Google Plays lay in Peoria

Did you hear the buzz about Google's new initiative to bring 1 Gigabit (Gb) internet service directly to homes and business?  To give you a sense of how fast 1Gb of speed is, think of the last song you downloaded off iTunes.  Did it take you a minute to download? Two minutes?  Well, with 1Gb of speed, you could download 250 songs in 1 second.  That may never be a practical use, or even necessary, but just think about what sort of upgrade that would be.  Even better, this amount of available speed will inspire people to invent applications and uses that aren't even being dreamed about right now.

 

Why should you care?  Google is seeking a test market, and Peoria wants to be IT!  Whichever city Google selects will suddenly be the hottest real estate market in America.  Jobs will follow.  This is an exciting and important opportunity.

 

Today is Google Day in Peoria, and we are asking EVERYONE to help show Google that their service will Play in Peoria.  While a small number of us will be working on submitting the application, the rest of the community has a role to play, too.  Here is how you can help:  Go to www.googlepeoria.com and press the big button that says Nominate Peoria NOW!  You need to log in with your Google account, or create a free one if you don't already have one.  Then just fill out their simple form.  Make sure you put "Peoria" in as the City, even if you live somewhere outside our boundaries (we need to be able to tie the nominations to our application).

 

Second, tell all your friends to do the same thing.  Forward this email to everyone in your address book.  And check back to www.googlepeoria.com to learn more about upcoming events.  Nominations are being accepted through March 26.

 

Thanks for helping us bring Google to Peoria.

 

 

 

 

 

Christopher Setti
Special Projects Manager

City of Peoria
419 Fulton, Suite 207

Peoria, IL 61606

w: (309) 494-8618
c: (309) 472-6291

Peoria Best Metro Area in Illinois for Job Growth

The Milken Institute ranks best cities by wage and job growth. Peoria is the best metro area in Illinois. Peoria moved up overall from number 68 Metro area in the country in 2007 to number 43 in 2008. Of course this was before the "Great" recession, which has negatively impacted everyone. 

http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/bestcities2008.taf?rankyear=2008&type=state&state=IL

http://bestcities.milkeninstitute.org/

Peoria Economic Development

What does the economic climate for the Peoria area look like in 2010? 


On February 25th, InterBusiness Issues will sponsor Economic Climate 2010, an event presented by the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois, the Heartland Partnership and Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. Multiple presenters will provide updates on healthcare, small business and sustainability issues, as well as a general snapshot of our regional assets and a look ahead at what’s in store for the general economy. The event is free, but reservations are required. Contact Terry at tbest@chamber.h-p.org to make your reservation.

http://www.peoriamagazines.com/perspective

Play in Peoria - High Speed Google Internet Test Community

Google is looking for a test community for the installation of a 1Gb (very fast) high speed internet service.  Bill Dennis and Tim Couillard propose that we try to be that community. This is a very good idea. I have proposed to Google that they choose us, and I suggest that the City push for our selection.

Will it Play in Peoria ?  We would be a great location because of our long history as a test bed site for a variety of shows and products.

Name:

Bring Google Fiber to Peoria IL

Category:

Geography - Cities

Description:

Google is testing 1Gb high speed Internet service and Peoria should be it's test bed. 1Gb is approximately 100 times faster than our current high speed Internet (Cable Modem and DSL)

Open: All content is public.

Fill out the information below to propose our Peoria:

http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options

Tim Coullard has created a Facebook page to show Google citizen demand/support.

- http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=311726201442

State of Illinois Grants

Click below for info on State of Illinois Grants

http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bureaus/Business_Development/Grants/

Good News - US Unemployment Rate Drops

Unemployment Rate in U.S. Falls to 9.7%; Factory Payrolls Grow

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-06/unemployment-rate-in-u-s-falls-to-9-7-factory-payrolls-grow.html

Zillow.com Shows Peoria Home Prices Increasing Substantially

Zillow.com Shows Peoria, Illinois Home Prices Increasing Substantially

But they are still a bargain compared to much of the rest of the country.

Sell your home and move to Peoria ! 


Such a deal !!

http://www.zillow.com/local-info/IL-Peoria-home-value/r_19903/


http://www.zillow.com


___________________________________________________________________


President Obama Home and Our Home

Guess Which One is Which?

Compare the home of President and Michelle Obama with the home of Beth Ruyle Hullinger and Craig Hullinger. The homes are similar, except that the President and his wife reportedly paid $1,650,000 for their Chicago home, while my wife and I bought ours in Peoria for $245,000.

-

Guess which one is which? Answer on the bottom:

Advantage Peoria!!

Move to Peoria, Illinois

Great City - Great Housing Values - Play in Peoria
_________________________

Ruyle Hullinger home
423 High Street, Peoria, Illinois

Located in the High Wine District across from Giant Oak Park, this Colonial Revival home was built around the turn of the century. On the ridge of the Illinois River, it overlooks downtown Peoria and the University of Illinois Medical Campus.

In the 1890's, a railroad agent and the treasurer of a local industry lived in the house. Later, the home was a boarding house and a halfway house for some years. It is reputed to be occupied by a ghost. The home was restored near its 100 year anniversary by Jack and Cathy Empson. Renovation was continued by the current owners, Beth Ruyle and Craig Hullinger in 2006.

The existing, original slate roof is moderately pitched and hipped, with a ridge. Classic one story fluted columns support the full length porch. Brick walls are edged with quoins. The interior boasts extensive stained woodwork and marble floors.

__________________

High Street Source: http://www.historicpeoria.com/entry.php?eid=214&catid=1&cid=1

Nestled between Peoria's picturesque West Bluff and energetic Main Street, High Street offers its residents and visitors a vibrant and elegant slice of historical significance. From the mammoth Easton house (now Converse Marketing) gracing the entrance to the renovated Greenhut mansion (now Bobbitt's Historical Quarters) at the foot, the magic of High Street has survived the years and resonates today.

Once dubbed "High Wine Avenue," High Street housed many of the original Peoria whiskey barons, including Joseph Greenhut, president and founder of The Distillers and Cattle Feeders Company. In the mid-1880's, an era before income tax, fortunes were spent on homes, massive legacies that still stand today. The expanse of Peoria's whisky riches is showcased in the diverse and ornate architecture of High Street. During this golden age of Peoria history, the city established itself as the distillery capital of the world; High Street housed the city's exclusive nouveau riche, the properties offering both seclusion and breathtaking views. Each owner hired the services of individual architects, and thus High Street boasts styles ranging from Georgian and Gothic Revival, to Queen Anne and Flemish Revival.

This combination of porticos, cupolas, latticework, leaded windows, and arches creates an eclectic presence unique to High Street.Today High Street is home to artists, writers, politicians and families interested in living a piece of history. Many of the mansions have been restructured into apartments, and few single-family houses remain. A restoration revival swept the street in the late 1980's and early 1990's when owners began working with the city to uphold historical standards in the renovations.

On any summer day, visitors stroll the street, taking in the majestic homes and lush landscaping. Trolleys and tour buses creep along while tourists snap photos. Children and lovers alike hide within the limbs of the ancient oak tree at Giant Oak Park. Once the most exclusive residential street in Peoria, High Street continues to give citizens a taste of Peoria's past.

http://namethispeorialandmark.blogpeoria.com/category/high-st/

http://namethispeorialandmark.blogpeoria.com/category/historic-peoria/

http://www.peoriahistoricalsociety.org/trolleytours.html



President and Michelle Obama home is the top photo,

Beth and Craig Hullinger home is the bottom photo.

Of course, their current home is a better deal then ours. But they are only renting temporarily.