Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

City of Pekin TIF Redevelopment Agreements Approved Pekin, IL - At the J une 29, 2021 Pekin City Council Meeting, six Tax Increment Financing Program (TIF) Redevelopment Agreements for area businesses were approved. Businesses were able to apply for this assistance during an application period beginning May 7, 2021 and ending June 4, 2021. Businesses were evaluated based on several factors including economic impact, risk assessment, fiscal impact, social impact. TIF is an economic development financing tool used by the City to assist businesses with projects in the downtown area; the Riverway Business Park, and along major commercial corridors such as Court Street, Derby Street, North 8 th  and Broadway.  Although TIF provides funding for a portion of project costs, applicants are expected make their own capital contribution and be willing to obtain commercial financing if needed.  Of the area businesses to apply, the following were approved for Agreements : Yesterday's Bar and Gr

 Announcing a New Virtual Tool to Attract Investment to the Pekin South Industrial Park PEKIN – The City of Pekin and the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council (GPEDC) announce the release of a new marketing video to help attract businesses to invest in Pekin, Illinois.  Pekin and the GPEDC worked with Baxter & Woodman, an engineering firm with offices in Peoria, Naperville, Chicago, and 3 states around the country, to produce a new marketing video that communicates assets of interest to businesses when they are researching a new business location.  According to the GPEDC, businesses seeking new locations are looking to reduce time, money and risk when they are evaluating location options. To be a competitive location for investment, it is essential to communicate the site’s assets virtually to aid and support the decision making process. Communities are evaluated on their site availability, their utility capacity, their access/proximity to relevant suppliers, their ta

The Salvation Army of Pekin 360 Life Center Hosts First Annual Homeless Not Hopeless Sleep Out  The Salvation Army of Pekin 360 Life Center holds first Homeless Not Hopeless fundraiser in Mineral Springs Park Friday, July 16-17th.      PEKIN, IL – Join The Salvation Army of Pekin 360 Life Center for their first annual Homeless Not Hopeless sleep out to raise awareness of local homeless individuals and families. This event, which is being held in Mineral Springs Park in Pekin, will begin Friday, July 16 at 6 p.m. and end Saturday, July 17 at 6 a.m.    Registration is $25 for a single tent that can hold up to 2 adults and up to 4 children based on size of the tent. Scholarships are available for those people who would like to participate but cannot afford the registration fee.   “We recognize that not everyone who wants to participate may be able to afford the registration fee,” said Danielle Owens, Chair of The Salvation Army of Pekin 360 Life Center Advisory Council. “We have a limit

Illinois Moves to Phase 5, Final Restore Illinois Phase SPRINGFIELD – "Illinois will move to a full reopening, also known as Phase 5, the final phase of the Restore Illinois plan, on Friday, June 11, 2021. On Friday, the state will eliminate all capacity limits on businesses, large-scale events, conventions, amusement parks, and all other venues. Mask requirements for vaccinated and non-vaccinated individuals continue to align with CDC guidelines.   The state reaches this point as it records the lowest number of people in the hospital with COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic, the lowest test positivity rate, and more than 68% of Illinois residents age 18 and over who have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. “A strong economy requires that people not only feel safe, but truly be safe, as they go about their lives as workers, neighbors, consumers, and friends – and thanks to the lifesaving power of vaccinations, that day is finally here for Illinois,” said Go

  Marigold Festival Announces Grand Marshals Greg and Gloria Ranney are Selected as 2021 Marigold Festival Grand Marshals   The Pekin Marigold Festival is proud to announce Greg and Gloria Ranney as the 2021 Grand Marshals. Greg and Gloria truly represent the best of our community. In-line with this year’s theme of “Marigolds Shine On”, Greg and Gloria have been a bright spot within Pekin for a number of years with their intense commitments to community programs.   Greg and Gloria Ranney, Pekin, IL In 2020, Greg Ranney worked tirelessly to organize and open the new Pekin Outreach Center location: a daytime shelter for people experiencing homelessness. During a world-wide pandemic, creating a shelter that offered access to showers, laundry and adequate nutrition to a poverty level population was critical and a much-needed service in our community. Greg has volunteered with an extensive number of Pekin area organizations including TCRC, Pekin Rotary Club, Salvation Army, Pekin

