What is the Greater Peoria Regional Workforce Alliance?​

 The Regional Workforce Alliance is a collective impact organization formed in 2017 under the direction of the CEO Council. This collaboration includes Business Leaders, Community Leaders, Educators, Workforce Solutions Partners, Economic Development Professionals, Chamber of Commerce Stakeholders, Business Development Stakeholders, Entrepreneurs, and more! 

 

In 2017, the CEO Council identified the lack of an available, qualified workforce as the most significant regional business challenge for Greater Peoria. When investigating prosperous regions similar to Greater Peoria and surveying local business leaders, three key points were established: 

• Economically thriving communities possessed a 60% post-secondary credential attainment rate; Greater Peoria was only at 40%

• Regional employers throughout Greater Peoria were experiencing critical workforce gaps

• Studies aligned that 99% of new jobs created from 2010 - 2016 required some form of post-secondary credential

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With this evidence, the Council established the Regional Workforce Alliance to develop the regional workforce required to stabilize and grow our economy by systematically connecting employers, educators, and community-based organizations with high school graduates, the under-credentialed, and adults with multiple barriers to ensure 60% of the region's population has the required post-secondary credentials to obtain gainful employment. The RWA is led by numerous stakeholders representing the entire workforce continuum. It is supported by members representing business, education, unions, community-based organizations, our local WIOA board, and economic development organizations to enable regional alignment of efforts to increase the number of credentialed adults, grow the workforce, fill existing talent gaps, and expand economic vitality. 

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How is the Regional Workforce Alliance Organized & Led?

The RWA is led by a group of community leaders who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that the work happening across organizations, communities, and businesses throughout Greater Peoria is aligned, connected, and able to collaborate to improve outcomes quickly. The work is supported by three pillars: the Emerging Workforce Pillar, the Multiple Barriers Pillar, and the Upskilling Pillar. Two co-chairs lead each Pillar, and those co-chairs sit on the RWA Steering Committee, with two additional co-chairs overseeing the entire RWA. In addition, there is an Executive Director for the RWA and ongoing support from the local United Way chapter to ensure alignment with community-based organizations and ongoing opportunities to secure funding to create a bigger impact.

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Who are the current co-chairs of the Regional Workforce Alliance? 

The leadership and direction of the RWA comes from the following individuals:

 

RWA Executive Co-Chairs: 

• Dr. Sheila Quirk-Bailey, Illinois Central College

• Jessica Linder Gallo, Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce

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Administrative Coordinator:

• Jeffrey Inman, Greater Peoria Economic Development Council

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Emerging Workforce Pillar:

• Beth Crider, Peoria Regional Office of Education (ROE 48)

• [Vacancy]

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Multiple Barriers Pillar:

• Dr. Arnitria Shaw, Illinois Central College

• Felisa Durr, Tri-County Urban League

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Upskilling Pillar:

• Dr. Jamel Wright, Eureka College

• Jason Fark, Chase Bank