Skip to main content

SCAM ALERT: DCEO has been made aware of organizations receiving fraudulent “notice of award” letters claiming to be from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. These are not legitimate notices from DCEO. If your organization receives a notice, please report it to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Illinois North Central Region

Regional Hubs

  • Peoria
  • Bloomington
  • Normal
  • Pekin
  • East Peoria
  • Morton
  • Washington
  • Canton
  • Pontiac

Counties

  • Peoria
  • McLean
  • Tazewell
  • Woodford
  • Livingston
  • Fulton
  • DeWitt
  • Mason
  • Marshall
  • Stark

Key Industries

  • Advanced Business Services
  • Information & Communications Technologies
  • Transportation and Logistics
  • Biomedical
  • Computer and Electronic Products
  • Food/Beverage Machinery and Capital Equipment
  • Agribusiness
  • Automotive

Major Employers and Headquarters

Large Employers:

Corporate HQ:

Higher Education

Unique Facts

  • Population 650,000+; Workforce 300,000+
  • Peoria is home to a thriving and innovative health care industry with numerous partners
  • The Peoria NEXT Innovation Center is a 48,000 square foot technology incubator for entrepreneurial businesses looking to make their mark on the world
  • The Amtrak station in Bloomington-Normal is frequently ranked as one of the busiest Amtrak stations in the midwest (229,894 passengers in 2019) and provides service to Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis
  • Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) in Bloomington features an 8,000 foot primary runway and 6,500 foot crosswind runway with three Instrument Landing Systems including a CAT II, providing for reliable operations during inclement weather conditions. FedEx operates a daily air cargo flight and a sorting and distribution facility at BMI and many corporate and private aircraft are based at BMI along with service from Delta, American Airlines, Frontier, and Allegiant.
  • Morton is known as the Pumpkin Capital of the World because 85% of the world’s canned pumpkin is packed there

Region Specific Assistance

Lauren Gibson, AICP
North Central Senior Region Manager
217-986-0062
lauren.gibson@illinois.gov

Mark Adams
North Central Region Manager
309-930-6475
mark.adams@illinois.gov

The Illinois Department of Commerce is Your One-Stop Resource

  • Site Selection
  • Customized Workforce Training
  • Regional & Local Collaboration
  • Expedited Permitting, Licensing & Other Approvals
  • Connection to Key Stakeholders and Civic & Business Partners
  • Potential Financial Support
  • And more!