the year. The gift shop features an assortment of wine glasses, wine racks, corkscrews, candles, ceramics, framed photography and gift baskets. Willett’s Wine at Grand Prairie, located at The Shoppes at Grand Prairie in Peoria, carries wine exclusively from Willett’s Winery & Cellar along with wine-related gift items.
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Business in the Lead
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Education
Report Card: K–12
P
eoria’s reputation for outstanding education dates back over a century to the founding of Peoria Public Schools in the 1800s. Since that time the community has continued to build on its solid educational foundation with the addition of new and diverse offerings for K–12 students, including the creation of a science and technology-focused charter school.
Quest Charter Academy www.questpeoria.org
The dream of a public charter school in Peoria came true with the opening of Quest Charter Academy in August 2010, giving students and parents who live within Peoria Public School District 150 boundaries the power to choose a public school. Anyone is eligible to apply to this tuition-free, college-preparatory school regardless of race, socioeconomic status or past school performance. Emphasizing a S.T.E.M. curriculum (science, technology, engineering and math), Quest has approximately 300 students in grades five through eight and began a high school program in August 2012. A grade level will be
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added each year until Quest Charter Academy ultimately serves 600 students in grades five through 12. Because Quest is a charter school, students are chosen by a lottery system, allowing all students an equal chance for acceptance. The result is an incredibly diverse student body representing a cross-section of the many nationalities and socioeconomic backgrounds found throughout the Peoria community. The rigorous curriculum at Quest includes classes in all subjects, but Quest’s focus on science, technology, engineering and math, combined with innovative teaching methods and academic support programs, ensures students are ready to succeed in high-demand subjects in college. Therefore, all students are held to very high standards and expectations. In order to meet its goal of 100 percent college acceptance and career success, Quest engages in an ongoing assessment program to monitor how students learn, using the assessment data to create a plan that meets the needs of each student individually. Understanding the importance of parental
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B y J ay N ehrkorn involvement, Quest gives parents online access to classroom records and assessment data so they can follow their child’s progress throughout the school year. In addition, there are a number of parent–school relations programs that allow parents to be involved in supporting educational goals. Quest also develops relationships within the community to create learning experiences that prepare students for life beyond high school. Partnerships with local universities, businesses and community-based organizations allow students to improve the skills necessary to be successful in the halls of higher education and in a competitive global job market. There are also opportunities beyond academics for students to stay engaged, including after-school clubs, special interest groups, sports programs and schoolwide events. Quest also provides unique engagement opportunities that students might not get to experience otherwise, such as local, national and international trips. Academic achievement, leadership development and college acceptance are the cornerstones of Quest Charter Academy, as they
Education strive to give every student the tools to realize their talents, achieve their goals and fulfill their dreams. The students, teachers, parents and administrators of Quest Charter Academy work together to form a positive, dedicated team committed to results.
Peoria Public Schools www.psd150.org
Peoria District 150 provides a rich learning environment that centers on students, meeting developmental needs, acknowledging individual differences and honoring all styles of learning. Building on the strengths of each of its 14,000-plus students, the district sets high expectations for all in an atmosphere that is nurturing and respectful. The goal at District 150 is to take an integrated approach to learning by addressing academic disciplines and basic skills through broad themes, projects and authentic real-life experiences. Academics are focused on the knowledge, skills and understanding needed to prepare students to be members of a rapidly changing and increasingly interconnected world. “As superintendent, I expect all staff members to research new ideas, propose methods to improve practices, and explore new and innovative ideas while sustaining the key ingredients of proven practices,” said Superintendent Grenita Lathan. “I recognize that if our collective ideas help students learn and achieve, we all benefit.” To ensure that this happens consistently throughout the organization, Lathan and staff have pledged to follow a newly developed set of “Remarkable Rules” that guide everyone in the district to respect the customer, the learning process, the district’s finances and the individual differences of the diverse student body and faculty.
Private and Parochial Schools Concordia Lutheran School
Peoria Academy
2000 W. Glen Ave., Peoria 309-691-8921 :: www.concordiapeoria.com
2711 W. Willow Knowles Drive, Peoria 309-692-7570 :: www.peoriaacademy.org
Notre Dame High School of Peoria
Peoria Christian School
5105 N. Sheridan Road, Peoria 309-691-8741 :: www.peorianotredame.com
3506 N. California Ave., Peoria 309-686-4500 :: www.peoriachristian.org
Educational Resources/Outreach Hult Center for Health Education 5215 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria 309-692-6650 :: www.hult-health.org
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Education
Strength & Diversity: Higher Education
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rom the long heritage of Bradley University to the establishment of new colleges, trade schools and sister campuses of other respected universities in the region, Peoria provides a variety of higher education paths. These institutions lead students to solid careers and have strengthened Peoria’s diverse labor force with talent developed from start to finish right here at home.
Bradley University www.bradley.edu
Bradley is a private, independent university in Peoria offering 6,000 students a world-class education linking academic excellence, experiential learning and leadership development with an entrepreneurial spirit in more than 100 academic programs. In addition to liberal arts and
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sciences, academic programs include business, communications, education, engineering, fine and performing arts, and health sciences. Unique programs include entrepreneurship, hospitality leadership, interactive media, sports communication and physical therapy. At Bradley, students collaborate with faculty on interesting and innovative research. Outside the classroom, they have opportunities to become involved in more than 240 student organizations and clubs, many of which are dedicated to leadership and community service. Bradley has a reputation for excellence in academics, athletics and career preparation. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks it a top 10 regional university, and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance has ranked Bradley one of the 100 best values among private universities.
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B y J ay N ehrkorn
Illinois Central College www.icc.edu
With four campuses and a virtual campus to choose from, Illinois Central College provides easy access for students who want to start a career or take the first two years of a bachelor’s degree program at a reasonable cost. ICC also serves as a source for job retraining and skill enhancement. ICC serves the tri-county area plus parts of seven other counties and offers more than 180 programs of study. ICC also offers lifelong learning opportunities through adult community programs and the Professional Development Institute. Children can experience “college” through the summer College for Kids program, and the community can participate in wellness activities at the new ICC CougarPlex Fitness Center.
Education Midwest Technical Institute www.midwesttech.edu
Midwest Technical Institute is a fully accredited, year-round technical school offering training in a variety of allied health and mechanical trades and careers. The school offers three campuses to serve the central Illinois region, including locations at Springfield, East Peoria and Moline. Potential students must successfully pass an entrance exam and have a high school diploma or GED to be accepted. All programs are nine months or less, and job placement assistance, along with financial aid assistance, is available to those who qualify. The MTI campus at 280 High Point Lane in East Peoria offers small class sizes and extensive hands-on programs in the following areas: journeyman welder, HVAC/R–MAR technician, massage therapist, dental assistant, medical assistant, medical coder, basic nursing assistant and pharmacy technician.
U.S. News & World Report has ranked UIS the fourth-best public regional university in the Midwest for the past four years. Kiplinger’s National Rankings of Best College Values 2011–2012 ranks UIS in the top 100, along with the only other Illinois public university to make the list — the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP) www.peoria.medicine.uic.edu
The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria is one of four campuses that make up the largest public medical school in the country. Located in downtown Peoria, UICOMP enhances the central Illinois region by educating medical students, residents and fellows; performing the latest in research; attracting new physicians; treating more than 90,000 patients each year; and offering important community education programs. UICOMP educates more than 150 medical students annually in addition to more than 250 graduate medical residents and fellows. Last year, UICOMP began a new psychiatry residency program, only the second in downstate Illinois. In 2013, the college hopes to add fellowships specializing in cardiology and stroke. Approximately 60 percent of the practicing primary-care physicians in the Peoria area were trained in UICOMP programs. In December 2011, UICOMP officially opened the state-of-the-art Cancer Research Center, a $13 million public–private expansion. The addition will allow internationally known Dr. Jasti Rao to recruit the world’s best investigators and expand ongoing research to help find a cure for cancer. Construction also is well under way on the Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center, a cutting-edge virtual medical training center. A collaboration of UICOMP and OSF Saint Francis HealthCare, the virtual care center, also dubbed Jump, will replicate all areas of patient care using actual medical equipment alongside high-tech simulation tools. The vision for Jump is to improve health outcomes and lower health care costs through innovative simulation training of medical professionals.
University of Illinois Springfield Peoria Center www.uis.edu
The University of Illinois Springfield Peoria Center has been providing educational opportunities for Peoria residents for more than 35 years. Students who want a U of I degree but are place-bound because of work and/or family take advantage of the university’s convenient location in the Perley Building in downtown Peoria. The AACSB-accredited College of Business and Management and its faculty offer business degrees in the Peoria Center, including the Master of Business Administration, which enrolls the area’s working professionals as a cohort in an accelerated, 21-month weekend program. Undergraduate degrees available at the Peoria Center include accountancy (B.A.) and management (B.A.). The same faculty who teach on the university’s Springfield campus travel to Peoria to teach and mentor Peoria Center students.
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City Sampler
What’s Playing in Peoria B y A manda K noles
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here’s a world of wonders just waiting to be explored in Peoria, from an evening of theater or music, to a walk on the wild side at our renowned zoo, to taking in or joining exciting sports action. Peoria will soon be celebrating the grand opening of a state-ofthe-art, Smithsonian-affiliated museum on the riverfront. The following is just a small sample of all there is to see and do.
Coming Soon: Peoria Riverfront Museum www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org
Officially opening its doors in October 2012, the Peoria Riverfront Museum will be a powerful cultural presence and enhance Peoria’s reputation as a regional destination. As well as being the only museum in downstate Illinois affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the museum will bring a wide array of world-class exhibits, programs and educational experiences to local residents and Peoria visitors. Two of the most impressive features of the new museum are the giant-screen digital theater and state-of-the-art planetarium. The theater’s digital screen is six stories high and extends beyond the field of vision, so viewers literally experience the big picture. The planetarium’s digital projection system, secured via NASA funding, takes visitors on extraordinary flights through the Milky Way and beyond. In the museum’s International Features Gallery, visitors will experience some of the Smithsonian’s largest traveling exhibits. Other must-see attractions include The Street, Illinois
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City Sampler River Encounter, the Fine Arts and Folk Art Gallery, Peak Performance Center, and The Caterpillar Experience. The museum project is a collaborative effort of Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences, Caterpillar, the Peoria Historical Society, the African American Hall of Fame Museum, the Peoria Regional Museum Society, the Heartland Foundation and the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences www.lakeview-museum.org
While Lakeview Museum opened its doors in 1965, the seed for the museum was planted in 1954 when 26 art and science groups joined forces to create a facility that would house exhibitions and educational programs of interest to the community. Since that time Lakeview Museum of Arts & Sciences has played host to a wide array of world-class exhibits, something that will only be enhanced when it moves into the new Peoria Riverfront Museum. At the new museum, more than 600 works of art spanning three centuries of Midwestern culture will be on permanent display, including textiles and the Illinois wildfowl decoy collection. The Folk Art Gallery will feature works from the museum’s extensive collection and folk-themed exhibitions. The Fine Arts Gallery will showcase pieces from the Fine Art, Ethnographic and Natural Sciences collections. Other attractions include the Discovery Center, featuring hands-on educational activities for children, and the Illinois River Encounter, an exploration of the region’s natural history. Lakeview is the largest private museum in downstate Illinois and a great place to experience, firsthand, objects of artistic and scientific nature. It’s also been a center for lifelong learning
and a critical part of the educational structure of the community for decades.
