The new CEO of the public-private economic development group Intersect Illinois says landing major projects for downstate is a major priority.
Christy George said Gov. JB Pritzker wants to see more focus on development outside the Chicago area. The vetted sites program is one such effort.
"We have partnered with consultants to identify the assets of various sites and the needs of those sites to ensure that we can take a serious look at how to get them shovel ready.," George said. "And so that's something we'll be looking into, how we can invest even further, and particularly in downstate areas."
George noted the Peoria area has scored some big wins this year with the opening of the Distillery Labs innovation hub downtown, and the announced $80 million expansion of sunglasses maker Maui Jim.
"I think there's we're seeing growth in that area. It's very strong. Has a ton of assets," she said of Peoria.
She said there are a lot of aspects that make the region attractive for potential business relocations and expansions. That includes the longest runway in Illinois outside the Chicago area at the Peoria International Airport, and one of the largest inland port systems in the United States along the Illinois River.
George said biomedical and agricultural research is another asset for the Peoria area.
Statewide, Intersect Illinois projects created more than 2700 new jobs and spurred more than $2 billion in investment in the past year.
