(Peoria) Dec. 27, 2012 – Focus Forward CI regional economic development effort announces “Vertical Asset Mapping” meetings in January. The purpose of the sessions is to identify the current assets and efforts underway in: Education and Workforce Development, Community and Economic Development, Quality of Place, and Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

The meetings will include experts in each of the fields to tap their knowledge and experience in order to share assets and resources across the region. The meetings are open to the public; however input will be limited to experts. The general public input process took place in November with Asset Mapping Meetings in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford and Mason counties. A key distinction with the vertical sessions is: what exists to foster sustainable economic development, what needs to exist to develop new business opportunities and the levels of capacity across the four-county region.

Indigenous Resource mapping provides a disciplined process for discovering what is unique to a region and its competitive advantages. During Central Illinois Discovery Week, numerous assets were uncovered in categories including human capital, natural resources, infrastructure, technology and culture.

Vertical Asset Mapping Meetings are as follows:
• Education and Workforce Development – Jan. 8, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.Illinois Central College South, 225 Hanna Dr., Pekin
• Community and Economic Development – Jan. 9; 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Kaufman Center
383 Old Germantown Rd, Suite A, Germantown Hills
• Quality of Place – Jan. 10 from 10:00 a.m. – noon Willett Winery, 105 E. Market St., Manito
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation – Jan. 10 from 3;00 – 5 ;00 p.m. Innovation Center
801 W. Main St. Peoria

As a reminder, the next Policy Steering Committee meeting is Jan. 8 from 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. at Caterpillar Visitors Center.