Forest Park Nature Center www.peoriaparks.org/forest-park-nature-center
Situated in the forested bluffs of the Illinois River, the 540-acre Nature Center and Preserve is open year-round and offers visitors a chance to enjoy seven miles of hiking trails through forested woodland and open prairies. The center includes a natural history museum with a viewing room for bird-watching. The Nature Center provides a series of environmental education activities on-site and through the traveling naturalist program for the benefit of local schools, scout troops, garden clubs and civic organizations. The environmental education staff also leads field trips through the forests and prairies for school groups. Popular classes at the center include Birding Tours of the Illinois River, Nature Painting, Kite Making and Building a Recycled Birdhouse. Other public programs include yoga, winter constellation hikes and wildflower walks. Songs from the Woods is a monthly concert series featuring a variety of performances from singer/songwriters and folk musicians. The Trailhead Nature Store features an extensive line of nature-related gifts, including birdfeeders, birdhouses, books, recycled fiber clothing, tree-free note cards, jewelry, hiking sticks, and environmentally friendly bath and body products. All purchases directly support the Nature Center.
Peoria Chiefs www.peoriachiefs.com
The Peoria Chiefs are the Class-A Midwest League affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and have played their home games at Peoria Chiefs Stadium
in downtown Peoria for the last 10 years. With a season running from April to September, the Chiefs celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2012. Manager Casey Kopitzke has been with the Chiefs for three consecutive seasons and spent 13 seasons in the Chicago Cubs organization as a player, coach and manager. Ron Villone, a veteran of 15 major league seasons, has joined the team as pitching coach. Former players who have gone on to star in the major leagues include Albert Pujols, Greg Maddux, Mark Grace, Joe Girardi, Wally Joyner, Devon White, Rafael Palmeiro, Yadier Molina and Danny Haren. The Chiefs have also been managed by Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, Jody Davis, Joe Maddon and Jim Tracy. Throughout the season Chiefs fans enjoy a variety of special events and promotions, including T-shirt giveaways, discounted tickets, and fun pre- and post-game activities. The FireHouse team store offers a variety of memorabilia and team merchandise. During the season and in the off-season the Chiefs participate in outreach efforts like Game Day Education Days to show their support for the Peoria community. Last year the Chiefs performed over 50 not-for-profit appearances and donated over 3,000 tickets to various organizations in the area.
Peoria Rivermen www.rivermen.net
Celebrating 30 years in 2012, the Peoria Rivermen hockey team plays in the American Hockey League as the AAA affiliate of the NHL’s St. Louis Blues. The Rivermen play 38 regular-season home games at Carver Arena and have brought the city three professional championships.
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City Sampler
PARK
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www.peoriasymphony.org
Walking/Hiking Trail
Volleyball
Tennis Courts
Swimming
Spray Pool
Soccer
Sledding
Skating Area
Skateboard Area
Shuffleboard Courts
Scenic Drive
Restrooms
Recreation Center
Playground
Picnic Area
The Peoria Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest symphony orchestras in the United States. Founded in 1897 as the Bradley Symphony Orchestra, it was organized under the auspices of the Bradley Institute and directed by founder Harold Plowe. In 1916 the orchestra incorporated and was renamed the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. Today the group performs a classical subscription series, pops concerts and concerts for area students. Local and internationally renowned guest soloists are frequently featured, and free pre-concert lectures are held at the Peoria Civic Center prior to classical subscription concerts. The symphony’s education and outreach efforts throughout central Illinois include youth concerts reaching over 5,000 students and an annual Young Artist Competition for grade school and high school musicians. The winner receives an academic scholarship and the opportunity to perform as soloist at the Youth Concerts. Conductor George Edward Stelluto leads the symphony in exciting performances of pieces ranging from Baroque classics to present-day favorites. He is in demand around the world as a
Open Play Areas
Nature Preserve
Horseshoe Pits
Golf
Garden
Frisbee Golf
Fitness Trail
Fishing Pond
Dog Park
Cross Country Running/Skiing
www.peoriaparks.org
Community Center
Peoria Public Parks
BMX Course
Entertaining audiences since 1919, Peoria Players is the fourth-longest consecutively
Biking Trail
www.peoriaplayers.org
Basketball
Peoria Players
Peoria Symphony Orchestra
running community theater in the nation. Since the first performance of the one-act play The Maker of Dreams by Oliphant Down, the Players have presented hundreds of plays despite obstacles like the Depression, numerous financial difficulties, logistical challenges like the construction of I-74, and a few venue changes. Currently auditions and performances are held at the Peoria Players Theatre at 4300 N. University. Through lots of hard work and dedication on the part of performers and backstage workers, and thanks to the support of the community, the group performs six shows a year in addition to special seasonal presentations. Featuring a diverse roster of shows including Children of A Lesser God, The King and I, Fiddler on the Roof, and Titanic the Musical, among others, the Players’ goal is to provide culturally inclusive live theatrical entertainment for the area and to provide a creative outlet for talented individuals who want to perform and grow in an artistically challenging environment. Summer Youth Theatre, open to ages 14 through 20, gives young people interested in learning more about acting and stage crafts a chance to participate in plays like West Side Story and The Wedding Singer.
Baseball/Softball
The team beat the Chicago Wolves and Rockford IceHogs for the first-ever Illinois Lottery Cup in 2012. Peoria came away with the best overall winning percentage in matches between the three Illinois-based teams. During the Illinois Lottery Cup games fans were treated to special events at many of the games, including the Powerball Toss, which rewarded lucky winners in the arena with free Illinois Lottery instant game tickets. Other special promotions for fans are offered throughout the season, including great giveaways and appearances. Community outreach efforts allow the team and staff members to help many local schools, hospitals and charitable organizations. During the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss fans toss new and gently used stuffed animals on the ice following the first Rivermen goal of the game. The toys are collected and donated to the Salvation Army to distribute during the holiday season. Over the past four seasons more than 1,500 bears have been collected.
ADDRESS
Becker Park
3401 W. Woodhill
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Bielfeldt Park
5906 N. Galena Road
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Bradley Park
1314 Park Road
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Charter Oak Park
5802 N. Orange Prairie Road
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Chartwell Park
2828 Willow Lake Road
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Columbia Park
300 McClure
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Creighton Woods Park
Off Creighton Terrace
Detweiller Park
8327 N. Galena Road
Endres Park
5100 Willard Road
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Giant Oak Park
426 W. High Street
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Glen Oak Park
2218 N. Prospect Road
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Grand View Drive Park
3210 Grand View Drive
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John H. Gwynn Jr. Park
809 W. John H. Gwynn Jr. Avenue
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Lakeview Park
1917 West Lake
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Markwoodlands Park
6001 N. Frostwood
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Martin Luther King Jr. Park
825 W. McBean
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Robinson Park
400 W. Mossville Road
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901 NE Monroe 1621 W. Meadowview Drive
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Morton Square Park
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2400 N. Western
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6600 N. Basket Oak Drive
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Stadium Park
500 E. Lake Avenue
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Trewyn Park
2219 S. Idaho
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Vicary Bottoms Dog Park
Off Kickapoo Creek Road
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Schmoeger Park Sommer Park North
City Sampler
City Sampler
guest conductor, and his broad musical interests and abilities are sought after by a variety of artistic organizations.
Peoria Zoo at Glen Oak Park www.peoriazoo.org
The Peoria Zoo has been connecting people and animals since it first opened in 1955. In 2009 the zoo doubled in size with the addition of the Africa! exhibit and continues to grow today with a new entry complex. Within the zoo’s 14 acres are over 90 species, from Aldabra tortoises to zebras and from insects to sea lions, giving people up-close access to the amazing diversity of the animal kingdom. The zoo is open year-round, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and hosts a variety of special events and educational programs of interest to all ages. Daily keeper chats and animal shows in the summer enhance the guest experience. While enjoying a snack or lunch in the Zambezi River Lodge visitors can view the rhinos and giraffes as they roam under the watchful eyes of the lions. In the evening, the lodge can accommodate up to 200 guests for receptions, birthday parties and other special occasions.
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The Junior League of Peoria and the Peoria Zoological Society have joined forces with the Peoria Park District to build the Peoria PlayHouse Children’s Museum and further expand the Peoria Zoo to create a daylong destination for learning through play. Designed for children ages 0 through 8, the PlayHouse will feature six themed exhibit areas offering hands-on learning for children of all abilities. Galleries created by designers and education experts will meet Illinois Early Learning Standards, and special programs and traveling exhibits will encourage repeat visits.
RiverPlex Recreation & Wellness Center www.riverplex.org
A joint project between Peoria Park District and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, this 118,000-square-foot facility features a state-ofthe-art fitness center, indoor aquatic park and multi-purpose arena in the heart of downtown Peoria. The fitness center, boasting a view of the Illinois River, includes over 200 pieces of premium equipment including treadmills, recumbent bikes, rowers, free weights and more. The AquaPlex offers four different pools featuring lap swimming, lessons, a water slide, therapy pool
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and other water features designed for all ages and abilities. RiverPlex also offers a running and walking track and over 150 group classes a week, free with membership. Every new member is enrolled in the Healthy Start Program, a one-hour course designed to educate members on the basics of healthy eating, weight loss and goal setting. Personal trainers assist members in developing appropriate training programs and achieving their fitness goals. Wellness services provided through OSF Saint Francis include surgical and nonsurgical weight-loss programs, medical exercise programs, health screenings, and physical rehabilitation. The XR Game Zone uses video game technology to engage participants in physical activities that are both challenging and fun. Other recreational activities include adult sports leagues.
Wheels O’ Time Museum http://wheelsotime.org
Initiated in 1979 by two local car collectors and opened in 1983, this eclectic museum features a variety of exhibits depicting life in the Peoria area 50 to 100 years ago.
City Sampler The museum’s indoor collection, now spanning four spacious buildings, includes antique cars, fire trucks, farm tractors, Caterpillar machinery, model airplanes, clocks, musical devices, toys, vintage clothing and tools. Also on display are a miniature circus; Lionel train layouts; a calliope; a full-size, animatronic barbershop quartet (featuring some famous presidential faces); and vintage radio station WMBD. Outdoor displays feature a steam train, gazebo and working windmill. Automobiles in the collection include the Packard, Ford Model T, Peoria-built Glide, Nash Metropolitan, Kissell, Briscoe, Moline-built Velie, Austin Healey and many other vehicles from the 1910s to 1980s. The mission of the museum is to entertain and educate while providing a facility where people of all ages can see, hear and sometimes touch items representing transportation, industry,
farm and home life, business, and entertainment from times past. Located at 1710 W. Woodside Drive, the museum is open from noon to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday, May through October.
World on Wheels Peoria www.worldonwheelspeoria.com
World On Wheels Segway Tours and Bike Rides offers Peoria’s only Segway tour and Quadracycle bike rental experience. Fun Quadracycle bike rides along the Peoria RiverFront last for 30 minutes. Narrated Segway tours range from 30 minutes to two hours and feature informative historical and present-day tidbits, unique and fascinating stories, interesting photo ops, and attentive service from experienced guides. The Premier Segway Tour explores the revitalization of the downtown area and glides past the
RiverFront, featuring glimpses of nature, history, art and beauty. The Past Glories Tour offers a ride through Peoria’s historic district, including sights like Bradley University and buildings of architectural interest. Rentals are available for business outings, corporate team building, neighborhood festivals, birthday parties, family reunions and other special events. The Segway, invented by Dean Kamen and introduced to the public in 2001, is a selfbalancing electric vehicle that uses gyroscopic sensors in the base to stay upright. Users lean to go forward or back and turn by using a handlebar. Quadracycles have four wheels instead of two and are available in two-seat and four-seat models. Using side-by-side gearing, they are easy to handle, stable, comfortable and fun.
