Peoria NEXT Innovation Center

06/08/2026

Attention Inventors!
Register for this workshop series from the United States Patent and Trademark Office today! Part 2 of 8 begins on Thursday but you can still register and gain access to the entire series.
Part I: Introduction is available on-demand.

Are you interested in learning about intellectual property (IP) basics? Join this webinar series for "Path to a Patent, Part I: Intellectual property basics" on Thursday, June 4 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET.

In part one of this eight-part recurring series, United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) experts will:
* Provide a brief overview of the different types of IP: patents, trademarks, trade secrets,
and copyrights
* Review the patenting process from invention to application to issuance
* Cover the requirements for patentability
* Explain how to determine whether a provisional or nonprovisional application is right for
you
* Discuss how to weigh the costs and benefits of hiring a patent attorney

This training event is part of a free, virtual eight-part series that covers the patenting process from IP basics, to patent searching, to drafting and filing your patent application. The series runs through December. Presented by the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

Register now: https://www.uspto.gov/about-us/events/path-patent-part-i-intellectual-property-basics-0?utm_campaign=subscriptioncenter&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=

06/08/2026

Excellent Workshop to consider for Business Builders and Employers looking to enhance their workforce skills and experiences. Consider applying!

Building Talent Together: Where Education Meets Economic Impact.

Illinois Central College and the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council are partnering to bring high-impact essential skills training to businesses across the Peoria area.

This collaborative training series helps employees strengthen communication, problem-solving, adaptability, teamwork, and professional confidence.

Invest in your workforce. Strengthen your culture. Build the future of talent in Central Illinois with GPEAK Essential Skill Badges.

Register here: https://campusce.icc.edu/corporate/course/course.aspx?C=5111&pc=342&mc=0&sc=0

06/02/2026

Ag Tech Connect for anybody with a "connection" to agriculture! In Central Illinois, that is All Of Us! You are invited to ALTO Ingredients in Pekin for our next quarterly Ag Tech gathering!

05/21/2026

Thinking about going into business?
Are you ready? Is your family ready? Are you financially prepared?
Come ask these questions and more as we explore business owner readiness with SBDC Assistant Director, Amy Lambert!

Do you want to own a business… or are you truly ready to build one?

Starting a business takes more than a great idea or excitement about being your own boss. It requires mindset, preparation, support, and a realistic understanding of what entrepreneurship actually demands.

That’s why we created our NEW SBDC workshop: Before the Business: Building Your Founder’s Mindset

In this interactive session, you’ll explore:
* Whether you’re truly ready for entrepreneurship
* Your strengths - and the gaps that could hold you back
* The support systems and experts every founder needs
* The realities of business ownership most people overlook
* How to move forward with clarity and confidence

This workshop is designed to help aspiring entrepreneurs start with intention, not impulse.

📅 May 27, 2026 | 2:30–5:00 PM
📍 Peoria NEXT Innovation Center, 801 W Main St, Peoria, IL

Take the first step toward building a stronger foundation for your future business. Register now: https://theturnercenter.org/event/before-the-business-building-your-founders-mindset/

05/14/2026

Congrats to our Bradley Alums! Made in Peoria, Shared with the World!

Innovation often begins with identifying a real problem and having the determination to solve it.

While studying mechanical engineering at Bradley University, Brandon Johnson and Ohm Vyas developed ShotHawk, a technology-driven safety device designed to respond during dangerous situations and help create time for people to react and get to safety.

As the concept grew, the team refined the technology to make it scalable, adaptable, and practical for real-world environments. Today, ShotHawk is moving toward its first deployment in retail spaces, with future plans for schools and other high-traffic locations.

Throughout the journey, advisors Jim Foley, Eric Sampson, and Chris Youngmark from the Illinois Small Business Development Center and Turner Center for Entrepreneurship helped the team navigate funding opportunities, business strategy, and key industry connections.

We look forward to seeing what’s next for ShotHawk and these emerging entrepreneurs.

Read the full story on our website: https://theturnercenter.org/success-stories/shothawk-how-emerging-entrepreneurs-are-advancing-safety-technology-through-innovation/

05/08/2026

05/08/2026

Day 5 of Economic Development Week 2026: Closing Day. What a week. Students getting hands-on with AI on Monday. Legacy businesses celebrated. Big Table Community Report released. Powering the Heartland brought the region together on Thursday. Thank you to everyone who showed up and helped us tell the Greater Peoria story. To 100 more years.

05/07/2026

The Big Table Community Report is officially public. This report captures what residents, business leaders, educators, and stakeholders across Greater Peoria told us matters most — and it will serve as a foundation for future strategic planning efforts in the region. https://greaterpeoriaedc.org/bigtable25-report/

Read the 2025 Big Table Report, community insights from five counties shaping Greater Peoria's economic future.

05/07/2026

05/06/2026

We are hosting this May Workshop with SBDC.
Understanding your Entrepreneurial Mindset is crucial!
No Cost. Professional Guidance. All Are Welcome.
Registration below. See you there!

Are you ready to start a business… or just excited about the idea?

Before the logo, before the LLC, before the launch - there’s you.

Smart founders don’t skip this step.

Join us for our NEW SBDC workshop: Before the Business: Building Your Founder’s Mindset

In this session, you’ll take a step back and get honest about:
✔️ Your readiness to start a business
✔️ Where your skills, time, or resources may fall short
✔️ Who should be in your corner (and how to use that support)
✔️ What starting a business really requires
✔️ Your next best step forward

This isn’t about discouraging you, it’s about setting you up to succeed.

📅 May 27, 2026 | 2:30–5:00 PM
📍 Peoria NEXT Innovation Center

Register now and start smarter, not harder: https://theturnercenter.org/event/before-the-business-building-your-founders-mindset/