  Pekin Announces Downtown Street Party Series Pekin kicks off summer street party series with music, food and local business vendors.   Pekin, IL- The City of Pekin begins its Downtown Street Party Series June 19 th from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at the 500 block of Court Street. The first date will feature a concert from Stone Cold Cowboys, as well as area food, craft and merchandise vendors. The Downtown Street Party series will be held as a block party within the historic downtown business district. Each event will feature live, outdoor music with June 19 th showcasing local Peoria group Stone Cold Cowboys. Comprised of seven world-traveled musicians, Stone Cold Cowboys boasts of an authentic country sound, including fiddle and steel guitar. Future Street Party Series are slated for August 21 st and September 25 th . This is a free event, sponsored by the City of Pekin’s Discover Pekin tourism endeavors. Patrons are encouraged to bring their own chair and check out the local

Illinois Central College Fully Opens Campus with In-Person Course Offerings for Fall 2021     Illinois Central College will provide Fall 2021 course offerings aligned with student needs, including in-person classes, student activities and athletic events. Students can choose courses from five formats – In-person, Hybrid , Online Anytime , Online Scheduled , and/or face-to-face Clinicals and Internships.      Regardless of the way students take classes at ICC, all will have access to both in-person and virtual support services, such as academic support, advising, counseling, free tutoring, library services, career advising and more.     “We are providing our programs, as well as our campus activities, in-person when our students begin the fall semester on August 16. We will use insights gained over the past 15 months to align our programs and services with the modalities students desire,” said ICC President Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey. “Due to their popularity, we will continue offering exp

Gilmore Foundation Announces Sponsorship & Matching Grant Challenge  Supporting the Illinois Central College Manufacturing Workforce Equity Initiative: ICC & Regional Workforce Alliance to Focus on Revitalizing Manufacturing in Central Illinois     The Regional Workforce Alliance, chaired by the CEO Council and Illinois Central College, is building regional momentum to revitalize the manufacturing industry in Central Illinois. The momentum is demonstrated by the ability of the Alliance, Illinois Central College, the Gilmore Foundation, and their partners to address regional deficiencies in the manufacturing workforce that inhibit manufacturer stabilization and expansion.       In the Greater Peoria area, less than 40 percent of individuals over the age of 24 have a post-secondary credential while 60 percent of jobs require a credential beyond high school. The area’s manufacturing industry is second only to health care and employs 22,858 workers in 349 manufacturers ac

  Illinois American Water Names Angie Bell Director of Rates and Regulatory Belleville, Ill. (June 3, 2021) – Illinois American Water announced today  Angi e Bell has been named Director of Rates and Regulatory. Bell will succeed Rich Kerckhove who retires next month after over 14 years of dedicated service.   In her new role, Bell is responsible for the successful administration of rate reviews, rate mechanism compliance filings and other key rate and regulatory matters for Illinois American Water. She reports to Illinois American Water’s President Justin Ladner, and will work from the corporate office in Belleville.   “We are pleased Angie has joined our team. She brings over a decade of experience and knowledge to this position,” said Justin Ladner, president of Illinois American Water. “We look forward to the leadership she will bring to the team based on her success, with key regulatory matters. We also congratulate Rich on his retirement and thank him for his contributi

  Pekin Park District Mineral Springs Park to host Community Blood Drive Sunday, June 13th Pekin, IL- Pekin Park District Mineral Springs Park will host a community blood drive from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 13th at 257 Pavilion Drive, inside Lagoon Pavilion.  What : Pekin Park District Mineral Springs Park Community Blood Drive When : Sunday, June 13, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.  Where : Lagoon Pavilion, 257 Pavilion Drive, Pekin, IL 61554 Appointments and masks are required : To donate, please contact ImpactLife Peoria at (800) 747-5401 or visit www.bloodcenter.org and use code 61257 to locate the drive.  Donor Eligibility Criteria : Potential donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission form available through www.bloodcenter.org) and weigh more than 110 pounds. A photo I.D. is required to donate. For questions about eligibility, please call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401. Donors who last gave blood on or before 4/18/21 are eligible to give at this drive.

  Pekin Hosts Annual 4 th of July Fireworks   Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce will host 4 th of July Honor America Celebration firework display in 2021.   Pekin, Il— 06/03/2021 — The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the continuation of the 4 th of July “Honor America Celebration” firework display at Pekin Memorial Stadium this summer.   In anticipation of Phase Five of the Restore Illinois plan rolling out next week, the Chamber of Commerce plans a full-scale firework show in line with past years’ celebrations. The fireworks display will be held at nightfall July 4 th , with a rain date the following evening. Tickets will be available for purchase at Pekin Farmer’s Market on June 17 th and 24 th from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Miller Center parking lot. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the gates of the stadium on July 4 th . Admission is as follows: ·        Ages 13 and up: $5 per person ·        Ages 6-12: $1 per person ·