Thank You for Joining Us!

The Big Table Greater Peoria 2025 brought together hundreds of residents, business leaders, students, and community builders for a full day of action-oriented conversations on October 17, 2025, at the Four Points by Sheraton in downtown Peoria.

Together, we explored Innovation as a Regional Growth Strategy, discussing how creativity, collaboration, and bold thinking can drive growth across industries, communities, and careers throughout Greater Peoria.

Your voices, ideas, and energy made the day a huge success,  shaping the foundation for our region’s next Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).

(Report coming soon — check back here to relive the highlights, inspiration, and ideas from The Big Table 2025!)

Rural Big Table: Continuing the Conversation Across Greater Peoria

What is Rural Big Table?

Rural Big Table events are community-based follow-ups to the main Big Table Greater Peoria gathering, designed to bring the conversation home to towns, villages, and rural communities throughout the region.

Why it matters:

Rural communities are vital to the region’s identity and economy. These events provide residents, local leaders, and businesses in smaller communities with the opportunity to reflect on Big Table themes—such as innovation, workforce, equity, and quality of life—through a rural lens.

What to Expect:

Each Rural Big Table will feature small-group discussions, local insights, and opportunities to shape the next steps for regional priorities. Whether you’re a farmer, business owner, educator, or engaged citizen, your voice is welcome.

Upcoming Rural Sessions 

• Woodford County – October 28, 2025 – South Pointe Community Building | 521 S. Sycamore Street, El Paso, IL 61738 | 4 PM – 7 PM
• Mason County – November 13, 2025 – Havana City Center | 326 W Market St, Havana, IL 62644| 4 PM – 7 PM
• Tazewell County – December 10, 2025 – Tremont High School, Cafetorium | 400 W Pearl St, Tremont, IL 61568 | 4 PM – 7 PM

Want to host or get involved?

We’re looking for community partners to help convene Rural Big Tables. Reach out to learn more or express interest. To attend, rsvp below

Together, we’re making sure every voice is heard—urban, rural, and everywhere in between.

The Big Table promotes regional community building through conversations designed to strengthen and connect communities. Through open, thoughtful conversations that focus on how we can strengthen our region, we will spark new relationships and new ways for working together by deepening our understanding of each other and what our region needs.

October 20, 2022 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

Thanks for joining us at The Big Table 2022! Please find the recap video and the full keynote address videos below.
The 2022 Final Report is available for download below.

If you missed last year’s event, we got you covered! Check out this recap of The Big Table 2022 event.

One of the highlights of 2022’s event is the Keynote from Bob Ross of the Greater Topeka Partnership. Bob shared their success with talent attraction and how Greater Peoria can maximize it’s assets to attract talent. Watch the full keynote.

Thanks for joining us at The (Virtual) Big Table 2020! Please find the session videos below.
The 2020 Final Report is available for download below.

These conversations resulted in The Big Table: Greater Peoria Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) is a regional planning document. The CEDS is a tool for organizing and coordinating economic development goals for the Central Illinois region that includes Logan, Mason, Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties. You can learn more about the strategy, progress being made and download a copy of the strategy below.