Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

Thank you NRG Powerton Generating Station for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Chalk Walk! 

Across the country communities are working to connect high school students to their careers of interest by creating internships. As you may imagine, connecting students to healthcare careers proves something of a challenge, given the various regulations. Lucky for us here in Greater Peoria, OSF Healthcare was up for the challenge, creating – for the first time – an internship program for high schoolers to explore clinical healthcare careers, and we recently had a chance to catch up with our first two OSF interns.   Amanda, Dede, and Rochelle “These two have been such an incredible help.” Deuanna ‘Dede’ Moore-Harris, Sterile Processing Department (SPD) supervisor exclaimed as we navigated a maze of hallways. “We didn’t know what to expect, as we’ve never had students in our department, but when we interviewed these two, we knew they’d be great; I don’t have to worry about them at all!” Amanda and Rochelle – both seniors at Richwoods High – who were curious about pursuing ...

CB Depot 530 Margaret St. Pekin, IL 61554 Website Clair Divert , Manager Eric Sweatt, Owner  CB Depot offers CBD products for everyone as well as pets.

Thank you Jimmy Johns for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Game Zone! 

                The 2018-2019 Illinois Central College Guest Artists Series opens August 10 with a tribute to an iconic Swedish pop music group whose music has enjoyed a recent resurgence in popularity. Dancing Dream , a tribute to Abba, brings audiences all the hits of the legendary band in an authentic tribute featuring many of the classic Abba songs featured in the recent motion picture Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again. Dancing Dream performed a sold out show at ICC in 2015, and this time the group is back as a larger six-member ensemble with a set list including memorable classics such as Dancing Queen , Take a Chance On Me , Waterloo and more.                 The Dancing Dream show is the first of five shows in the 2018-2019 Guest Artists Series season featuring performances by nationally- and internationally-touring professional ar...

Thank you Big R for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Kids Experience!

Thank you Commerce Bank for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Carnival! 

Thank you Busey Bank for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Parade! 

Thank you Jimmy Johns for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Game Zone! 

It’s been an outstanding year for GP Works, the Greater Peoria EDC’s effort supporting the creation and placement of internships for high school students, as we have surpassed our 2018 year-end goal of 175 placements. As of the end of June 2018, 189 local high school students between six school districts have been placed in internships between 38 unique companies in Greater Peoria since work began in earnest in the fall of 2016.  From our first two placements at Easter Seals, to the rapidly scaling internship experiences for students at large organizations like UnityPoint Health – Peoria|Pekin, OSF Healthcare, Caterpillar, ATS, City of Peoria, and many more, this work has been expedited as employer-partners realize the power of these student internships as a way to identify and attract entry-level talent. Indeed, approximately 12% of the interns we’ve placed in internships have retained as ‘regular’ employees following their initial experience. Better yet, these interns ...

Thank you Kouri’s Pub for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Celebrity Tent!

Thank you CEFCU for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Soda Stations! 

Dust off your cowboy boots and put on your favorite western attire for a fun-filled evening featuring the Joe Stamm Band, along with whiskey, tequila and vodka tastings. Friday, August 10th, 2018 5:30 p.m. Par-A-Dice Hotel and Casino *New* Mystery Box Auction and Silent Auction 5:30-6:30 p.m. Dinner and Live Auction 6:30 p.m. Joe Stamm Band Performs 8:00 p.m. $75 per person purchase tickets online or by calling our Business Office 309-674-1131 ext. 225 Purchase Tickets

Industry trade publications release national rankings of top RIA and CPA firms in 2018 Savant Capital Management, a nationally-recognized fee-only wealth management firm headquartered in Rockford, IL, with locations in Peoria, Chicago, Freeport, Geneva, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Sterling, and Wilmette, IL; McLean, VA; and Madison and Park Falls, WI, has been recognized by Financial Advisor, Financial Times, and InvestmentNews as a leading Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) firm and by Accounting Today as one of the nation’s leading CPA firms by assets under management (AUM). Financial Advisor magazine has ranked Savant #48 in its 2018 list of top RIA firms – climbing five spots from 2017. The list includes more than 700 RIAs from across the nation and is based on a survey of the firms’ discretionary AUM. This is the tenth consecutive year Savant has made the list. To view the complete list, click here. Additionally, Savant has been named to the Financial Times’ “FT 300: Top Re...

Empowering employers to create internships for high school students is no easy task.  It’s even harder when there are so many myths around what high school students are able and permitted to do the in the workplace. Over the last two years of developing and launching  Greater Peoria Works , we’ve had to confront and address these myths to increase both the quantity and diversity of career development opportunities for our region’s high school students. Here are some of the most common myths – busted! Myth 1 – “Students under 18 cannot work in our workplace!”   Certainly there are unique challenges posed in certain industries regarding youth employment, but we shouldn’t throw the baby out with the bathwater here!  In Illinois, state law actually allows individuals to begin obtaining gainful employment at age 16. Safety is of course a priority and there are some  occupational responsibilities  that youth cannot perform.  But...

Thank you Pekin Community Bank for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Showcase Stage!

Thank you to all of the 2018 Marigold Festival Supporters!

