Purdue University is helping research economic development activity in Central Illinois. The Tri-County Regional Planning Commission approved a contract with the institution to help craft a Data Center Of Excellence. The contract is paid for with money from a federal grant Peoria County received in 2008. Mark Rothert is the county’s Assistant Administrator for Economic Development. He says the online-data-center can reveal detailed information on the local economy:
“Whether it’s demographics, workforce, other types of data that relates to business starts and losses, things of that nature. So it’s a really robust program that we feel will help our practitioners do a better job in helping attract businesses and help their economies grow.”
The contract with Purdue lasts three years. A Data Center of Excellence was one of the components of the Focus Forward Central Illinois economic development plan crafted two years ago. It’s unclear if the center will be housed at Tri-County offices or with the area’s newly-created Economic Development Council.