Community partners supporting startups at Peoria NEXT
Bradley University is home to the boundary breakers, the new thinkers, to a symphony of unique voices, stories, and people who want to change the world. Bradley University doesn’t mass produce professionals, it provides students the opportunity to grow into their chosen life path through its five colleges and hundreds of majors. At Bradley University, we applaud and welcome the unique personalities, styles, beliefs, and perspectives each student brings to our campus.
The Peoria NEXT Innovation Center is an integral part of Bradley University’s Division of Strategy and Innovation. The Division of Strategy and Innovation aids the Bradley University community in the areas of strategic planning, complex initiatives, academic innovation, new opportunities, online and distance education, global studies and initiatives, and strategic partnerships with businesses and nonprofit organizations.
IMEC is a team of improvement specialists dedicated to providing manufacturers in Illinois with the tools and techniques to excel and compete globally. The experienced hands-on team at IMEC works closely with its clients to plan critical business improvements in all areas of their organization from: Leading their Company, Planning for Success, Growing their Business, Improving their Operations, Focusing on their People, and Deciding with Data.
The Turner Center for Entrepreneurship assists people who want to own their own businesses through a variety of programs for students and community members. Counseling, technical assistance and educational opportunities are available for anyone interested in startups, as well as owners of established companies looking to expand their businesses.
Established in 1985, the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the Turner Center for Entrepreneurship has provided business counseling and support to entrepreneurs and existing businesses. The Center has accomplished this by providing businesses with the resources needed to solve business-related problems and take advantage of new opportunities.
The Procurement Technical Assistance Program (PTAP) is now under the management of the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) which has changed the name to APEX Accelerator. We are part of a nationwide network of community-based procurement professionals providing government contracting assistance. We help businesses pursue and perform under contracts with the Department of Defense, other federal agencies, state and local governments and with government prime contractors.
The Illinois University Incubator Network (IUIN) supports advancement of entrepreneurship through linking university incubators to resource sharing, technical assistance, and the collection of best practices. The IUIN partners with the University of Illinois EDA University Center to provide support for incubation, entrepreneurship, and technology based economic development projects in Illinois – with a primary focus on serving downstate communities.
