Pinta and Nina




Replicas of the Pinta and the Nina, Christopher Columbus’ famous ships, will dock at 2pm tomorrow at the Riverplex Landing adjacent to the Spirit of Peoria.The ships will open to the general public on Friday, July 9th, and remain open every day from 9am to 6pm until their departure early Monday morning. Visit thenina.com or email columfnd@surfbvi.com for more information.



Blueprint America

Congratulations to WTVP-TV who was selected to participate in the Blueprint America: Livability & Sustainability Outreach initiative, one of just 10 television stations in the country to receive a $10,000 grant. The station will air a half-hour documentary this fall that will define sustainability, focusing on high-speed rail coming to Normal, a proposed hydroelectric project in Quincy, how city regulations can help control urban sprawl in Peoria, and a "green" high school in Cuba, Illinois. The project will also involve an outreach component on wtvp.org, and educational elements through the Sun Foundation and the Central Illinois Green Expo at Illinois Central College this fall.





The Transformation Of DOT Under LaHood

Our former Congressman is doing a great
job as Secretary of Transportation. Read what Planetizen has to say.

Jul 1, 2010 -- The 


Washington Post: Breaking 


News Blog


Few expected this Republican in the Obama 


cabinet to cause such a stir. Yet, from his high 


speed rail advocacy to campaigning for road 


safety ("just say no to texting") to pushing 


livable communities, 64-year-old Ray LaHood 


has changed D.O.T.






http://www.planetizen.com/node/44897







Looking For Work




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It is a tough job market. The blogs below are my thoughts on how to help you find your next job, or create your next business.




Use your local Work Force Network to help you find your next job.



Economic Development Video - Peoria, Illinois




Excellent Articles in Peoria Magazines

Development

  • Reshaping the Region
    We’re in the midst of a remarkable transformation, one that will reshape the region for decades to come.
by Jonathan Wright
In the city that houses the headquarters of the world’s largest maker of construction equipment, nearly $2 billion in capital projects are ongoing, have been completed in recent years, or are currently in the planning stages.
Exploring the Potential of the Warehouse District
by Ray Lees
Several graduate students from the University of Illinois School of Architecture recently showcased an intriguing mix of ideas for creating a vibrant warehouse district in downtown Peoria.
by Edward J. Barry, Jr.
In Peoria, three recent developments, in three very different parts of the city, offer three very unique responses to the need to be greener.
by Jim Bateman
Landmarking per se does not automatically save buildings. What it does is buy time to find a way to execute an appropriate adaptive reuse.
Recommendations for Applicants Entering the Plan and Zoning Process
It is inevitable that proposed new development will meet stiff opposition in the approval process.
The City is very encouraged at the prospect of having the Plaza returned to local ownership. Paskert and his associates have solid experience in successfully marketing and managing commercial properties.
Collaboration is key to the strength of this region. At EDC, we see firsthand the value of both the public sector and private businesses working together.
After nearly 40 years with no changes to its buildings, the Peoria Public Library has become a beehive of building activity in every section of town.
As their children sleep an extra hour on the last Saturday in August before classes begin, a young couple plans their day’s activities. Their car would never move.
While we continue to struggle with high vacancy rates and an abundance of warehouse space, retail, multi-family and medical office markets remain steady.
Construction and redevelopment projects continue at various sites at Bradley University and Illinois Central College.
For building owners, saving taxes in 2010 may be as easy as 1-2-3.
Tying It All Together in East Peoria
Benjamin Franklin, one of this country’s civic improvement pioneers and an architect of  the nation itself, wrote for his Poor Richard’s Almanack, “He that can have patience can have what he will.”
We know that great people are doing great things in the region, but when you take a step back and really look at what is happening, it’s pretty amazing.
The United States EPA studied different LID sites across the nation and determined that the cost of LID is often less than the cost of conventional development.
This summer, we will break ground on the new Cancer Research Facility, adding about 20,000 square feet of research laboratory space.
The newly revamped center will function both as a school focused upon improving the lives of those with special needs and a commercial entity geared towards revitalizing the Sheridan Triangle area.
TIF districts seem to be in the news on a daily basis, yet very seldom do you get the full story of how a TIF works and what benefits a city derives from it.
So Now What Do You Do?
Serving on a plan commission is not easy, but it can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a person’s life.

Richard C. Longworth on Peoria



Richard C. Longworth had some nice things to say about Peoria in the Midwsterner.


He is a Senior Fellow at The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.


"I spent some time last week in Peoria, a central Illinois city that deserves a good look from any Midwestern factory town trying to reinvent itself in the age of globalization. Not that Peoria has all the answers or has solved all its problems. But it's asking the right questions and coming up with a few answers."


Read the blog at:

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