THIS EDA SHORT-TERM PLANNING ASSISTANCE AWARD TO EDC, INC., THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL FOR THE PEORIA AREA, WILL HELP THE COUNCIL DEVELOP ITS NEW GREATER PEORIA TARGETED INDUSTRY ANALYSIS. RECENT INDUSTRY TRENDS RESULTED IN DISINVESTMENT IN THE PEORIA REGION INCLUDING THE LOSS OF MAJOR EMPLOYERS. TOGETHER WITH LONG-TERM ECONOMIC CHALLENGES, THESE LOSSES PROPELLED LOCAL LEADERS TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO DIVERSIFY THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND MAKE IT MORE RESILIENT IN THE FACE OF FUTURE ECONOMIC SHOCKS. THE EDA-FUNDED STRATEGY WILL PROVIDE KEY INSIGHTS INTO ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES, TARGETED INTERVENTIONS TO CONNECT REGIONAL ASSETS, AND AN ACTION PLAN THAT WILL HELP GUIDE LOCAL LEADERS AS THEY HELP GUIDE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DECISIONS TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMY AS IT CHANGES.