Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce

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

Heartland Bank and Trust Company has named Lauryn Carr as Retail Manager in Carlock and Mackinaw. Carr is located at the bank’s 2017 West Washington Street branch in Carlock. She is responsible for ensuring value and top-of-the-line service to bank customers and overseeing retail employee development and training. Carr most recently served as Retail Manager for the bank in Bloomington and has seven years of banking experience. During her career, she has gained experience as a Customer Service Representative, Credit Card Administrator, Finance Assistant, and Loan Processor. Carr has attained a Fundamentals of Accounting certification from State Farm ® University. Originally from Mahomet, she now makes her home in Congerville with her husband Michael. Heartland Bank and Trust Company is an independently owned community bank with assets of $3 billion. Headquartered in Bloomington, IL, the bank has offices in communities throughout Illinois. The bank offers a complete line of fina

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

Thank you Pekin Insurance for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Festive Food Court!

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

Gateway Foundation 11 South Capital Pekin, IL 61554 309-346-7800 Website Debbie Kuhns , Outreach Coordinator Brandon Underwood , Owner  Gateway is the largest network of non profit drug & alcohol treatment centers in Illinois. We are celebrating our 50th anniversary. The Pekin location is conveniently located in the Arcade Building in downtown Pekin.

Acclaimed artist, humanitarian in area to promote October appearance at Peoria Promise anniversary gala World-renowned speed painter Michael Israel will give a presentation about his craft at Illinois Central College on August 29 from 2 to 2:45 pm in Room 212 C/D, located in the Academic Building on the East Peoria Campus. Israel’s visit to ICC takes place as he is in the area to promote his performance at the Peoria Promise 10-year anniversary gala on October 13. The mission of Peoria Promise is to build a more skilled workforce for Peoria by providing tuition assistance from 50% - 100% to City of Peoria high school graduates to attend ICC. Peoria Promise is 100% donor funded with no local, state or federal taxes collected to support this program.  More information will be available to media at the Peoria Promise Press conference to be held Wed., August 29 at 10 am at the Peoria Civic Center 4th floor landing (see press release from Peoria Promise). Isra

If you live in Peoria, Tazewell or Woodford county, please help us out! The Partnership for a Healthy Community is working with all area hospitals, United Way, Heartland and our County Health Departments to assess the health of our community. As most of you know we collect our Community Health Needs Assessment primary data every three years, it is that time again!  Please take this survey yourself and pass the link along to clients, staff members, co-workers, friends and family. We need as many people as possible to complete the survey at this link: English - https://bradley.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ai7I38CZYnJc4U5 Spanish - https://bradley.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_agct2lnGNdH3MA5

Lucky individuals win prizes at local nonprofit’s signature fundraiser  that helps build a safe and peaceful community The Center for Prevention of Abuse (CFPA) hosted its 30 th Annual Duck Race today, August 25, at EastSide Centre where 30,000 rubber ducks raced down a giant 750-foot water slide. The event sold out of all 30,000 ducks and raised $155,000 to benefit CFPA and its mission of helping all women, men, and children live free from violence and abuse in Central Illinois. Attendees participated in free activities for kids including a photo booth, face painting, bounce houses, cotton candy, and refreshments from Moja Southern Kitchen and Kona Ice before the race began at 2:00 p.m. The owners of the first 30 ducks to cross the finish line won prizes. The first duck to cross the finish line and win the grand prize of $5,000 cash belonged to John Rose of Biloxi, Mississippi. David Smith of Dunlap, Illinois won three separate prizes as three of his ducks crossed th

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! 

