Excel Foundry announced plans to invest $15 million in plant expansions and create 100 new manufacturing and engineering jobs in the region. The company manufactures and supplies components and systems for a wide range of heavy equipment used in global mining. The expansion will also mean over $2 million in road improvements near the facility. The EDC played a major a role in the facilitating a number of the infrastructure grants that went into the project. Visit www.excelfoundry.com for more information.

The University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria marked a milestone in cancer research with a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of a new 24,000 square foot cancer research center. This remarkable new building will further the research of internationally known scientist Dr. Jasti Rao and his team of cancer researchers.

Dozens of small businesses, community leaders and elected officials gathered on the square in Washington today to show their support for Small Business Saturday. November 26th is Small Business Saturday, a day to celebrate the Shop Small movement and drive shoppers to local merchants across the U.S.

Peoria Next announces its new CEO.  Grant Brewen is the new CEO of Peoria NEXT.  Brewen is currently head of the Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation (BRDC), housed at the USDA’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research Lab in Peoria since 1988. He will continue that position as well as his new role as new CEO of Peoria NEXT.

The Heartland Partnership family of companies welcomed John Berge who serves as the Executive Director of the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC) in the office of the Secretary at the US Department of Agriculture to a roundtable discussion regarding regional economic development.

Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis and representatives from Bradley University's Institute for Principled Leadership, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters, the Neighborhood Alliance, and the African American Leadership Alliance announced plans to host community discussions about the current cumulative voting system used to elect Peoria City Council members. Two meetings have been scheduled for October 26th and November 2nd. The meetings are open to the public and are free to attend. For more information, contact Bradley University's Institute for Principled Leadership.

Senator Dick Durbin addresses the media in Peoria after a stop at The Heartland Partnership to meet with a small group of community and business leaders and discuss the downgrading of the government’s credit rating and the agreement to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.

The third and final Project Pack the Place “Big Event” of the year will take place at the Peoria Zoo on Saturday, September 10. The announcement was made today at the Peoria Zoo’s Africa! Exhibit. “This project started as a grass roots idea in early 2010 to boost the regional economy and remind people we have there’s plenty to do right here in this region. It’s our own stimulus project” said Terry Best, Vice President of Programs and Membership Services at the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce.

As Central Illinois Angels (CIA) prepares to celebrate its second anniversary, the group announced today investments in two more local start-up companies.

The Illinois River Road National Scenic Byway receives a $99,000 USDA grant on Thursday, July 28th 2011. The Byway's USDA grant will enable the Byway to engage small businesses in the 10 surrounding counties and will help create as many as 10 new full time positions. To learn more about the Byway, visit www.illinoisriverroad.org.