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Health Care
Methodist Medical Center MyMethodist.net
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B y R osemary S tuttle
ethodist Medical Center includes a 330-bed facility with almost 600 board-certified physicians and Methodist North, a state-of-the-art outpatient and imaging center. Founded in 1900, Methodist today is a senior affiliate of Iowa Health System, the nation’s fifth-largest nondenominational health system, with hospitals and physician offices throughout Iowa and Illinois. Methodist’s commitment to quality has resulted in numerous awards and national recognition. It was named one of “America’s Best Hospitals” for 2009–2010 by U.S. News & World Report, and was in the Top 10 for nursing care and pain management. Methodist has twice been named one of the 100 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals in the United States. It was also the first downstate hospital to be awarded Magnet designation for excellence in nursing services, the nation’s highest honor in patient care.
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Health Care
The Methodist Emergency and Trauma Center is ready for your serious medical emergencies. Heart attack patients are flown there by helicopter from throughout the region. Methodist is also a Certified Primary Stroke Center, signifying that Methodist stroke care meets the highest national standards. Methodist is the only trauma center in the region with a physician-staffed triage to reduce wait times. And the Illinois Department of Public Health recognizes Methodist as an Emergency Department Approved for Pediatrics, which certifies that Methodist has the equipment and specially trained staff to care for children. A leader in information technology, Methodist is among fewer than 10 percent of hospitals nationwide to fully implement Computerized Physician Order Entry and electronic medical records. Its
physician portal gives doctors immediate access to lab test and digital imaging results so treatment can begin sooner. And Methodist’s award-winning website, MyMethodist.net, makes it easy for visitors to find a doctor, get updated ER wait times, register for appointments, send flowers and e-cards to loved ones, review quality data, and more. Oncology services include advanced TomoTherapy radiation for targeted cancer treatment and the area’s only autologous bone marrow transplant program. State-of-the-art diagnostic services include the latest 3T MRI system, an advanced PET/CT scanner that helps pinpoint cancer at the very earliest stage, and low-radiation 64-slice CT scanners. Methodist has all-digital mammography, including the only mobile unit in Illinois.
Methodist’s proactive approach to health and wellness includes the Methodist Wellmobile, bringing free health screenings to people wherever they work or play. Methodist also features the area’s most comprehensive behavioral health services and is home to a psychiatric residency program in partnership with the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. Other services include sophisticated robotic surgery, a comprehensive birthing center with Level II neonatal nursery, pediatric services, wound care center with advanced hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a comprehensive Spine and Pain Center, and the area’s most experienced sleep center. Methodist Medical Group, a network of primary care and specialty physicians, has offices located throughout central Illinois, including convenient Methodist MedPointe walk-in clinics. All MMG offices feature electronic medical records and MyMethodist eHealth for secure online communication with your physician, including convenient Web visits and automatic access to lab results.
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Health Care
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
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SF Saint Francis Medical Center, licensed for 616 beds and with a medical staff of more than 900 physicians, is one of the largest medical centers in the state. A major teaching affiliate of the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP), OSF Saint Francis is the area’s only Level I trauma center, the highest level designated in trauma care. It serves as the resource hospital for emergency medical services for north-central Illinois. OSF Saint Francis and Children’s Hospital of Illinois have enjoyed Magnet status for excellence in nursing care since 2004. OSF Saint Francis Medical Center completed a $280 million expansion in 2010. The project — which brings all Children’s Hospital inpatient units under one roof — is also home to a new adult heart unit, cardiac catheterization labs, surgery suites, outpatient diagnostics and the emergency department. The 55-bed emergency department is a state-of-the-art facility focused on patient privacy and safety. Features include a pod design, a key card security system and the capacity for 20 additional surge beds in the event of a disaster. OSF Saint Francis Heart Hospital provides comprehensive, state-of-the-art services, from diagnostic testing to cardiovascular interventions and surgery. More than 35 cardiac specialists and subspecialists are on the Heart Hospital team. The Heart Hospital is Joint Commission-certified for both heart attack care and heart failure. The Heart 777 Program, a regional partnership and response team for heart attack victims, provides the fastest heart attack response time in the region and has saved many lives.
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OSF Saint Francis offers five outpatient centers, three PromptCare facilities and a community clinic. ASK OSF, a 24-hour call center, provides medical advice, class registration and physician referral. Under construction on the OSF Saint Francis campus is the Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center, a collaboration between OSF HealthCare and UICOMP. The center will be used for education, credentialing, research and performance improvement for both organizations, their regional affiliates, and health care and educational providers from across the country, as well as the commercial health care industry. The cutting-edge facility is slated to open in the spring of 2013.
Children’s Hospital of Illinois www.childrenshospitalofil.org
Children’s Hospital of Illinois is a 127-bed hospital housed on the OSF Saint Francis Medical Center campus. More than 100 pediatric specialists representing more than 30 subspecialties practice in the hospital. It’s the first pediatric critical care hospital in the state and serves as the primary pediatric teaching facility for UICOMP. Children’s Hospital is the area’s Regional Perinatal Center, with central Illinois’ only Level III+ neonatal intensive care unit and Level I trauma center. The Congenital Heart Center at Children’s Hospital is one of the Midwest’s top pediatric programs, recently designated as one of only 47 programs worldwide to provide superior heart lung bypass care. Children’s Hospital operates the Pediatric Surgery Center, which brings together 10 surgical
P e o r i a A r e a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e
www.osfsaintfrancis.org
B y S helli D ankoff
specialties, including the only pediatric neurosurgeon in Illinois outside of Chicago. Children’s Hospital is also home to the only Pediatric Diabetes Resource Center in downstate Illinois. Children’s Hospital has been ranked in the top 1 percent of neonatal intensive care units nationally and is a recent recipient of the National Cystic Fibrosis Quality Care Award.
The Illinois Neurological Institute www.ini.org
Located on the campus of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, the Illinois Neurological Institute (INI) is one of the most comprehensive neuroscience centers in the Midwest and includes over 60 neurological experts dedicated to caring for every aspect of the brain, spine and nerves. The INI offers multidisciplinary neurological, neurosurgical and rehabilitative care for adults and children. Designated a Level 1 trauma center and Primary Stroke Center, the institute has highly trained physicians prepared to respond to even the most complex neurological problems. The team has access to state-of-the-art technology, allowing them to rapidly diagnose and treat disorders of the brain and spine. Education and research is a vital part of the INI’s mission. As a teaching institution, the INI serves medical students, residents and fellows, all of whom are actively involved in all aspects of patient care. Research is also a major component of INI’s commitment to the advancement of neurological care, and patients may be asked to participate in clinical trials.
Health Care
Proctor Hospital www.proctor.org and visit us on Facebook
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roctor Hospital provides unmatched health care experiences ‌ every day. A 165-bed all-private-room hospital, Proctor Hospital is home to some of the most exciting technology, including the latest in digital diagnostic and interventional imaging, from cardiovascular to mammography services. Proctor is the first hospital in the Midwest to use newly available visualization tools, helping to make its new endovascular suite unlike any other in the state. Proctor Hospital is recognized as a Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip ReplacementSM. Proctor is one of 16 hospitals in Illinois, and the only hospital in the Peoria area, with this recognition. Orthopedic services at Proctor include total joint replacement surgery, a comprehensive pre-operative education program, the area’s most experienced surgical teams, and an on-site Skilled Nursing Center for extended care and rehabilitation, with both home care and medical equipment services available.
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Health Care Proctor Hospital has a comprehensive cardiovascular program that includes open-heart surgery performed in one of the most sophisticated cardiac surgical suites in downstate Illinois. The hospital is home to the area’s first hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation program in the area. When minutes matter, the Emergency Department provides a full spectrum of care for critically ill and injured patients in a safe and comfortable environment. The Emergency Department includes an expanded Chest Pain Center, patient observation rooms, rooms specially designed for pediatric patients, a trauma room and a biohazard/decontamination room.
In 2012 Proctor Hospital was named as an EMS System Resource Hospital. Patient centered-care and patient safety are of the highest priority at Proctor Hospital. That’s why, in 2010, the hospital became a Planetree affiliate. Since its founding in 1978, Planetree has been a pioneer in personalizing, humanizing and demystifying the health care experience for patients and their families. Patient safety is also a driving force behind Proctor eCare — a major component of which is the electronic health record of a patient’s health history. The Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery, a leader in addiction treatment, is a comprehensive
Family House
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here is a family in need. Their child is born with a life-threatening condition. Their mother is diagnosed with cancer. Their son is injured in a car accident. Their loved one is in Peoria receiving critical treatment, and they need to be there. And for all of them, 365 days a year, the door is open at Family House, Peoria’s only hospital hospitality house. In the early 1980s, Peoria’s Junior League recognized a need. As the city’s medical services expanded, more and more families were coming to the city for the treatment they needed — some for months at a time. The costs of an extended hotel stay can be devastating to families already suffering the expense and stress of a critical illness. The Junior League wanted to offer these families not only housing, but a home — with all of the welcome and comfort that word implies. Family House began in 1982 as a collaborative project between the Junior League, OSF
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hospital-based inpatient/outpatient treatment facility located on the campus of Proctor Hospital, with offices near Bloomington, Springfield, Chicago and the Quad Cities. Other specialized facilities and programs include the Advanced Wound Center, Sleep Disorders Center, Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center and Family Maternity Center. Proctor First Care and Proctor Medical Group reach out into area neighborhoods and rural communities, providing physician-based urgent care and medical care services. Proctor First Care also provides comprehensive occupational health services for area employers.
B y L aura W ilcoxen St. Francis, Methodist Medical Center and Proctor Hospital. The partnership purchased and renovated a century-old, 9,000-square-foot house. Opened in June 1985, the lovely red-brick mansion welcomed some 28,000 guests. Some stayed for a few days; some for weeks, even months. Because most of the guests could not afford the cost of an extended hotel stay, Family House became an affordable home away from home during a difficult time. Though beautiful, the house had its drawbacks: It lacked contemporary features and wasn’t ideal for guests with limited mobility. So in 2010, in conjunction with its 25th anniversary, Family House broke ground on a new, 14,500-square-foot home at 1339 E. Nebraska Avenue. Opened in 2011, the new Family House features: • Twenty guest rooms, each with a private bath, television, phone and heating/cooling units. • Complete accessibility, including an elevator.
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• Two kitchens for guest use. • A dining room that can accommodate 20 and that features Wi-Fi for guests’ email and medical research needs. • Parlor, multipurpose room and lounge areas (both inside and outside). • Day services that allow people staying in hospital waiting rooms to shower, launder clothing and enjoy a home-cooked meal. • Dedicated guest laundry facilities. • A per-night cost of just $39 per room. A not-for-profit organization, Family House relies on in-kind donations and its room charge to cover the costs of operating the home with a 24-hour paid staff. For more information on all Family House has to offer and to find out how you can help, visit www.familyhousepeoria.org or call 309-685-5300.
