Businesses Back The Block
Peoria’s most prominent leaders have made it clear: It’s time to Build The Block!
Known as the CEO Roundtable, this group of 37 community, business and labor leaders is committed to quality of life improvements and business opportunities in the greater Peoria region. In a Sept. 2, 2008, press conference, they revealed their plans for making The Block a reality—a plan that includes both verbal support and a commitment to raise the remaining $8 million in private funds for the Peoria Riverfront Museum.
“Without question, The Block is our greatest opportunity to elevate the educational, cultural, social and economic landscape for our friends and neighbors of all ages,” said CEO Roundtable Chairman Michael Bryant. “I like to refer to The Block as ‘the Civic Center moment’ of our generation,” he added. “We’re talking about a $136 million project that will define Peoria for generations to come.”
Widespread Support
Caterpillar Inc. Chairman and CEO Jim Owens underscored his support for the total project. “We need this kind of vision,” he said, calling The Block “a real centerpiece for our headquarters city” and just what we need to “attract people from all over the world to live and work here.”
In an unprecedented move, Caterpillar has pledged a total of more than $55 million toward the project: $41 million to build the Caterpillar Experience, $1.2 million toward the parking structure and $13.5 million toward the Riverfront Museum—including $5 million in matches to Caterpillar employee and retiree matches.
Strong backing was echoed by Mike Everett, President of the West Central Illinois Building Trades, who announced that, through an unprecedented four-party agreement among the building trades, Caterpillar, the museum collaboration group, and the Greater Peoria Contractors and Suppliers Association, The Block will be built with 100 percent local labor—a move that will mean hundreds of jobs for local union construction workers.
“This isn’t just another construction project to us. This is a conscious choice to move our community forward,” Everett explained. “We have to step up and take the future into our own two hands and then we have to shape it together,” he added, before declaring the local unionized construction industry’s commitment to doing just that—with a total of $485,000 in pledges toward the Riverfront Museum, and more to come.
Also speaking in support of the Build The Block campaign were State Senator David Koehler and State Representative David Leitch, who are tag-teaming in both houses of the Illinois legislature to secure $12 million in state funding. In addition, The City of Peoria has committed $13 million in land and infrastructure improvements to Build The Block. Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis called The Block “a gift to our city” and an opportunity “as individuals and businesses to ‘put our money where our mouth is’.”
The Task at Hand
To date, 85% of the private funds needed for the block are already in place. To reach the remaining $8 million by early 2009, the CEO Roundtable is requesting 100 percent member participation in Build The Block outreach and fundraising efforts. Reflecting the fun and excitement of the campaign, supporters will be invited to “Be a Blockhead!” by supporting and donating to the Riverfront Museum project through BuildTheBlock.org.