Eighteen days after the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) terminated almost $3 million in grants to the Peoria Citizens Committee for Economic Opportunity (PCCEO), Chief Executive Officer Denise Moore resigned. She cited family health woes in Chicago as needing her attention and presence.

“DCEO’s Dave Wortman expressed a desire to have me stay on through the end of the year to assist in winding down the functions of PCCEO,” Moore said. “I regret that I will not be able to fulfill that request.

“I feel honored to have the trust of state officials and am forever grateful for their support during our uphill battle to keep the agency afloat.”

Wortman said PCCEO hadn’t met the deadline for its 2023 audit, due Sept. 30, 2024, and was in default status. DCEO eliminated grants to PCCEO for Home Energy Assistance ($2.27 million) and community services ($679,000).

In parting, Moore criticized the Board she worked with, mentioning board members’ lack of experience or understanding of how community action agencies should work, and a tendency to try to influence daily operations and exert their authority.