Health Care
Illinois CancerCare B y L aura W ilcoxen
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diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming, full of fear and uncertainty. Compounding this for many is the necessity of traveling to large urban centers for treatment. Fortunately for residents of the Greater Peoria area, the very best in state-of-the-art cancer and blood disorders diagnosis, treatment and research is right here, at Illinois CancerCare. Oncology Hematology Associates of Central Illinois was founded in 1977 by Dr. Stephen A. Cullinan, who had earned his oncology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. Cullinan soon began offering outreach clinics in Pekin, Bloomington and Pontiac. Now known as Illinois CancerCare, today the facility operates 13 clinic locations and employs 17 physicians, 15 Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs) and over 55 nurses — the majority certified as OCNs (Oncology Certified Nurses). The war on cancer is conducted on many fronts, and one of the most vital is ongoing research. With the view that the most significant and successful research into cancer treatment can be conducted at the community level, by 1978 Dr. Cullinan had established a research relationship with Mayo Clinic called the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG). That commitment to research continues today. More than 8,500 Illinois CancerCare patients have participated in voluntary research studies through the Illinois Oncology Research Association and Illinois CancerCare, with approximately 120 clinical cancer research trials being conducted at any given time. In 2007, the American Society of Clinical Oncology recognized Illinois CancerCare among the top 10 community research centers in the nation with its Clinical Trials Participation Award. Illinois CancerCare patients will find a full range of diagnosis, treatment and support services, including X-ray and CT scanning, laboratory, radiation oncology, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplant, surgery, and pharmacy. Every patient receives a personalized treatment regimen, and the staff is dedicated to providing comprehensive care, which includes education, healthy living and support services. When you’re in one of the most important fights of your life, you want the best team on your side. And that team is right here, at Illinois CancerCare. w w w. p e o ri a ch a m b e r. o rg
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Shopping Scene
Wonderful Wares & Fine Fare
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hopping is an experience in Peoria, where you’ll find everything from lifestyle centers and malls with multiple stores and restaurants to specialty boutiques and locally owned shops catering to every need.
The Shoppes at Grand Prairie 5201 W. War Memorial Drive 309-862-3761 :: www.shoppesatgrandprairie.com
The Shoppes at Grand Prairie is an open-air lifestyle center visited by more than 5 million people annually. Offering more than 70 specialty stores and restaurants, the center features an inviting courtyard and pedestrian promenade landscaped with shade trees, native shrubs and seasonal flowers. Other amenities include water features, a parklike seating, street lamps and children’s play areas. Shoppers may choose from a wide variety of stores featuring everything from apparel and accessories to home dÊcor and sporting goods. There are plenty of tempting eateries to satisfy
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any craving. Stop in for a quick bite at a fast casual spot or enjoy a relaxing lunch or dinner at one of the full-service restaurants. Many visitors enjoy a fun day of shopping and dining followed by a movie at the cinema. Signature events like Pampered on the Prairie draw thousands of people in a single day. This annual May event features store savings and discounts, live music, a fashion show, mini manicures and mini massages, plus much more. The Shoppes at Grand Prairie also features several wonderful animal sculptures by worldrenowned artist Lonnie Stewart. A life-size African lion graces the center court area in honor of the Peoria Zoo. Playful black bear cubs pay tribute to animals once native to central Illinois, and a bald eagle sculpture celebrates the return of these majestic birds to the bluffs along the Illinois River. Equipped to Play, sponsored by Caterpillar Inc., is a fun playground featuring kid-sized tractors, loaders and trucks. The family-friendly area
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B y A manda K noles provides a place where children of all ages can become builders for a day and enjoy digging and playing with the kid-safe equipment. The Peoria Holocaust Memorial is a unique display containing 11 million buttons, each representing a life lost during the Holocaust. Informational kiosks provide a historical timeline with testimonials from survivors and liberators.
Jones Bros. Plaza 7705 N. Grand Prairie Drive 309-692-3228 :: www.jonesbros.com
This sleek shopping plaza was the brainchild of Bob Woolsey and Betty Schlacter, owners of Jones Bros. Jewelers, who were looking for a new location in 2005. In addition to providing larger quarters for the jewelry store, which has served central Illinois since 1939, the 10,000-squarefoot center offered an opportunity for Woolsey to lease space to other tenants, including spa and salon, optical, and telecommunications services.
Shopping Scene
Jones Bros. offers an extensive selection of bridal jewelry, fashion jewelry from the latest designers, loose diamonds of every shape and carat, and a collection of fine Swiss watches. The store provides appraisals, repair service and expert advice for those seeking help in choosing the perfect jewelry piece. “The level of service we offer our customers is altogether different than what you’ll find in other jewelry stores,” explained Woolsey. Giving back to the community has always been a Jones Bros. tradition. The store supports both local and international charities including The Children’s Hospital of Illinois, WCBU Public Radio and Wildlife Prairie Park. Jones Bros. is also proud to offer the Mille Collines collection. The timeless, handmade designs of Mille Collines reflect Africa’s strength and sensibility, with income providing support for families and growth for communities by creating more jobs.
Junction City 5901 N. Prospect Road 309-740-0808 www.newjunctioncity.com www.facebook.com/JunctionCityShoppingCenter
Peoria’s original shopping destination, located on the corner of Knoxville Avenue and Prospect Road, has been a landmark since 1956. The oldfashioned water tower often serves as a backdrop
for a variety of special events held at the center, including Artists on the Boardwalk, Walk On Wednesdays, First Fridays, Paws for a Cause Dog Show and the Holiday Walk, which offers carriage rides, carolers, photos with Santa and more. The concept for the center has always been to offer a collection of locally owned, quality boutiques in one convenient setting. Today the center continues to feature one-of-a-kind shops that offer unique items not often found in other retail districts. Shoppers enjoy a diverse selection of gifts and home décor shops, clothing boutiques, fine art, fitness centers, hair salons, and spas. Restaurant choices range from casual to fine dining and gourmet takeout. For over 50 years Junction City has offered Peoria residents and visitors an enjoyable mix of shops, restaurants and services in a historic setting. Combining homespun ambience with friendly and personal service, it’s a fun place to shop or dine with a calendar of special events to enjoy all year.
Metro Centre 4700 N. University Street at W. Glen Avenue 309-692-6690 :: www.shopmetrocentre.com
A shopping destination in Peoria for more than 30 years, the open-air Metro Centre offers a variety of apparel and accessories stores along with specialty shops, health and beauty providers, restaurants,
and food and wine shops. Other services include insurance agencies, a bank, a travel agency and a cell phone provider. The family-friendly center is known for its locally owned and operated stores and a strong commitment to customer service. The merchants at Metro Centre can help you find the right item for any occasion, whether you are treating yourself or shopping for a unique gift. Foodies have an abundance of choices, from chocolates, wine and spirits to specialty meats, deli favorites, bakery goods and a natural foods grocery. Restaurants cater to a variety of tastes, from burgers and barbecue to gourmet sandwiches and sushi. Throughout the year Metro Centre hosts popular events that include sidewalk sales, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, a Fall Festival, Small Business Saturday and a Holiday Open House. The Peoria Farmers Market at Metro Centre offers the largest selection of homegrown produce in town and is the longest-running farmers market in the region. The inventory changes weekly, and shoppers can always count on the best of the season’s harvest, including homegrown and organic vegetables, fruits and plants and a variety of the freshest produce from local farms. Metro Centre contributes a portion of Farmers Market proceeds to the Heart of Illinois Harvest, a local food rescue program.
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Homes & Neighborhoods
Family-Friendly to Up-and-Coming
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inding a home in Peoria is easy, whether you prefer the quiet of an established, tree-lined family neighborhood or the faster pulse and activity of a downtown urban loft. Two of the many selections in Peoria highlight the diversity available here. While studies in contrast in some ways, the Knolls and downtown Peoria both offer some of the best living on offer here.
The Knolls Located in central Peoria, the Knolls is a distinctive neighborhood, established in 1928 as Peoria’s first restricted, residential park. The founders selected the location because it was central to recreational areas and Peoria’s business district. The Knolls is well known for its quiet, tree-lined streets, beautiful and unique homes, and a sense of community among its neighbors. Various small parks are scattered throughout the neighborhood, enhancing its family-friendly attributes. With its focus on parks and outdoor space, the Knolls has a strong neighborhood and community fabric linking its residents together.
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That sense of community extends to holidays and festivities, which serve as another reason to visit with neighbors. Matt Smutz, president of the Knolls Homeowners Association, says that each year the Knolls hosts a July 4th parade and party, a Halloween parade and party, and a fall patio party. “Our fall patio party is great,” he said. “Generous neighbors open their homes and yards to other neighbors who make their way throughout the neighborhood. We then get to meet and enjoy the fellowship of old friends and new acquaintances.” According to Smutz, each home in the Knolls is unique in its design, but still shares the same incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail. This level of care and attention extends to all landscaping, gardening and outdoor living design. Many of the homes in the neighborhood blend brick, stone and wood design on the exterior, while interiors feature unusual and significant design, handsome woodwork, and quality craftsmanship. You can find all varieties of price ranges of homes in the Knolls, ranging from the very affordable — around $150,000 — to more exclusive homes in excess of $500,000. Smutz is committed to the neighborhood even beyond his role as the Homeowners Association president. “It’s a great place to raise a family,” he said. “Succeeding family generations often relocate back to the neighborhood. In over 20 years of marriage and family life, we have owned three homes, all in the Knolls and the surrounding area. It is truly unlike any other neighborhood in Peoria.”
Homes & Neighborhoods
Downtown Peoria Peoria’s downtown area holds promise for locals and relocators alike, whether they’re looking for a new home or a great place to open a business. Options for living in downtown Peoria have never been better, including modern high-rise apartments and trendy residential spots in mixeduse developments. Developers have reconfigured many of the 1900s downtown manufacturing and warehouse buildings into modern loft apartments and condominiums, creating attractive spaces with unique styling. Offering stunning views of the Illinois River and a host of amenities, these residences range anywhere from 650 to 3,500 square feet and provide easy access to the shops, businesses and entertainment of the Riverfront scene. Originally a manufacturing facility from the early 1900s, The Lofts at Waterfront Place, formerly known as the Illinois Antique Center, is an ideal location offering grand views of the Illinois River. The building boasts an elegant lobby, a gym, a roof deck and high-speed Internet, while
the lofts feature explosed brick, oversized windows and stainless appliances. Mixed-use developments are also on the rise. 401 Water Street is a premier location surrounded by unique restaurants, lively events, sports venues and a riverfront trail. The residential area houses loft-style, luxury condos boasting high ceilings, abundant windows, exposed brick walls and ductwork, while the commercial area has nearly 20 unique businesses. The Maxam Building is located at 316 SW Washington Street right across from the Riverfront Museum. The Maxam features not only luxury loft living, but is also home to dining and entertainment and cutting-edge businesses, including architectural research and design and an up-and-coming software firm. Also under way downtown is a hotel redevelopment project, which includes a renovation of the Pere Marquette and a new Courtyard Marriott, with the hotels to be connected to the Peoria Civic Center via an elevated walkway over Fulton.
