GPEDC | Regional Workforce Solutions
Greater Peoria By The Numbers
174,000 +
Local
Workforce Strength
430,000+
Workforce Within
Commutable Distance
2.47%
Employment Growth
Year-Over-Year
$68,778
Median Household
Income (+8.03% Growth)
16,000+
Total High School
Students Regionally
46
Total High Schools
in Greater Peoria Region
65.7%
HS Students Enrolled
in CTE Programs
22.6%
HS Students Enrolled
in Dual-Credit Programs
50+
Regional Workforce
Ecosystem Partners
500+
Employers Engaged
with Workforce Ecosystem
195
Foundations and
Grantmaking Organizations
$35M+
Total Funding Secured for
Training & Upskilling
36,000+
Total Postsecondary
Students
12,000+
Annaul Postsecondary
Credentials Earned
11
Accredited Institutions
Offering Degrees
24.47%
Total Population w/
Asssociate Degree or Higher
Meet the team.
The Workforce Solutions team at the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council leads efforts to support the development of a more resilient, robust, and equitable talent pipeline across the region by troubleshooting systemic gaps and challenges and connecting regional organizations to resources to scale effective programs.
We aim to develop and retain a skilled workforce by employing strategies along the career development continuum - from preschool through retirement. The regional scope of our work enables us to build collective capacity and competency across organizations. We can better serve local employers by removing silos and bringing together expertise from various sectors and communities to align, scale, and enable a more significant impact.
We are active partners in the Regional Workforce Alliance and the Choose Greater Peoria initiative. We work tirelessly to facilitate meetings that bring appropriate stakeholders to the table to continue to make great things happen for the Greater Peoria region's students and workforce. This is by no means an exclusive club, and we welcome conversations with anyone with ideas to help others achieve career success or those passionate about improving the lives and livelihoods of our community.
Jeffrey Inman (Director of Workforce Solutions) is the data nerd of the team and loves to pull together information to tell a powerful story. If you need data insights on the workforce or creative ideas to help solve talent person, Jeffrey's the right person to chat with. He is passionate about helping others and is always open to helping others with resumes, interview prep, and their job search. He was an undergraduate at Illinois State University, earned his MBA from the Wharton School, and has since spent over a decade in the Talent Acquisition space. When he's not helping people get jobs, Jeffrey enjoys spending time with his family and cats and learning useless trivia.
Sara Kupperschmid (Workforce Solutions Partner) is the team go-to for all things education. She has attended numerous trainings on the PaCE Framework. She leads the GPEDC's efforts to support events like CareerSpark, the Discover Manufacturing Career Expo, and programs that help connect schools so they can make their CTE programs great! She attended Western Illinois University and has spent several years serving those in need in the community. When she's not helping people get jobs, Sara enjoys hanging out with friends and her animals and loves to learn about dinosaurs!
Courtney Moore (Talent Attraction Coordinator) is the point person in supporting the Choose Greater Peoria initiative and provides concierge services to professionals considering a move to Greater Peoria. She stays up-to-date with the top employers in our region to help facilitate introductions with top talent from across the U.S. She spends most of her time traveling across the region to build an extensive support network to make moving to our region seamless with things like Welcome Kits, newcomer mixers, and more. When she's not helping people get jobs, Courtney is a successful entrepreneur, active in the arts, and feels most at home when visiting Disney!
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