West Dublin Pub 507 Court St.  Pekin, IL 61554 Website Tom West , Owner Dori West , Owner  West Dublin Pub stay true to their roots. They offer a range of traditional Irish dishes including Scotch Eggs, Fish & Chips, and Shepherd's Pie. Their menu also features a number of American pub favorites. Enjoy the covered patio seating, happy hour and drink specials.

The Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for KZBEME Fingerprinting on July 19.  They recently relocated to a new office at 2416 N. 8th Street.  Family,  friends, and employees joined with representatives of the chamber for the event.  KZBEME provides Livescan fingerprinting for multiple purposes such as gaming, health care professionals, CONCEALED CARRY (prints and app) and PERC security.  They are open Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm and can be reached at (309) 613-1733. 

Thank you Peoria Limousine for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Shuttle Bus!

Thank you UnityPoint Health for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Civic Collage!

Thank you Vonderheide Floor Coverings for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Art in the Park!

The Illinois Department of Transportation announces that lane closures will begin Thursday, July 26, along northbound Illinois 29 at the Interstate 474 interchange. The closures are necessary for bridge painting. The right lane will close the morning of July 26, but all ramps to I-474 will remain open during the project, which is expected to last about a week, weather permitting. Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. To avoid the work area, when feasible, use of alternate routes should be considered. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to changed conditions and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits, refrain from using mobile devices and be alert for workers and equipment. For IDOT District 4 updates, follow us on Twitter at @IDOTDistrict4 or view area construction details on IDOT’s traveler information map on GettingAroundPeoria.com.

Thank you Pepsi for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Marigold Medallion Hunt!

Illinois Central College is offering an expedited way for potential students to get through the steps of enrolling all in one day with its QuickStart program on Sat., August 4 from 9 am to 1 pm on the ICC East Peoria Campus. No appointment is necessary. Free parking is available in Lots A and B on the East Peoria Campus, as well as the Visitors Lot. During QuickStart, participants can complete an ICC application and have it processed immediately, take placement testing, fill out financial aid paperwork, set up a payment plan, and enroll for classes. Fall semester classes begin on Mon., August 20. Advising is available for students on a walk-in basis in the month of August.  Advisors are available to help students who wish to enroll, but additional follow-up may be required for select programs. Some programs are restricted enrollment and only general education or pre-requisite courses may be scheduled in those cases. QuickStart participants are assisted on a first-come, first-...

Presented by Savant Capital Management featuring Hagen Benefit Services   Savant Capital Management , a nationally-recognized, fee-only wealth management firm located in Peoria, will host “Are You Prepared for Retirement,” a seminar that will discuss the role Medicare can play when planning for retirement. There are several event dates to choose from, with the first one on Thursday, July 19 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Fondulac District Library, 400 Richland Street in East Peoria. The event will feature Savant’s Peoria Market Manager and Financial Advisor Daryl Dagit , Financial Advisor Donovan Sanchez , and Teresa Hagen with Hagen Benefit Services. Attendees will gather valuable information about retirement planning and tips that will help navigate the intricacies of Medicare to work towards a successful retirement. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. The seminar is also scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 21, and Thursday, Sept. 20 (times and loc...

               GED graduates now can enroll in a new program at Illinois Central College that is designed to bridge the gap between completing their requirements and finding jobs earning family-sustaining wages.                The ICC Success After the GED College Bridge Program currently helps grads with career exploration assistance, as well as life skills and industry/occupational skills development. The goal is to enroll each of the GED graduates into college-level coursework and continue on a path to obtain a credential beyond the GED. Career development will focus on the high-demand, middle- and high-skilled occupations of health careers, information technology, manufacturing, and education.                Participants may choose from four session dates. Each session i...

Illinois Central College will offer a fall session of its course to prepare individuals for employment as a pharmacy technician. The pharmacy technician course is 12 weeks of classroom instruction, which will give students a solid foundation in the skills necessary for employment as a pharmacy technician and will prepare students for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) Exam.  The pharmacy technician classes will be held on Mondays, beginning Sept. 10 through Dec. 3, 2018, from 6 to 10 p.m., at Hickory Hall on the ICC Peoria Campus, located at 5407 N. University St., Peoria. Cost of the course is $1,625, and a payment plan is available. Cost includes tuition, Pharmacy Technician textbook and workbook, a set of Top 100 drugs brand/generic flashcards, and a set of medical scrubs. Free informational sessions will be held Sat. August 4 at 10 am and Mon., Aug. 6 at 6 pm at Hickory Hall on the ICC Peoria Campus. No pre-registration is required. For questions or to r...

The D.A. Points Junior Championship sponsored by Pekin Insurance and UnityPoint Health was held at Pekin Country Club July 9-12.  The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event was also sponsored by Jimmy John's and the City of Pekin. The event drew 96 participants from all over the world.  Kornkamol Sukaree of (Thailand) Huntington Beach, California, won the girls division, while Luke Armbrust of Wheaton, Illinois, won the boys division.   The Peoria Area Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the total direct economic impact to the local economy at $102,756.  That would include money spent on hotels, dining, and local purchases.