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History & Heritage
Two Hundred Years & Counting
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he defining moments of Peoria’s history are intertwined with America’s finest, and darkest, hours. Inhabited by the French and Indians until they were driven out by American forces during the War of 1812, Peoria became the site of Fort Clark in 1813 and then saw the arrival of American pioneers. The growing settlement was incorporated as a town in 1835 and then as a city in 1845. Residents of the city were sharply divided over the issue of slavery during Abraham Lincoln’s visits during the 1850s, his rise to the presidency,
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and the coming of the Civil War in the years that followed. Still, the late 1800s were a time of prosperity for Peoria, and by the end of the 19th century the city had grown rich with money from the flourishing whiskey and cattle industries. So prosperous and grand was the city that, during his visit in 1910, Theodore Roosevelt declared that Peoria’s Grandview Drive was “the world’s most beautiful drive.” Just one year later, in 1911, the Peoria Association of Commerce was established. Now known as the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber has played a part in tremendous changes in the community over these past 100 years. Despite the 1917 passage of the 18th Amend ment, which shut down the large-scale distilleries so important to the city’s economy, Peoria continued to prosper during the “Roaring ’20s.” The distilleries may have been gone, but many in the region still fancied an occasional drink, and the city gained a “wide open town” reputation rivaling that of Chicago. The loss of the above-board whiskey industry was offset in 1925 by the arrival of Caterpillar. Building on a base of earlier farm implement manufacturers, the company helped transform Peoria from the “Whiskey Capital of the World” to the “Earth-Moving Capital of the World.” Some of the current landmarks built during the 1920s include the Madison Theatre, the Hotel Pere Marquette, and the Scottish Rite Cathedral.
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Peoria had it all in those days, including air mail delivered by a soon-to-be-famous pilot named Charles Lindbergh. But in the late 1920s, air traffic outgrew the small air strips once used by Lindbergh and his colleagues. The Peoria Association of Commerce formed a committee to create a new airport in 1930. The new Peoria airport was financed by the business community and officially opened in 1932. Recently the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport, renamed for a military hero born in Peoria, opened a new terminal. Technology and know-how still continued to direct growth in the 1940s. During World War II, the USDA Regional Lab in Peoria was the first to successfully develop the process for mass-production of penicillin — a breakthrough with world-changing implications. The USDA Agricultural Research Center is still located in the city today. After the war, returning veterans and civic women reformed city government and cleaned up the town to reverse its rough-and-tumble reputation. Peoria earned a 1953 All-America City award for civic renewal and a 1966 award for downtown revitalization. A third All-America City award was earned in 1989 for regaining economic stability, aided by the Chamber of Commerce’s “Leave the Lights On” campaign during the 1980s recession. Source: Peoria Journal Star: www.pjstar.com/news/tricounty/ x1231755140/Peoria-in-flight
History & Heritage
Peoria Chamber: 100+ Years of Service The Peoria community has a long history of regional collaboration
Peoria Area Chamber Highlights
to achieve prosperity, and for the past century, the Peoria Area
• Spearheaded local efforts of the sale of Liberty Bonds, War Gardens and War Relief during World War I.
Chamber of Commerce has been proud to play a vital role in the
• Supported Peoria Players, promoted good roads, supported $100 million State Bond Issue in 1923.
development and advancement of the city. Established in 1911 as the Peoria Association of Commerce, the Chamber has initiated and supported a number of initiatives that have helped make the city what it is today. The Chamber celebrated its Centennial in 2011. The organization continues to be a leading voice for business in the region, offering valuable benefits to members and championing causes that enhance both the business environment and the quality of life in the Peoria area. Networking opportunities, advocacy of business-friendly public policies, business education opportunities, promotion of members, and collaboration with other local and regional organizations are just a few of the ways that the Chamber is continuing to strengthen Peoria as a whole. The Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce extends its thanks to the businesses of Peoria for a great first century and looks forward to leading the way for business growth as they begin their next 100 years of service in the community.
• Initiated and supported City Plan Commission in 1924. • Initiated the creation of the General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport in the 1930s, including raising $77,000 for the purchase of 200 acres for the facility. • In 1937, worked to establish the Rock Island Rocket train service, connecting Peoria and Chicago. • Assisted in establishment of Coast Guard Base and helped Bradley to qualify for an air training program in 1943. • Air National Guard established largely through the efforts of Chamber member Art Szold in 1946. The economic impact on the region has been significant since its inception • In 1952, in conjunction with a number of other local organizations, helped facilitate the adoption of council-manager form of city government. • Supported a school bond referendum for elementary schools for $5.8 million in 1958. • Sponsored the Leave the Lights On campaign during the recession of the 1980s. • Played an important role in saving the 182nd Airlift Wing of the Illinois Air National Guard from closing in 2003. • Facilitated the creation of the Quest Charter Academy, opened in 2010.
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History & Heritage
Sites & Sights of the Historical Society
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he Peoria Historical Society (PHS) preserves the unique history of the Central Illinois River Valley. The PHS maintains and operates historic attractions and tours that highlight tangible reminders of the region’s rich history. Although the society’s house museums and trolleys have scheduled hours, custom tours with certified guides are also available by special arrangement; contact the PHS office at 309-674-1921. The following information has been provided by the Peoria Historical Society. For more information on all the PHS has to offer, visit them online at www.peoriahistoricalsociety.org and on Facebook.
John C. Flanagan House Museum 942 NE Glen Oak Avenue, Peoria Admission: $7 adults; $3 children ages 5–12 Built in 1837 on Peoria’s east bluff by Judge John C. Flanagan, this is the oldest standing house in Peoria. This American Federal-style home offers a spectacular view of the Illinois River Valley. Collections of antique glass, china, furniture, toys, quilts, vintage clothing and Peoriana are displayed.
Pettengill-Morron House Museum 1212 W. Moss Avenue, Peoria Admission: $7 adults; $3 children ages 5–12 The Pettengill-Morron House was built by Moses Pettengill in 1868 in the Second Empire style. The house has 11 rooms and contains a unique collection of objects from several generations of a Peoria family. In 1900 a Colonial Revival porch and porte-cochere were added, giving the home a grand Victorian appearance.
Trolley Tours The Peoria Historical Society’s seasonal trolley tours are a great way to experience the region’s varied and rich heritage. The cost is $10 per ticket plus $1 paid to the trolley driver; seniors 65 and older ride free with proof of age and regular ticket purchase. Check out the PHS website for information on self-guided audio walking tours.
Old Peoria and the Judge When: Every Friday in June, 10:30 a.m. (1.5 hours) Departs: Kelleher’s Irish Pub, 619 SW Water Street, Peoria Tickets: 309-673-6000 Travel through the earliest sections of downtown and on to Peoria’s Northside. Discover facts about Peoria’s founding father, French explorer Henri de Tonti, who established a fort in 1691, the first European settlement in Illinois. You’ll see a unique sculptor’s
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bungalow and hear the story of Peoria’s Joe Kennedy connection. The tour includes a short visit to Peoria’s oldest standing residence: the Flanagan House Museum.
River City When: Every Thursday, June through October, 10:30 a.m.; every Saturday in June, July and August, 1 p.m. (1.5 hours) Departs: Harp & Thistle, 4605 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights Tickets: 309-688-5668 The Native Americans and the French; the whiskey and earthmoving capital of the world; the grand mansions and Grandview Drive — the River City Tour has it all. Beginning in Peoria Heights, the tour proceeds down Grandview Drive through the Averyville area to downtown Peoria, then on to High Street and Moss Avenue before circling back to Glen Oak Avenue on the return to the Heights. Admire stately homes and enjoy the renowned grand view of the Illinois River during this unforgettable tour, beautiful during all seasons.
Grandview Drive and Springdale Cemetery When: Every Saturday, June through October, 10:30 a.m. (1.5 hours) Departs: Harp & Thistle, 4605 N. Prospect Road, Peoria Heights Tickets: 309-688-5668 Winding along Grandview Drive, view the elegant homes of prosperous merchants, landowners and professionals. See the Illinois River from the best vantage point in Illinois. Then visit Springdale Cemetery, the oldest chartered cemetery in Illinois. Hervey Lightner designed this 270-acre, tree-studded cemetery with miles of twisting roads in 1855. You will hear about the founding fathers and mothers of Peoria.
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All-America City When: Every Friday in July and September, 10:30 a.m. (1.5 hours) Departs: Kelleher’s Irish Pub, 619 SW Water Street, Peoria Tickets: 309-673-6000 Follow Peoria’s history from the naughty — the Roaring ’20s, the gambling, the gangsters — to the nice — Peoria’s three All-America City Awards. This tour entails stories of the city’s gangster era, including the site of Peoria’s most notorious crime scene — the Bernie Shelton murder. Also, discover why Peoria has been honored three times with the prestigious “All-America City” award.
Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War When: Every Friday in August and October, 10:30 a.m. (1.5 hours) Departs: Kelleher’s Irish Pub, 619 SW Water Street, Peoria Tickets: 309-673-6000 This tour tells the story of Lincoln’s visits to Peoria, as well as the Civil War troops and the camps where they trained. See the markers where the camps once stood, and visit Springdale Cemetery, the final resting place of many Civil War veterans. Pay a short visit to the GAR Hall, built in 1909, and hear the story of Joseph Greenhut, the Whiskey Baron who provided much of its funding.
Haunted Peoria When: Every Saturday in September and October, 1 p.m. (1.5 hours) Departs: Kelleher’s Irish Pub, 619 SW Water Street, Peoria Tickets: 309-673-6000 Discover the stories behind the ghostly appearances that have startled and puzzled Peorians through the years. Learn about the Lady in White, the Legend of Nee-Nee-Wah, the Curse of Old Lady Gray and more. What will you see in Haunted Peoria?
Transportation
Navigating Peoria B y D avid B allard
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ith its central location and wide variety of options, Peoria is regarded as an outstanding transportation and logistics hub. Positioned directly on Interstate 74, the city offers highly ranked railroad access, an expanding commercial airport and barge access via the Illinois River.
Air General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport www.flypia.com
The General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport provides service for everything from large commercial jets to recreational aircraft, including passenger jets, cargo jets, corporate aviation, charters and private aircraft. The airport includes the longest runway in Illinois outside of Chicago O’Hare Airport and is capable of handling the world’s largest aircraft. It is also the only airport in downstate Illinois with a 24-hour air traffic control tower. Carriers include Allegiant Air, as well as regional partners of Delta Airlines, American Airlines and United Airlines, providing direct flights to Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Denver, Las Vegas, Dallas, Phoenix and Tampa. The airport’s new $65 million terminal building opened in April 2011, bringing air service into the modern age for the region. Amenities in the new terminal include free Wi-Fi, two restaurants/bars, all services on one floor, conference and meeting rooms available to the public, and a Premier Passenger club that offers access to special closed-in parking and a lounge. New projects the Airport Authority is tackling this year include a partial demolition of the old terminal building, replacement of the air traffic control tower that occupies the remaining space in the old terminal, and several pavement rehab projects. In addition, the Airport Authority is working on a signage and landscaping project that will help passengers find their way from the expressway to and through the airport’s parking lots. According to Director of Airports Gene Olson, the signage project will bring the outside signage up to the same standards as the new interiors of the terminal. “The first year of the new terminal was our fifth-best year ever,” Olson said. “We’re looking forward to new growth and new opportunities for air travel for the central Illinois region.”
Highway and Rail Central Illinois offers five Class 1 railroads and six short-line railroads. Amtrak offers train service from nearby Normal, Galesburg and Lincoln. A proposal to extend passenger rail service to Peoria is currently under study by Amtrak and the Illinois Department of Transportation. More than 65 interstate and local trucking firms in the region have access to interstate highways 74, 474, 155 and 39; U.S. 150; and Illinois routes 116, 40, 24, 29, 6 and 8.
