HP In The News
November 28, 2011

November has been a busy month for The Heartland Partnership family of Companies.  We were one of the driving forces behind the Small Business Saturday Central Illinois effort and it was a huge success!  We were also busy with the Chamber's annual Thanksgiving luncheon, Peoria NEXT announced a new CEO and the region moved up in national rankings yet again.  Take a look at some of these stories from the regional media over the past month. 

Local Businesses Get Support From Small Business Saturday
Local small business owners say they saw an increase in traffic during Small Business Saturday.

Small Business Saturday Gets Mixed Results
As the day went on, that's exactly what happened. Small Business Saturday was working. Shoppers poured in.

Local retailers hope to lure shoppers
Several area chambers of commerce, as well as the Heartland Partnership, the Illinois River Road Scenic Byway and the Economic Development Council of ...

Local officials gear up for small business Saturday
Area small business owners and elected officials gathered in Washington today to support a local shopping campaign this Saturday.

Small Business Saturday To Follow Black Friday
Capturing the shopping craze of Black Friday, some area businesses and public officials are also promoting Small Business Saturday.  The Economic Development Council For Central Illinois and it's parent organization Heartland Partnership is marketing the initiative this Saturday.

Business owners, local leaders praise Small Business Saturday initiative
"This is truly a regional partnership," said Vickie Clark, president of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois. "It stretches from Canton to ...

Small Business Saturday gaining local support
The Small Business Saturday movement is growing and central Illinois is firmly on the bandwagon.

Small Business Saturday Plans Big Impact on Local Stores
From Facebook pages to an emphasis on face-to-face service, Small Business Saturday Central Illinois is pulling out all the stops to make sure local stores move forward in a time of economic stress.

Small Business Saturday is effort to boost business for Mom and ...
Vickie Clark, president of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois. “Some shops will give discounts. It's whatever a business wants to ...

New business is brewing in downtown Peoria
The Economic Development Council (EDC) for Central Illinois encourages new businesses like this, especially in the Peoria-area.  "There are lots of good things going in this region," said Cindy Patterson, EDC Director of Marketing.

Peoria's job growth moves up in national rankings
The city's elevated ranking will prove useful as a marketing tool, said Vicki Clark, president of the Economic Development Council for Central Illinois. ...

Report Shows Peoria Jobs Continue To Grow
A 2011 report lists Peoria among the best mid-size cities for job growth across the nation.    

County Hopes New Loans Will Bring More Business Growth
Officials say they have seen growth over the past two decades from the health sector, manufacturing and education fields.
         
New Peoria NEXT Leader Introduced
There will be two main areas of focus for the new CEO of Peoria NEXT.  One will be to broaden the horizon and the other will be to raise a lot of cash.  Grant Brewen was introduced as the next Innovation Center leader today(Thursday).

Peoria NEXT has new CEO
The Peoria Next Innovation Center is moving in a new direction and has a new leader to guide the generator of start-up technology businesses. This comes as the initiative celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

Peoria NEXT names Brewen as CEO
Brewen comes on board as Peoria NEXT, formed 10 years ago by several organizations and business leaders to provide entrepreneurs an outlet to turn ideas...

Peoria NEXT Names New CEO
Peoria NEXT announces Grant Brewen as its new CEO Brewen is currently head of the Biotechnology Research and Development Corporation housed at the USDA's ...

Community Leaders Get Inspiration at Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the things for which we're grateful, and that's what more than 600 people did Friday in Central Illinois.

Rep. Leitch honored as 'dedicated public servant'
Attended by 600 people, the event was sponsored by the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce. Described as a "dedicated public servant" and "an analytical problem ...

State Rep. Leitch Receives Tom Connor Volunteer Award
State Representative Dave Leitch of Peoria received the Tom Connor Award for Volunteer Community Service Friday during the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce's ...

Good Company:
Participate in Small Business Saturday:  Kip McCoy explains the impact Small Business Saturday is expected to have on the regional economy.

The Economic Development Council for Central Illinois has been very busy lately. President Vickie Clark fills us in on all of their new financial plans.