Planet Planning

Peoria is a hotspot for young professionals, according to Next Generation Consulting (NGC). NGC announced its "Next Cities" rankings—the best places to live and work for young professionals—and Peoria ranked 16th on the list of top 20 cities with a population of 100,000-200,000. Visit

http://peoriachamber.org/goto/HotSpotYPO

to view the full report.

Illinois could see more than $1 billion worth of economic activity linked to renewable energy over the next 20 years, and many say legislators, entrepreneurs and others need to think now about how to harness that potential.

That's why state Rep. Mike Smith, D-Canton, is hosting a "green collar" summit at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Pekin City Hall, 111 S. Capitol St.

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x2127750658/Smith-hosting-green-summit

Call Center Lead

We have a call center lead with the following building requirements:

10,000 sq. ft. initially, with growth up to 40,000 sq. ft.

“Plug-and-Play” facility or former call center facility preferred

We searched LOIS and found the following possibilities:

1530 W. Altorfer-Peoria -15,207sf

111 N. Sixth Street-Pekin -25,000

6100 Everett McKinley Dirksen Parkway-Peoria -26,220sf

Please let me know if you know of anything else that meets the parameters.

Beth Kolowski

The Economic Development Council for Central Illinois

A company of The Heartland Partnership

100 SW Water Street

Peoria, IL 61602-1329

309-256-9011 - Cell

309-495-5973 - Office

www.edc.centralillinois.org

Recovery Zone Bond Allocations

__________ __Economic Development Bond----Recovery Zone Facility Bond

City of Peoria___ ____-8-_1,466,000___________-__2,198,000

County of Peoria________ 1,021,000______________1,532,000

The Federal Government has created a number of new bonds that are intended to encourage investment to assist in the recovery. The bonds above are subsidized by the Federal Government, and it is in our interest to use these bonds for good projects before they expire at the end of 2010.

More info at:

http://cityofpeoria.blogspot.com/2009/05/recovery-zone-approved.html

Statewide and local bond allocations are listed below. It appears that most Illinois Counties.

http://groups.google.com/group/cityofpeoria/files

More Info from Chapman and Cutler on the Bonds

http://cityofpeoria.googlegroups.com/web/Recovery+Zone+Bond+Allocations.pdf?gda=B6IjpFQAAAC6BcwsnJNFJpRxiCCser6UEQHfN7xTnIrhDZQ8_NFS02Yj-mGdkbb7AWYjWhunKoPqX02Fzx3PBJtphR-Q3W2oVervUohE3YNENn3wMh1Pnc3OAWZC50hVl-fZ6-QcRqg

Interesting blog city planning and Chicago

http://achicagosojourn.blogspot.com/2009/06/infinite-city.html

Bonds - Illinois a Big Winner

The government announced the state allocations this morning, and Illinois is a big winner.

$972,000,000 for Recovery Zone Economic Development Bonds (those are the Build America Bonds that get the 45% interest rate subsidy).

$666,000,000 for Recovery Zone Facility Bonds (those are the private activity bonds that would otherwise be taxable,so they're the ones where you can flunk the famous two-prong test and still have a chance of doing a tax-exempt deal).

The State will now further allocate to the City.

Information courtesy of our Bond Council Pat Curtner.

City Economic Development Office Moving

The City Economic Development Office is moving today back to City Hall at 419 Fulton on the 4th floor.

We appreciate the Fire Department putting up with us this past year.