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Transportation Redevelopment Interstate 74 through Peoria has seen major improvements in recent years, and the city is now planning improvements to other major arteries.
Washington Street In conjunction with the revitalization of older areas of town, the city completed a feasibility study in 2010 to determine the logistics of redeveloping Washington Street from I-474 to I-74. The $42 million project includes landscaping, sustainable design features, increased pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and a reduction in traffic lanes. In 2011 the City Council decided to move forward with design of the northern portion of this project from MacArthur Highway to Hamilton Street. This project will include pedestrian enhancements and a narrowing of the pavement to add parking on street and improve the pedestrian feel of the neighborhood. The state of Illinois is providing $10.73 million toward the improvement of Washington Street. In addition the city of Peoria was awarded a $10 million TIGER 2 (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to enhance about 20 adjacent blocks in this older warehouse district. The city’s share of this project is about $3.8 million. Construction is expected to commence in late 2012 and continue through about 2015. Other Projects • In northwest Peoria, the first phase of Orange Prairie Road is under construction, with the second phase expected to start in 2012. • The Phase I study for the Pioneer Parkway Extension project is nearing completion, and
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the city has applied for a TIGER 2012 grant to assist with funding for two sections of this $72 million project. If the grant is awarded, work could commence as early as 2013. • To assist with the development of the campus of OSF Saint Francis Hospital, the city has developed plans for the improvement of Pennsylvania Avenue around the northern side of the campus. Work will include rebuilding the roadway and adding a roundabout at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue, Glen Oak Avenue and Wayne Street. • Funds were awarded for the widening of the eastern portion of Northmoor Road. The majority of this work was completed in 2010. Improvements to the Northmoor/Sheridan intersection and Sheridan Road followed in 2011, and the next section of widening commenced in 2012.
Public and Passenger Service CityLink www.mycitylink.info
Greater Peoria Mass Transit District (known locally as CityLink) operates 22 routes six days a week, with some routes providing service until 1 a.m. The regional transportation provider will have a new fleet of 46 low-floor buses by January 2013. CityLink is also in the planning stages for new facilities. A current goal is to construct a second Transit Center on the northern side of Peoria, which will be a scaled-down version of the one now serving the downtown area. An updated 122,000-square-foot, environmentally friendly maintenance/operations building is also planned. Acquisitions and construction will begin when funding becomes available.
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Peoria Charter Coach www.peoriacharter.com
Peoria Charter Coach provides convenient daily service to Chicago’s airports, scenic Midwest destinations and locations throughout the country. Pickup points include CityLink Transit Center and Bradley University in Peoria, as well as Illinois State University in Normal.
Burlington Trailways www.burlingtontrailways.com
Burlington Trailways provides passenger bus service throughout the area, operating daily routes from Peoria International Airport.
TransPORT (Heart of Illinois Regional Port District) www.portdistrict.com
The Heart of Illinois Regional Port District encompasses six central Illinois counties (Peoria, Fulton, Marshall, Mason, Tazewell and Woodford) and works with other regional players to identify development opportunities in the transportation and logistics sector, with particular emphasis on the Illinois Waterway. In early 2012, TransPORT announced plans to design and build a marine terminal facility at Pekin to handle industrial goods as well as dry and liquid bulk cargoes. TransPORT helps facilitate regional growth through the commercial development of transportation facilities, deployment of financing tools and the engagement of public–private partnerships, with the long-term goal of expanding the economy, attracting investment and creating jobs.
Peoria NEXT
Fostering Small Business Growth
B y J ay N ehrkorn www.peorianext.org :: www.bradley.edu/btcc
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he Peoria area’s ability to stand strong during economic downturns is largely due to its friendly environment for new and developing businesses. In 2009, Peoria was ranked by CNNMoney as the fifth-best midsized city in the United States to launch a small business, and the city continues to move up the rankings in the top half of the Milken Institute’s annual “Best-Performing Cities – 200 Largest Metros” list. “All of these [accolades] are due in part to the entrepreneurial spirit that this region has embraced and the resources that are now in place for startup businesses, like Peoria NEXT,” explained Renee Charles of The Heartland Partnership. The Peoria NEXT Innovation Center serves as a business incubator to increase economic
growth, diversity and opportunities in the Peoria area. The not-for-profit organization was formed in 2001 as a life science research collaboration, but became Peoria NEXT in 2002 to indicate an expanded scope that included growth opportunities outside of biotechnology. The company has since become an economic development force for the central Illinois Region. In February 2012, as Peoria NEXT began its second decade, the organization went through a realignment process that promises to attract technology commercialization opportunities by placing focus on four key growth areas that play to the region’s strengths. Looking to the future, Peoria NEXT strives toward the goal of being the preferred location in the Midwest for research, innovation, development and commercialization
in the medical, energy, food products/safety and manufacturing industries. In partnership with Ameren, Bradley University, Caterpillar Inc., local hospitals and the U.S. Agriculture Lab, the NEXT Center rents space and provides business consulting to researchers and entrepreneurs on the cutting edge of new discoveries. A Caterpillar research center on the third floor is also heavily involved in discovering new commercially viable products. Amenities at Peoria NEXT include wet and dry labs as well as meeting space for both technical conferences and entrepreneurial networking meeting. The Peoria NEXT Innovation Center is managed by Bradley University and houses the Bradley Technology Commercialization Center (BTCC). The center helps new technology companies by
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Peoria NEXT assisting with venture funding, enhancing entrepreneurial skills and aiding with business strategies. The BTCC and Peoria NEXT also work with The Heartland Partnership, the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois and other groups to promote Peoria as a prime location for businesses seeking to relocate. With a primary mission to help startup companies grow, the center also strives to bring new diversity to Peoria’s business landscape. Residents currently based at the NEXT Center include companies related to the health care, energy and agricultural industries. As a result of this success, numerous representatives from other cities, states and countries have toured the facility to learn more about the organization and how it works to foster the development of new businesses.
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Peoria NEXT Peoria NEXT Tenants Ag-Defense Systems www.agdefensesystems.com Ag-Defense Systems’ handheld BioSage device monitors food items for pathogens and delivers realtime results within minutes while employing GPS tracking abilities. Arvens Technology, Inc. (ATI) www.arvenstech.com ATI is developing pennycress from the field to the fuel pump as a sustainable, non-food crop for biofuel production. EcoThermics Corporation www.ecothermics.com EcoThermics Corporation has developed a compact, high-pressure compressor for the emerging CO2 heat pump market. Endotronix www.endotronix.net Endotronix is developing minimally invasive wireless devices that use radiofrequency identification (RFID) and microelectromechanical (MEMS) technology to monitor cardiovascular health from within the patient’s heart and blood vessels. ESSEN Scientific LLC (ESL) www.essenscientific.com ESL is a pharmaceutical company specializing in custom synthesis and contract R&D services. ESL has developed more than 8,000 high-quality pharmaceutical intermediates, novel chemical and pharmaceutical building blocks, and other fine chemicals for research and industrial application. IEM www.iemfg.com IEM is a full-line. customer-specific designer and manufacturer of electrical distribution and power quality equipment. InformMed www.informmed.com InformMed has designed the pac2, a handheld dosage “calculator,” to address the problem of incorrect medication dosage at the point of care. The device is part of a hospitalwide system InformMed has developed. Intellihot www.intellihot.com Intellihot has developed a state-of-the-art tankless water heater that extracts nearly 98 percent of energy, provides unlimited hot water and occupies very little space. Knotty Outdoors www.knotty-outdoors.com Knotty Outdoors creates women’s hunting apparel and accessories, making better-fitting, high-quality casual and hunting apparel. Lumec Control Products www.lumecllc.com Lumec Control Products is dedicated to creating nextgeneration process-control technologies, including the dynamic Orifice Valve, providing unparalleled fluid flow control, accurate flow measurement and remote maintenance diagnostics. Peoria Robotics Peoria Robotics focuses strictly on applied research and development, with a mission to develop medical simulators to enhance medical education. zuChem www.zuchem.com zuChem is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of novel manufacturing methods for the production of glycochemicals for the pharmaceutical, food and specialty chemical Industries. w w w. p e o ri a ch a m b e r. o rg
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Economic Scorecard
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n 2009, as the Great Recession rocked national confidence and threatened millions of jobs, the Heartland Partnership launched the “It’s Better Here” campaign. The goal was to counteract local fears and buoy the confidence of a community that had suffered greatly in previous recessions. At the same time, the campaign created a question: How is the economy faring for our competition? As a response, The Heartland Partnership is pleased to present the inaugural Greater Peoria Economic Scorecard, which measures economic activities for the Peoria region and compares our performance with 11 peer and aspirational cities in the Midwest. For each community, data has been collected and analyzed using federally designated Metropolitan Statistical Areas. This Scorecard reflects the performance of the entire region, and as such, it was important to collaborate with regional partners. A volunteer task force comprised of CEOs, public sector leaders and professors from Bradley University provided guidance and leadership to ensure that measurements have value to leaders throughout the region.
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Rating Our Region
The information in the Scorecard is as current as possible and was obtained from widely used and reliable sources, which will allow the Heartland Partnership to easily update results each year. The Scorecard measures multiple indicators across five broad categories: Economic Performance, People, Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Business, and Livability. As the project evolves, the effectiveness of these indicators will be continuously evaluated, and new indicators will be considered as reliable data is released. Greater Peoria is competing for jobs, resources and talented people. Without an accurate picture of our strengths and challenges, we cannot effectively plan for a successful future. The results of this assessment are meant to create questions and frame discussions for the business, government and economic development communities in our region. The following pages contain highlights of the 2012 Greater Peoria Economic Scorecard. For more information, or to view or download the full Scorecard, visit greaterpeoriascorecard.com.
P e o r i a A r e a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e
About the Heartland Partnership The Heartland Partnership provides strategic leadership, coordinates resources and brings to life initiatives focused on developing, growing and nurturing the Greater Peoria economy. The Partnership serves as a catalyst for regional visioning and strategic thinking and provides a forum for identifying regional issues and recommendations to be considered for action by the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, Peoria NEXT, the CEO Roundtable and other related entities. For more information on The Heartland Partnership, visit heartlandpartnership.org.
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Preferred Business Listings
Thank You for Your Support of This Project Advertising Agencies / Specialties
Auto Repair
McDaniels Marketing Communications
Car-X Tire & Auto Service
11 Olt Ave. Pekin, IL 61554 (309) 346-4230..........................................fax (309) 346-2258 rmcdaniels@mcdmarketing.com www.mcdanielsmarketing.com
4811 N. University Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 691-9700 www.carx.com
McDaniels Marketing and McDaniels Interactive is a truly integrated marketing communications firm. We are always thinking of new ways to motivate those who have the most influence on our clients’ success.
Avanti’s Ristorante
Car-X has your auto repair needs covered. We offer complete auto maintenance services, from regular tune-ups to emergency repairs. Including Oil Change, Engine & Transmission, Discount Tires, Mufflers & Exhaust, Brake Repair & Service and much more!
Apartments
Banks
RiverWest
Associated Bank Illinois
312 S. Merriman Peoria, IL 61605 (309) 637-7150..........................................fax (309) 637-1895 gwen.seputis@related.com
2311 W. Pioneer Parkway Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 692-2150 www.associatedbank.com
RiverWest is an exceptional apartment community offering one- to three-bedroom townhomes/single-family homes. All appliances. Managed by Related Management Company. A standard of value from people that care.