ValuCheck recently celebrated the expansion and remodeling of their liquor department.  Store Director Thomas Tow and store employees were joined by representatives from the City of Pekin and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon cutting to celebrate the project.  The expansion created additional display space and a more convenient shopping experience.  You can see a few more pictures from this event at:  https://photos.app.goo.gl/R9hJbjv5bE4pReQM6

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

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

Our GP Works partners at Midstate College hosted their first intern in the Spring of 2018! Eric Black, a senior at Richwoods High School, had the opportunity to spend his afternoons with the Midstate administrative and IT staff. Eric gained experience in a variety of roles at Midstate, from helping at the front desk, to working on long-term IT projects. “It was a very different experience from being in a classroom,” says Eric. “There are a lot of things that I learned here that can’t be taught in a classroom setting.” One of Eric’s many roles at Midstate was helping at the front desk, answering the phone and directing visitors. “It was good to have that experience, working with customer service. Even if he never does it again, I think doing [that kind of work] gives people an appreciation for what administrative professionals do,” reported Kaitlin Seaman, eLearning Coordinator at Midstate. Eric also had the opportunity to work on several projects with Kaitlin’s eLearning team. Mi

Spots are still open for the 2nd annual CareerSpark, which is just around the corner on October 23 & 24 at the Peoria Civic Center. Registration ends on September 1. CarreerSpark is an interactive, multi-industry career expo open to all 8th grade students in our region.  Through hands-on exhibits, this event helps spark students' interest in the exciting careers available in Greater Peoria. Want your business in the expo?   http://www.gppathways.org/gp-careerspark/

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

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

Thank you to the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Supporters!

Record-Breaking 30,000  Rubber Ducks to Race Down 750-foot Water Slide at Family Fun Event, Raising Funds to Help Build a Safe and Peaceful Community Who:                    Center for Prevention of Abuse (CFPA) Interviews:         Carol Merna, Executive Director, Center for Prevention of Abuse What:                  The Center for Prevention of Abuse is hosting its 30 th Annual Duck Race , which raises funds to provide free and confidential services to help all women, men, and children live free from violence and abuse in Central Illinois. The family fun event has free activities for kids, including bounce houses, face painting, music from Mix 106.9, cotton candy, and more. Refreshments are available for purchase from Moja Southern Kitchen and Kona Ice . The event features 30,000 rubber ducks that are released out of a dump truck and then race down a giant 750-foot water slide, which runs down the street leading to EastSide Centre in East Peoria, Illinois. The perso

We are having an Open House to honor the award recipients and their tutor on Monday, September 10, 2018 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.  There will be light refreshments.  Everyone is invited.  We encourage everyone to stop by to show support for the learners, their tutor, and the YWCA adult literacy program. Secretary of State and State Librarian Jesse White honored the winners of the 2018 Spotlight on Literacy Awards, which recognizes participants in Illinois literacy programs. Ten students received the Spotlight on Achievement Award and ten volunteer tutors received the Spotlight on Service Award during a ceremony at the Illinois State Library in Springfield. “I am honored to congratulate these outstanding students for their hard work and determination to attain lifelong reading and learning skills,” said White. “Many of them have had to overcome great difficulties and personal obstacles to reach this level of achievement. I am also proud to recognize our outstanding volu

               Illinois Central College has named Kim Armstrong, of Peoria, Ill., to the newly created role of vice president of marketing and institutional advancement. Armstrong began her new position at the College on August 13. The ICC Board of Trustees approved her appointment at their July meeting.                Armstrong will oversee both the ICC Educational Foundation and the Marketing Department, which includes the public relations, events, document services, web services, social media, graphic design, and admissions offices. Her new role combines the previous positions of vice president of marketing and college communications, from which Dr. Cheryl Fliege retired in March of 2018, and the vice president of the Educational Foundation, a role that has remained vacant for several years. She joins ICC after serving for 11 years as the key account executive for the largest account at Taylor Communications (formerly pii), in Bloomington, Ill. She also worked at Xerox in Peor

               As part of Illinois Central College’s ongoing commitment to the safety of its students and employees, the College is launching “ICC Guardian,” a free, award-winning app designed by Rave Mobile Safety that turns any smartphone into a personal safety device. By downloading the app, users can enhance their personal safety.                ICC Guardian users can choose to create a profile of pertinent personal information that is shared with Campus Police, if the user calls or texts for help in an emergency. They also will have the option of sharing their current location. Additionally, users can easily send anonymous texts to share information or photos, but not their identity, with police.                 “The safety and security of our students, faculty and staff is a top priority for ICC,” said Police Chief Tom Larson. “The Rave ICC Guardian app offers everyone on our campuses a free and easy way to be proactive and partner with Campus Police to keep the community s

