Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis opened his State of the City speech by addressing the “elephant” in the room: Caterpillar’s announcement that it’s moving headquarters to Chicago.
Mayor Ardis told the Civic Center audience that the city has been dealt a tough hand, but Peoria will get through it. He then thanked the healthcare sector for its investment in Peoria’s people and economic development.
Healthcare is now the largest employer in greater Peoria. Ardis says there are over 700 businesses related to healthcare that employ more than 32,000 people. That’s about 18 percent of jobs in the greater Peoria area.
The mayor also talked about increased rates of poverty, the need for infrastructure improvements and efforts to improve diversity in local government and law enforcement.