Better Banks
401 SW Water St., Suite 701 Peoria, IL 61602 (309) 282-8000..........................................fax (309) 282-8001 rlees@dewberry.com www.dewberry.com Dewberry is a leading professional services firm with a proven history of providing architecture, engineering and interiors services to a wide variety of public- and private-sector clients.
10225 N. Knoxville Ave. Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 272-1000..........................................fax (309) 243-1050 lmccoy@betterbanks.com www.BetterBanks.com
Beer / Wine Distributors Wirtz Beverage Illinois
Wirtz Beverage Illinois is a member of the Wirtz Beverage Group, one of the nation’s leading alcohol beverage distributors, with more than $1.5 billion in annual sales.
Beverage Distributors (non-Alcoholic)
Awarded the Peoria Chamber’s Outstanding Small Business of the Year Award in 2011, Better Banks has six branches in five communities — Astoria, Bartonville, Dunlap, Peoria and Wyoming — and is part of Backlund Investment Company.
State Bank of Speer / Peoria Banking Center 7620 N. University Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 691-9345..........................................fax (309) 691-9412 www.speerbank.com
Banquet/Wedding Facilities LZT Associates Inc./Larson & Darby Group 124 SW Adams St. Peoria, IL 61602 (309) 673-3100..........................................fax (309) 673-3420 dhenebry@lzt.com www.lzt.com
AMVETS Peoria Post # 64
Architecture, Engineering, Planning and Interior Design for educational, medical, commercial, criminal justice and industrial facilities. A member of the Larson & Darby Group. By the results of our work may we be known.
237 NE Monroe Peoria, IL 61602 (309) 453-2056 www.amvets.net
Pepsi Beverages Company 801 W. Birchwood St. Morton, IL 61550 (309) 266-2400..........................................fax (309) 263-5603 www.pepsico.com PepsiCO is a world leader in convenient snacks, foods and beverages.
Call Center
AMVETS Post 64 is home to the Freedom Ballroom, located in downtown Peoria. The ballroom has capacity to seat 170 comfortably. See pictures on the Freedom Ballroom’s Facebook page.
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Great Italian cuisine: home of the famous Gondola and their famous home-baked bread. Voted Best Family Restaurant in Central IL seven years in a row. Banquet facilities for up to 120 in restaurants. Banquet facilities in Avanti’s Dome Event & Sports Center in Pekin. Catering available. Full menus available at avantispeoria.com.
1620 Chanute Road, A – D Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 693-3737 derick.white@wirtzbev.com www.wirtzbeveragegroup.com
Architects
Dewberry Architects, Inc.
4711 Rockwood Road Peoria, IL 61615-3628 (309) 685-2409..........................................fax (309) 688-9053 www.avantispeoria.com
P e o r i a A r e a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e
Amerigas 3916 SW Adams St. Peoria, IL 61605 (309) 637-3518..........................................fax (309) 637-2960 debra.sink@amerigas.com www.amerigas.com
Preferred Business Listings Catering
Avanti’s Ristorante
Contractors - General
Midwest Technical Institute
1519 W. Altorfer Drive Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 691-4113..........................................fax (309) 691-7717 www.cfsconst.com
280 High Point Lane East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 427-2750..........................................fax (309) 427-3229 amay@midwesttech.edu www.midwesttech.edu
4711 Rockwood Road Peoria, IL 61615-3628 (309) 685-2409..........................................fax (309) 688-9053 martin.gary@comcast.net
Midwest Technical Institute (MTI) is a year-round technical/ vocational school. MTI provides workforce training programs in the growing fields of employment in allied health and the mechanical trades.
Chiropractors
Electrical Contractors
Trotter Chiropractic Office 5009 N. Executive Dr., Suite B Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 693-9334..........................................fax (309) 693-9309 jpatterson7233@yahoo.com Friendly, caring and compassionate, family-oriented chiropractic office. We specialize in neck and back pain and headaches, as well as sports injuries, car accidents and work injuries.
Computer Networking
SERVPRO® of Peoria & N Central Tazewell County 113 Sapp St. Pekin, IL 61554 (309) 346-5600..........................................fax (309) 346-2345 lphegley@servproofpeoria.com www.servpro.com SERVPRO® specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage. SERVPRO® can also mitigate mold and mildew from your home or business.
Control Systems
Novanis IT Solutions 722 S. Sara Court Dunlap, IL 61525 (309) 243-1536..........................................fax (309) 402-0303 phil.raso@novanis.com www.novanis.com Novanis has over 30 years of IT Services and Solutions built upon three practices: virtualization and consolidation, wired and wireless networking, and IT security. We also provide hardware service and managed services.
Computer Software
CSE Software offers IT services for clients worldwide, including custom development, eLearning, simulation, mobile, helpdesk support and fulfillment. CSE creates technology solutions that align our clients’ business and IT goals.
Construction Management PCM+d 300 E. Washington, Suite 3 East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 694-5012 jlemon@pcmplusd.com www.pcmplusd.com PCM+d’s experienced architects create architecture reflective of our clients’ goals and expectations, with a focus on the education, commercial and municipal sectors in Central Illinois.
2627 Allentown Road Pekin, IL 61554 (309) 347-2196 shawn@schwartzelectric.net We’ve been serving the area for over 60 years and are locally owned. We’re a full-service electrical contractor and sign shop. We are proud members of www.necanet.org.
Elevators KONE Inc. 6106 W. Plank Road Peoria, IL 61604 (309) 697-9011..........................................fax (309) 697-5203 www.kone.com
ECSi 1325 NE Bond St. Peoria, IL 61603 (309) 272-1321..........................................fax (309) 272-1330 efehl@ecsi-alc.com www.ecsi-alc.com ECSi is the Automated Logic dealer and Integration solutions provider for Central Illinois and Southeastern Iowa. ECSi has offices centrally located in Peoria and Springfield.
Counseling
2109 S. Main St. Morton, IL 61550 (309) 266-2738 abailey@csesoftware.com www.csesoftware.com
Schwartz Electric and Sign Co.
Installation, Service, Repair and Modernization of Elevators and Escalators. Over 100 years in business.
Debra Schierbeck, LCPC CSE Software
Educational Services
Schielein Construction Company
5016 N. University, Suite 104 Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 256-2558 (309) 713-3071 debschierbeck@gmail.com www.debschierbeck.com Individual, couples and group counseling services. Specializing in sexual addiction, PTSD, depression, anxieties and loss/grief.
Door Manufacturers / Installation Raynor Door of Peoria, Inc. 11423 N. State St. Mossville, IL 61552 (309) 579-2500..........................................fax (309) 579-2504 www.raynor.com Sales, service and installation of residential, commercial and agricultural overhead sectional and rolling doors and electric operators.
Engineering / Consulting Maurer-Stutz, Inc. 3116 N. Dries Lane, Suite 100 Peoria, IL 61604 (309) 693-7615..........................................fax (309) 693-7616 kjplavec@maurerstutzinc.com www.maurerstutzinc.com Locally owned, multi-disciplined consulting engineering firm providing cost-effective solutions to engineering problems in water, wastewater, transportation, general civil, structural, agricultural and land surveying.
Entertainment / Sports Mt. Hawley Bowl 8200 N. Hale Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 692-7555..........................................fax (309) 692-7704 mthawleybowl@yahoo.com Mt. Hawley Bowl is a family entertainment center with 24 bowling lanes, bar, snack bar, meeting room and arcade. A premier 18-hole outdoor mini-golf course is attached, with waterfalls and a 30-foot castle. Corporate and birthday parties, group rates available. COSMIC BOWLING Fridays and Saturdays.
Farm Management Companies Greene Farm Management Service Inc. 213 Second St. Dunlap, IL 61525 (309) 243-1070..........................................fax (309) 243-1739 gfmdale@mchsi.com Farm Management, Farm Appraisals, Consulting Services, Agricultural Insurance, Farm Real Estate Broker.
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Preferred Business Listings Floor Covering
Hotels / Motels
Insurance Agencies
Carpet Weaver’s Inc.
Candlewood Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie
8113 N. Knoxville Ave. Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 693-7300..........................................fax (309) 693-7009 cfugate@carpetweavers.net www.carpetweaversflooring.com
5300 W. Landens Way Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 691-1690..........................................fax (309) 691-7798 kriggs@petersenhotels.com www.petersonhotels.com
Carpet Weaver’s is a locally owned floor-covering retailer that offers name brands such as Karastan, HGTV Bruce, Armstrong and American Olean. We also carry the full custom assortment of Hunter Douglas window fashions.
An 83-suite Hotel at Grand Prairie property. Extended-stay accommodations, including the Candlewood Cupboard, exercise center, business center and high-speed wireless Internet access.
4921 N. Glen Park Place Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 692-5522..........................................fax (309) 696-5099 slohmeier@coyleinsurance.com www.coyleinsurance.com
Country Inn & Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie
Coyle Insurance Agency, an independent insurance agency founded in 1984, services clients in business insurance, employee benefits and personal insurance protection.
Furniture Lippmann’s Furniture & Interiors 1429 W. Pioneer Parkway Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 685-1008..........................................fax (309) 693-2842 www.lippmannsfurniture.com
Hardware Bartonville Hardware 1201 W. Garfield Ave. Bartonville, IL 61607 (309) 697-2111..........................................fax (309) 697-6178 hardwarelady@comcast.net www.bartonville.doitbest.com We are a full-service hardware store started in 1951. We also sell Stihl, Toro and Snapper products and have a complete small engine shop.
Health
5309 W. Landens Way Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 589-0044..........................................fax (309) 689-0454 kriggs@petersenhotels.com www.petersenhotels.com
A non-profit regional health improvement collaborative that brings patients and families, providers, employers, and insurers together to solve health care problems and improve patient outcomes.
Health Clubs
721 W. Lake Ave. Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 868-5080..........................................fax (309) 686-0208 tradersins@tradersins.com www.tradersins.com
Hampton Inn and Suites Peoria at Grand Prairie
Traders Insurance Agency is family-owned and -operated, servicing the Tri-County area since 1939 with over 140 years’ combined insurance experience.
7806 N. Route 91 Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 589-0001..........................................fax (309) 691-2660 kriggs@petersenhotels.com www.petersenhotels.com
Argo Group US 8325 N. Allen Road, Suite B Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 690-3900..........................................fax (309) 690-3919 mlucas@argogroupus.com www.argolimited.com
Holiday Inn Express
Argo Group US is a group of specialty insurance companies including the former Great Central Insurance Company, which was originally founded in Peoria, IL. The Peoria office is a branch office.
300 Eastlight Court East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 694-4959..........................................fax (309) 694-4727 www.hiexpress.com/eastpeoriail
Wingate by Wyndham Peoria at Grand Prairie 7708 N. Route 91 Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 589-0033..........................................fax (309) 693-2454 kriggs@petersenhotels.com www.petersenhotels.com
World Gym / L.A. Tan
The serious, no-nonsense workout. The commitment to always remain a true gym, not a resort. Where you belong among friends. Where everyone’s a star, and you have the power to lift yourself to greatness. This is World Gym.
Insurance Companies
Luxurious Hotel at Grand Prairie property. Featuring Cloud Nine beds, all-inclusive breakfast, shuttle service, fitness center and weekday evening reception. Hospitality Suites and meeting rooms available.
Upscale Hotel at Grand Prairie property. Thoughtful, allinclusive amenities including shuttle service, breakfast, business center, weekday evening reception and wireless Internet. Board and meeting rooms available.