               Illinois Central College, along with local companies sponsoring apprentices, will host a signing event for the 12 students in the first cohort of the Industrial Maintenance Apprenticeship Program. Students will begin the earn-and-learn program August 20, 2018.                ICC has partnered with the following companies providing apprenticeships: AECOM, ALCAST, Caterpillar Inc., and Morton Buildings.                The partnering companies will provide the work experience to ensure professional skills upon completion, and ICC will provide the in-class training. The apprentices earn as they learn – receiving short, four-week blocks of coursework, followed by four weeks of on-the-job training to refine the skills they have acquired. Additionally, they will earn a guaranteed minimum hourly payment of $13, and the sponsoring company pays for full tuition, fees and books. All candidates were accepted into ICC and are selected to work with the companies through a pre-scr

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! 

Planet Fitness held their Grand Opening on August 16th and representatives from the City of Pekin and the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce were on hand to welcome them with a ribbon cutting ceremony.  Planet Fitness also presented a $2,500 grant to the Pekin Boys and Girls Club as part of their celebration.  Planet Fitness is located at 3247 Court (next to Goodwill).  They are open 24 hours a day and can be reached at 201-3580.  More photos from this event can be found at: https://photos.app.goo.gl/y1yGHLT38LRpFkcZ8

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

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

A drone flies high above rows of corn with pinpoint accuracy. A tractor navigates itself through the field. A service technician troubleshoots an issue for a customer’s combine through remote technology.               Illinois Central College will feature these tools of the trade, and more, for today’s agriculture and diesel technology careers at its High-Tech Ag and Diesel Career Expo on Thurs., Sept 13 from 4 to 7:30 pm in the Agricultural and Industrial Technologies (AIT) Building on the East Peoria Campus.             This free event is open to high school juniors and seniors and their parents. Recent high school grads, as well as college-aged and older adults interested in learning more about educational opportunities for today’s agriculture, diesel technology, and STEM-related careers also are encouraged to attend.             “Jobs in the agriculture industry are out there, but there currently are a very limited number of graduates with employable skills in the emerging

Candidate packets for the Illinois Central College Board of Trustees consolidated election will be available on Wed., September 12, 2018. Candidates may begin routing petitions to gather the 50 required signatures beginning September 18, 2018. Two seats on the ICC Board of Trustees are up for election on the April 2, 2019 ballot. Candidates must meet the following criteria to qualify to run for a position on the Board: ·         Qualified elector/registered voter ·         U.S. citizen aged 18 or older ·         Resident of Illinois ·         Resident of ICC District #514 for at least one year prior to the election on April 2, 2019 In addition, potential candidates must file a petition including 50 signatures, a Statement of Candidacy, and a receipt for filing a Statement of Economic Interest from the Tazewell County Clerk. These items may be filed with the Secretary of the Board of Trustees between December 10 and 17, 2018. A lottery for ballot placement will be held

Thank you Pekin Insurance for sponsoring the 2018 Pekin Marigold Festival Festive Food Court! 

               Illinois Central College’s 38 th Annual Landscape and Garden Day offers a variety of special programs and activities specifically designed for families with young children, as well as the usual favorites for local gardening enthusiasts. This year’s theme is “Superhero Landscapes: Save the World.” The free event is set for Sat., September 8, from 9 am to 3 pm, at ICC’s Horticulture Land Lab on the East Peoria Campus. Free parking is available.                The event features topics and demonstrations of interest to gardeners of all ages and experience levels. Showcased will be the newest winners of the All-America Selection, which include the best and brightest new flowers and vegetables available for next year’s home gardens.                There will be seminars, exhibits, tours, discussions, and a plant sale featuring hostas and other perennials and woody plants grown by students in the ICC Horticulture Program. Local Master Gardeners will be on hand in the