The Twin Cities Showcase, hosted annually by the McLean County Chamber of Commerce at Illinois State University’s Brown Ballroom, has become a cornerstone event for local business interaction and community engagement.
Twin Cities Showcase: Uniting Community and Commerce
Every May, this dynamic event brings together a diverse mix of businesses—from construction firms to skincare companies—all eager to exhibit their goods and services. Not only does this showcase provide a platform for businesses to promote themselves to both chamber members and the broader public, but it also features a delicious ‘Taste of the Showcase’ segment. Here, culinary delights are offered by local restaurants, giving attendees a taste of what McLean County has to offer.
Charlie Moore, President and CEO of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, highlights the showcase’s critical role in fostering economic growth and community cohesion. “Really one of our core values is intentional connections. It’s a way we can bring a lot of businesses together to meet other businesses, employees of businesses, and the community as a whole to help understand who our local businesses are and make those connections to build our local economy,” Moore explains.
The success of the Twin Cities Showcase is a testament to its ability to not only boost visibility for local enterprises but also to strengthen the economic fabric of the community.
PPS: A Proud Partner in Illinois’ Community Growth
Peoria Production Solutions (PPS) is proud to be an integral part of this vibrant Illinois community, grateful for events like the Twin Cities Showcase to connect with other local businesses and community members. At PPS, we are committed to supporting our local economy through our extensive services, including contract packaging, kitting, assembly, labeling, secondary packaging, and palletizing.
With over 80 years of experience and a unique not-for-profit status, our focus is on providing jobs to members of our community with alternate abilities. PPS is dedicated to creating job opportunities and fostering a supportive work environment. Our mission is to empower our employees, provide exceptional service to our clients, and contribute positively to our community’s growth and development.
By reinvesting in our people and our technologies, we ensure that we not only meet but exceed the production needs of local businesses, helping them to thrive in an ever-competitive marketplace. We utilize automated equipment, and follow strict quality policies, delivering accurate and precise work from a skilled workforce.
As we continue to support events like the Twin Cities Showcase and other local events, PPS reaffirms its commitment to the economic and social vitality of McLean County. We look forward to fostering new partnerships and exploring innovative ways to serve our community better, ensuring a prosperous future for all. If you are a local business looking for reliable and efficient production solutions, contact Peoria Production Solutions to help you achieve your business goals with our expertise and dedicated production services.
Manufacturers today are grappling with similar challenges from their counterparts in the 1950s, faced with staffing a reliable, productive workforce that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. In 1949, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers drafted a report to U.S. employers urging them to consider employing workers in older age groups or with physical impairments and that these workers are valuable and competent employees.
70 Years Later and Room for Improvement
In the more than 70 years since that report, while there has been progress with the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act, ADA, in 1990, there is still a lot more that can be done. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 53 million adults in the U.S., that is approximately one in five Americans, live with one or more disabilities. Yet according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS, for the year 2020, only 17.9% of people with a disability were employed compared to 61.8% of people with no disability.
Workforce Shortage Provides Opportunities
Employers today must provide a workforce that focuses on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, DEI, and they can provide a potential solution to a workforce shortage. There are estimated to be as many as 2.1 million jobs that will be left unfilled by the year 2030, with job openings costing the U.S. economy roughly $1 trillion for the year 2030. Most employers feel that finding the right talent and skill level is at least 36% harder than it was in 2018 even with the higher unemployment rate that is nearly double the amount of available employees. 77% of manufacturers feel that they will have difficulties attracting and retaining employees throughout 2022.
Manufacturers have the ability to create pathways for tomorrow’s workforce today, which goes far beyond training and skills development. Employers can provide opportunities to underrepresented groups, people with alternate abilities, and help these employees evolve with programs that involve and engage. Some well-known companies in the service sector such as Walgreens and Target have a better track record than most other employers when it comes to recruiting people with alternate abilities and accommodating their needs, although companies of all sizes and manufacturers in particular have room for improvement.
Peoria Production Solutions: Forward Thinking for More Than 80 Years
Peoria Production Solutions, PPS, has recognized the massive potential of an untapped labor workforce which has a lot to offer when nurtured with a diverse and inclusive environment. PPS started in 1941 with the initial mission of providing employment for patients recovering from tuberculosis. 10 years later, PPS was incorporated as a not-for-profit company in 1951 and expanded the mission to include individuals with all types of alternate abilities.
Throughout the years our mission remains the same, to provide employment, training, and encouragement that provides financial and social independence to people with disabilities. PPS provides a safe and respectful work environment, where employees have a social network, job satisfaction, and enjoy coming to work. We find their strengths and focus on our workers’ abilities and what they do well. PPS enjoys a loyal and skilled workforce with many employees with perfect attendance year-in and year-out, and an overall turnover rate of less than 3%.
PPS is a leading Midwest provider of secondary production services such as wrapping, packaging, commercial sewing, assembly, bagging, filling, shrink-wrapping and more. As a fully sustainable, not-for-profit company we offer flexibility and always provide high-quality centered on our ISO9001:2015 registration. Contact us to help meet your manufacturing or production schedules and experience the PPS difference from a highly skilled, diverse workforce.
