Accolades — Jake Hamann

A new initiative aims to reposition the region through the renewed celebration of innovation, entrepreneurship and startup activity.

Innovation is a popular word these days. Every community strives to be driven by an innovative spirit, but innovation is not a switch one can turn on and off. It is deeply rooted in who you are, what drives you and what your vision is for the future. Innovation sets Peoria apart, although that may not be obvious to the outside world—and is often not even recognized in our own backyard.

Startup Peoria, ONEFIRE, Peoria, PersonalJake HamannJune 23, 2016

A Look at Peoria’s Startup Scene, a Buzzing Ecosystem Just Getting Off the Ground

Venture capitalist Brad Feld says it takes about 20 years to grow a strong tech ecosystem. So with that time frame, Peoria, Ill. hasn’t even reached its rebellious teenage years.

But if you talk to entrepreneurs and investors in Peoria, there’s an undeniable energy happening around startups and innovation in the Central Illinois town that sits 160 miles Southwest of Chicago. Though Peoria’s 116,000 residents are just 20,000 more than Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood, the town packs a business punch anchored by Fortune 100 company Caterpillar and bolstered by startups that have garnered national attention. It may still have a ways to go before it catches up with Chicago, or even neighboring Central Illinois anchor Urbana-Champaign. But it’s certainly growing up.