7620 N. University Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 589-5700..........................................fax (309) 693-9601 buckiewood@yahoo.com www.WorldGym.com
Traders Insurance Agency Corp.
Exciting Hotel at Grand Prairie property. All-inclusive rooms and suites featuring breakfast, business center, shuttle service, wireless Internet, indoor pool and spa.
Quality Quest for Health of Illinois 416 Main St., Suite 717 Peoria, IL 61602 (309) 282-8825..........................................fax (309) 637-0643 jgray@qualityquest.org www.qualityquest.org
Coyle Insurance Agency
Industrial Cleaning
Pearl Technology 1200 E. Glen Ave. Peoria Heights, IL 61616 (309) 688-9000..........................................fax (309) 688-5444 toll free (800) 447-4982 www.pearlcompanies.com www.pearlinsurance.com Pearl Companies is a privately held, multifaceted organization in Peoria Heights, IL, including Pearl Insurance, Pearl Technology and the Pearl Buick-GMC, Peoria Toyota-Scion, Lexus of Peoria and Autohaus of Peoria dealerships.
Hunter Hydro-Vac Inc. 3600 W. Malone St. Peoria, IL 61605 (309) 637-4338..........................................fax (309) 637-0915 We clean and televise residential sewer and drain lines; locate sewer lines; pump septic tanks, grease traps and car wash pits; and do hydro excavating (safer method to excavate around underground utilities and landscaping). We clean and televise commercial and municipal sanitary and storm sewer lines, culverts and more.
Investment Counselors
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC 401 Main St. Peoria, IL 61602 (309) 453-6532..........................................fax (309) 671-3710 arthur.clifford.laine@mssb.com http://fa.smithbarney.com/laine_laine/ • Business Retirement Plans • Personal Retirement Planning • Comprehensive Financial Planning
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Preferred Business Listings Lawn / Garden Care
Not for Profit
Physician Referral Service
Golf Green Lawn Care
Peoria Medical Society
P.O. Box 1008 Pekin, IL 61555-1008 (309) 347-4798..........................................fax (309) 347-4723 golfgreen@grics.net
7700 N. Harker Drive, Suite D Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 692-1192..........................................fax (309) 692-2502 www.peomedsoc.org
Locally owned and operated for 36 years! We provide chemical lawn treatments, core aeration and seeding to residential customers. We provide the same to commercial customers, plus mowing, bed maintenance and much more.
Marketing Xapsis Integrated Marketing 331 Fulton St., Suite 200 Peoria, IL 61602 Office:(309) 495-4712 Cell: (309) 550-4115................................ Fax: (309) 673-9538 doug@xapsis.com www.xapsis.com Xapsis is a full-service marketing/communications firm for small to mid-sized businesses that specializes in corporate branding, Web design and development, mobile apps, social media marketing, and new media solutions.
Medical Group Associated Anesthesiologists, SC 8600 N. Route 91, Suite 250 Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 692-5393 Associated Anesthesiologists, SC provides high-quality anesthesia services.
Great Plains Orthopaedics
AMVETS Peoria Post # 64
AMVETS Post 64 is home to the Freedom Ballroom, located in downtown Peoria. The ballroom has capacity to seat 170 comfortably. See pictures on the Freedom Ballroom’s Facebook page.
Nursing Homes Heartland Healthcare of Peoria 5600 Glen Elm Drive Peoria, IL 61614-4340 (309) 693-8777..........................................fax (309) 693-8794 www.hcr-manorcare.com
8630 N. Allen Road Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 692-3300..........................................fax (309) 692-3325 shill@rkdixon.com www.rkdixon.com
A practice devoted exclusively to professional orthopaedic care, offering orthopaedic examination and treatment, diagnostic testing (X-ray and DEXA Scan), ambulatory surgery center, occupational/physical therapy, and sports medicine.
Future Environmental
4207 N. Prospect Road Peoria Heights, IL 61616 (309) 682-7200..........................................fax (309) 682-6998 calexander@brimfieldmortgage.com www.brimfieldmortgage.com It is our commitment to provide professional, high-quality service blended with the most competitive rates available nationwide in order for you to have that special place you call home.
8940 N. Wood Sage Road Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 243-3000..........................................fax (309) 243-3050 info@illinoiscancer.com www.illinoiscancercare.com Illinois CancerCare is one of the largest private comprehensive medical oncology practices in the nation. Patients are the priority at Illinois CancerCare, and each receives personalized treatment from a caring and dedicated staff.
Real Estate Companies
RK Dixon & Purity Plus
RK Dixon is a market leader when it comes to copiers, printers, networks, managed print services and pure drinking water systems. We have office locations in Daveport and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Bloomington, Champaign, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield, Illinois.
Mortgage Services
Illinois CancerCare
Office Equipment / Supplies / Technology Provider
303 N. William Kumpf Blvd. Peoria, IL 61605 (309) 676-5546..........................................fax (309) 676-5045 www.greatplainsortho.org
Brimfield Bank Mortgage Loan Production Office
Physicians / Surgeons
237 N. E. Monroe Peoria, IL 61602-1034 (309) 676-9458 www.amvets.net
McQuellon Consulting, Inc. 5901 N. Knoxville Ave. Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 693-2600..........................................fax (309) 693-6200 bob@mcquellon.com Specializing in Real Estate Tax Appeal work for commercial, industrial and residential. Types of properties include shopping centers, office buildings, warehouse buildings, nursing homes and apartment buildings.
Oil Recycling 2018 S. Darst St. Peoria, IL 61607 (866) 579-6900..........................................fax (309) 637-6246 brichards@futureenvironmental.com www.futureenvironmental.com Other services offered: contaminated water reclamation, oil filter service, antifreeze collection, vac service and tank cleaning.
Organizations Greater Peoria Contractors & Suppliers Association 1811 W. Altorfer Drive Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 692-5710..........................................fax (309) 692-5790 info@gpcsa.org wwww.gpsca.org
PARC
RE/MAX Unlimited 3622 N. Knoxville Ave. Peoria, IL 61603 (309) 687-5000..........................................fax (309) 687-4978 vgreiner@homespeoria.net Your Hometown Realtors with National and Worldwide Connections. Serving the Greater Peoria Area since 1980. Call RE/MAX Unlimited whether buying or selling, residential, commercial and relocation services.
Rehabilitation Services Heartland Healthcare of Peoria 5600 Glen Elm Drive Peoria, IL 61614-4340 (309) 693-8777..........................................fax (309) 693-8794 www.hcr-manorcare.com
1913 Townline Road Peoria, IL 61612-1621 (309) 691-3800..........................................fax (309) 689-3613 info@arcpeoria.org www.PARCway.org PARC offers community living, educational, employment, early intervention and respite care services to support families and help individuals with developmental disabilities achieve their personal best. w w w. p e o ri a ch a m b e r. o rg
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Preferred Business Listings Restaurants
Screenprinting
Specialty Shops Wannabe’s Upscale Resale 3530 W. Willow Knolls Drive Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 693-7768 wannabesresale@gmail.com
Academy of Screenprinting & Awards, Inc.
Avanti’s Ristorante 4711 Rockwood Rd. Peoria, IL 61615-3628 (309) 685-2409..........................................fax (309) 688-9053 www.avantispeoria.com Great Italian cuisine: home of the famous Gondola and their famous home-baked bread. Voted Best Family Restaurant in Central IL seven years in a row. Banquet facilities for up to 120 in restaurants. Banquet facilities in Avanti’s Dome Event & Sports Center in Pekin. Catering available. Full menus available at avantispeoria.com.
1316 E. War Memorial Drive Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 686-0026..........................................fax (309) 686-0621 academyofawards@sbcglobal.net www.awardsshirts.com A full-service screenprinting, embroidery, trophy, plaque and promotional products store. Family-owned and -operated for over 35 years. We are your event solution.
Security Systems F.E. Moran Alarm 201 W. University Ave. Champaign, IL 61820 (217) 403-6444..........................................fax (217) 403-6442 www.femoranalarm.com F.E. Moran Security Solutions — For your home or business. Security, Fire, Life Safety, water detection, video systems and managed access protecting what matters most to you. FEMoranSecurity.com
Tilted Kilt - Pub & Eatery “A Cold Beer Never Looked So Good”
Retail
Telephone Services / Equipment / Systems
Advanced Communications 8811 Pioneer Road Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 693-1919..........................................fax (309) 693-3860 tom@acphonecenter.com www.advancedphonesystems.com Advanced Communications is a full-service communications and technology provider. We service your telephone, computer, networking and cabling/infrastructure needs.
Universities / Colleges
Tilted Kilt Pub & Eatery 7716 N. U.S. Route 91 Peoria, IL 61615 (309) 692-5458..........................................fax (309) 692-4961 tkelty@tiltedkilt.com www.peoria.tiltedkilt.com
Wannabe’s is a one-of-a-kind women’s and children’s upscale resale boutique with a new line of jewelry and unique children’s gifts.
Siding and Windows Doerr Siding & Remodeling, Inc. 603 Pinecrest Drive East Peoria, IL 61611 (309) 208-2683..........................................fax (309) 282-3925 Doerr Siding and Remodeling installs seamless steel and vinyl siding, windows, doors, roofing, gutters and soffit, canvas and aluminum awnings, and vinyl and aluminum fence.
Methodist College 415 NE St. Mark Court Peoria, IL 61603 (309) 672-5513..........................................fax (309) 671-2910 kamarshall@mcon.edu www.methodistcol.edu Methodist College is a health science college offering bachelor’s degrees in nursing and health science and a certificate in gerontology. Methodist College is fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Social Services Running Central 4450 N. Prospect Peoria Heights, IL 61616 (309) 676-6378 adam@runningcentral.com www.runningcentral.com We are helping our neighbors in Central Illinois on their journey called life, running or walking, one step at a time! We provide exceptional customer service, footwear and apparel to help each person along the way!
Alzheimer’s AssociationCentral IL Chapter Inc. 606 W. Glen Ave. Peoria, IL 61614-4831 (309) 681-1100..........................................fax (309) 681-1101 www.alz.org/illinoiscentral The Alzheimer’s Association - Central Illinois Chapter is a donor-supported, not-for-profit health organization providing care and support for those affected by Alzheimer’s disease, serving 20 counties in Illinois.
Scrap Metal
Heart of Illinois United Way
Behr Iron & Metal 2424 W. Clarke St. Peoria, IL 61602 (309) 637-4422..........................................fax (309) 637-4428 drumer@behrim.com www.behrIM.com
509 W. High St. Peoria, IL 61606 (309) 674-5181..........................................fax (309) 674-1056 gina.edwards@hoiunitedway.org www.hoiunitedway.org Bringing the community together to address critical health and human care needs. By providing the best return on charitable investments, we support programs that are vital to improving quality of life in central Illinois.
Recycling iron, steel and nonferrous metals since 1906, specializing in industrial scrap management and retail recycling, Behr is ISO 9001 Quality and 14001 Environmentally certified.
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P e o r i a A r e a C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e
Midstate College 411 W. Northmoor Road Peoria, IL 61614 (309) 692-4092..........................................fax (309) 692-3893 arspain@midstate.edu Since 1888, Midstate College has been a leader in professional training and education by offering a wide variety of bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and diplomas. Small classes are offered day, night and online to provide access to students with complex schedules.
Preferred Business Listings W E ’ R E P U B L I S H I N G T H E S T O R I E S O F A M E R I C A’ S B E S T C O M M U N I T I E S
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