Reflections from State of the City 2025: A Sold-Out Celebration of Peoria’s Future
On June 26, 2025, a sold-out crowd of 400 leaders, changemakers, and community champions gathered at the Peoria Civic Center for the annual State of the City luncheon, and the energy in the room made one thing clear: Peoria’s future is in motion.
As host of the event, the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce was proud to convene this powerful cross-section of our city—from business and labor leaders to public servants and nonprofit visionaries. Chamber President & CEO Jessica Linder Gallo opened the program with a message that echoed throughout the entire day: leadership matters, especially in times of transformation.
“Whether you are a business owner, an investor, a policymaker, or a community builder, you are part of the ecosystem that drives our regional economy forward. And we are here to ensure that ecosystem thrives,” Gallo said in her remarks.
The Chamber’s agenda is focused on ensuring businesses can grow, policies support innovation, and community voices are not only heard, but centered in the work ahead. Our legislative priorities, from equitable procurement and workforce development to infrastructure and downtown revitalization, are rooted in that commitment.
This year's interactive engagement activities, including the “One Big Idea” cards and Regional Need Dot Voting Board, helped bring even more voices into the conversation. (If you participated, thank you! We’ll be sharing that feedback soon.)
As the program continued, Mayor Rita Ali took the stage to deliver a powerful and personal vision: “Investing in Peoria’s Future.” Her speech reflected the city’s continued financial strength and highlighted key areas of investment including public safety, housing, workforce development, and economic revitalization in every council district.
Mayor Ali’s remarks also lifted up urgent challenges, including the need to modernize Peoria’s permitting processes and expand the city’s housing inventory at every level. And for the first time in State of the City history, local developers took the stage live to share their commitment to meeting that housing need. Their stories offered powerful reminders of the innovation and momentum already underway to bring more quality housing options to our community.
Before the program concluded, the Chamber extended a heartfelt thank-you to Homefield Energy, our 2025 Title Sponsor. Their continued investment in our region and support of the business community exemplifies the kind of partnership that helps fuel Peoria’s progress. Their leadership and commitment to Peoria’s future were instrumental in making this event possible and in powering the work that lies ahead.
This year’s event was a powerful reminder that the State of the City is strong because of the people who continue to show up, invest, and believe in Peoria’s future. As we move forward, the Chamber remains committed to convening conversations, championing business, and aligning around bold, actionable solutions that drive our region forward.
Let’s keep building together.