PEORIA MAGAZINE May 2022

G U E S T C O M M E N T A R Y

HUMAN SERVICES WORTH THE INVESTMENT

BY THE HUMAN SERVICES COLLABORATIVE OF GREATER PEORIA

C an you guess what business sector is the fifth largest employer in central Illinois, returns $1.77 for every $1 invested, and has brought in more than $121 million of state and federal funding to our local economy? Most people do not realize the huge economic impact that the non-profit human services sector has on greater Peoria. Small businesses, corporations and individuals are often called upon to donate money, attend events, or volunteer. Those actions not only directly help the human services organizations but also help to stimulate our local economy. For the fourth time in the last 12 years, an economic impact study conducted by the Human Services Collaborative of Greater Peoria and the Illinois Partners for Human Services tells the story of

what an essential role the human service sector plays as an employer, investor and spender in the Tri-County Area. The Human Services Collaborative of Greater Peoria is a network of agencies that provide unique and crucial services, with a collective mission of building and leveraging support for everyone’s well-being. THE FIFTH LARGEST LOCAL EMPLOYER Peoria/Tri-County Region’s Top Employers 1. OSF Health Care (13,500 FTE*) Caterpillar (12,000 FTE) UnityPoint Health (4,991 FTE) Human Services Sector** (2,685 FTE) FTE = Full-time equivalents **per 37 survey respondents Health and human service organizations support additional inderect and induced jobs, resulting in support of 4,758.9 jobs total in the region, or 2.6% of the total employment. 2. 3. 4.

Staff in this sector are as diverse as our community. They are childcare workers, hospital/medical employees, teenagers taking on their first jobs, highly skilled professionals and people with disabilities, to name a few. “The study shows me that four of the five top employers mentioned are employed in fields that directly serve others, making the culture of the Peoria area one of compassion and caring,” said Claire Crone, program manager at Sophia’s Kitchen. “The Peoria area human services sector is the fifth largest employer in central Illinois andprobably themost passionate,” added Jamie Durdel, president and CEO of the Tazewell County Resource Center. “Despite challenges like two yearswithout a state budget and another two years of delivering services during the pandemic, our organizations were resilient and creative and determined to be there for the long haul.”

68 MAY 2022 PEORIA MAGAZINE