By the Numbers: Valentine's Day

Expressing one's love to another is a celebrated custom onValentine's Day. Sweethearts and family members present gifts to one another, such as cards, candy, flowers and other symbols of affection.

Opinions differ as to who was the original Valentine, but the most popular theory is that he was a clergyman who was executed for secretly marrying couples in ancientRome. In A.D. 496, Pope Gelasius I declaredFeb. 14asValentine Day.Esther Howland, a native ofMassachusetts, is given credit for selling the first mass-produced valentine cards in the 1840s. The spirit continues today with even young children exchanging valentine's cards with their fellow classmates.

Candy

1,185: Number of U.S. manufacturing establishments that produced chocolate and cocoa products in 2013, employing 38,717 people.Californialed the nation with 129 of these establishments, followed byPennsylvania, with 114.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2013, NAICS code (311351) and (311352)
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~311351|311352

448: Number of U.S. establishments that manufactured non-chocolate confectionary products in 2013. These establishments employed 19,308 people.Californialed the nation in this category with 45 establishments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns: 2013, NAICS code (31134)
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1/0100000US|0100000US.04000/naics~31134

$14.9 billion: The estimated value of chocolate and cocoa product shipments for manufacturing establishments that produced these products in 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 Annual Survey of Manufactures, Products and Service Codes (311351 and 311352)
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ASM/2014/31VS101//prodsvc~311351|311352

Nonchocolate confectionery product manufacturing, meanwhile, had an estimated$9.3 billionin value of product shipments in 2014.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 Annual Survey of Manufactures, Products and Service Code (311340)
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ASM/2014/31VS101//prodsvc~311340

3,368: Number of confectionery and nut stores inthe United Statesin 2013.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (445292)
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1//naics~445292

Flowers

14,161: The number of florists' establishments nationwide in 2013. These businesses employed 62,222 people.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (4531)
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1//naics~4531

$272,180,347: The value of imports for cut flowers and buds for bouquets in 2014 through October. The total value of fresh cut roses as ofOctober 2014was$381,757,889.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade DivisionUSATrade Online U.S. Import and Export Merchandise trade (Commodity code-060319)
https://usatrade.census.gov/

Jewelry

23,096: The number of jewelry stores inthe United Statesin 2013. Jewelry stores offer engagement, wedding and other rings to couples of all ages. InFebruary 2013, these stores sold an estimated$2.5 billionin merchandise.
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (448310) http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1//naics~448310and Monthly Retail Trade and Food Serviceshttp://www.census.gov/retail

The merchandise at these locations could well have been produced at one of the nation's 2,134 jewelry and silverware manufacturing establishments.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, NAICS code (339910)
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/BP/2013/00A1//naics~339910

"Please Be Mine"

29.5 and 27.6 years: Median age at first marriage in 2014 for men and women, respectively.
Source: Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/B12007 

47.7%: The overall percentage of people 15 and older who reported being married, except those separated.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S1201 

35.1: The provisional rate of marriages per 1,000 people performed inNevadaduring 2012. So many couples tie the knot in the Silver State that it ranked number one nationally in marriage rates.Hawaiiranked second with a marriage rate of 17.5.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/dvs/state_marriage_rates_90_95_and_99-12.pdf

2.1 million: The provisional number of marriages that took place inthe United Statesin 2012. That breaks down to about 5,800 a day.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/marriage_divorce_tables.htm

Giving Love a Second Chance

19.2%: Among people 15 and older who have been married, the percentage of men and women who have been married twice as of 2014; 5 percent have married three or more times. By comparison, 75.5 percent of people who have ever been married have made only one trip down the aisle.
Source: 2014 American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/B12505

Looking for Love

399: The number of dating service establishments nationwide as of 2012. These establishments, which include Internet dating services, employed 2,348 people.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 Economic Census
http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ECN/2012_US/81A1//naics~8129902

Try Looking Here . . .

Romantic-sounding places to spend Valentine's Day:    

Rose City,Texas  (Population – 514)

Loveland, Colo. (Population – 72,651)

Romeo, Colo. (Population – 394)

Lovejoy, Ga. (Population – 6,406)

Loves Park, Ill. (Population – 23,551)

Lovington, Ill. (Population – 1,109)

Romeoville, Ill. (Population – 39,679)

Rosemont, Ill. (Population – 4,226)

Romeo, Mich. (Population – 3,628)

Rose City, Mich. (Population – 636)

Sacred Heart, Minn. (Population – 520)

Valentine, Neb. (Population – 2,785)

Lovelock, Nev. (Population – 1,900)

Loving, N.M. (Population – 1,399)

Lovington, N.M. (Population – 11,840)

Rosemont, Md. (Population – 306)                 

Love Valley, N.C. (Population – 98)

South Heart, N.D. (Population – 403)

Loveland, Ohio (Population – 12,405)

Love County, Okla. (Population – 9,773)

Loveland, Okla. (Population – 13)

Lovelady, Texas (Population – 621)

Loving County, Texas (Population – 86)         

Valentine, Texas (Population – 126)

Rose Hill Acres, Texas (Population – 444)

U.S. House bill would create regional manufacturing hubs

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan bill introduced Wednesday in Congress would boost cities that are part of a federal program to invest in manufacturing, including Peoria, and create manufacturing hubs across the country, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos announced.  

Bustos, the East Moline Democrat whose 17th District includes much of Peoria and Peoria County, is one of seven representatives to sponsor the bill, which would create a permanent program to competitively award regions that have the “Manufacturing Community” designation from the U.S. Economic Development Administration.

The Greater Peoria Economic Development Council, which represents five central Illinois counties, is the U.S. EDA partner for Peoria’s designation as a Manufacturing Community. There are only 24 in the country.

“My Congressional district is home to what I like to call a manufacturing triangle; with Peoria, Rockford, the Quad Cities, and the many communities in between, we have so much potential to grow the manufacturing industry in our region,” Bustos said. “This legislation will open new doors for other communities in our region to compete for the ‘Manufacturing Community’ designation, giving them the tools and resources they need to create jobs and grow their workforce.”

According to the EDA, the Greater Peoria Economic Development Council is working to strengthen the region’s manufacturing industry and the earthmoving sector in particular. Peoria is home to manufacturing giant Caterpillar Inc.

The EDA said 15 percent of workers in the Peoria region are employed in manufacturing, and 70 percent of the area’s manufacturing jobs are in the earthmoving industry.

To further grow the manufacturing industry, the new House bill give selected communities preferred consideration when applying for up to $1.3 billion in currently available federal economic development funding for manufacturing. This legislation also encourages a collaborative, regionally driven approach to strengthening the manufacturing industry.

In order to earn the Manufacturing Community designation, communities must demonstrate the significance of manufacturing in their region and develop strategies to utilize their designation in making investments in six areas:

• Workforce training and retraining;
• Advanced research;
• Infrastructure and site development;
• Supply chain support;
• Promotion of exports and foreign direct investment; and
• Operational improvement and capital access for manufacturers that supports energy or process efficiency, equipment or facility upgrades, the development of business incubators, among other activities.

This proposal will make the existing program permanent, allowing existing communities the opportunity to continue to implement their manufacturing strategies, and allowing new communities the opportunity to receive a designation.

Downtown's largest hotel will re-open next year

After being closed to the public for nearly two years, The Four Points by Sheraton Hotel will soon be able to reopen. 

Hawkeye Hotels, an Iowa-based hotel development company, announced it has purchased the foreclosed hotel from a private lender and plans to work closely with the City of Peoria to fully renovate the property and have it operational by early 2017. The Peoria City Council passed a redevelopment agreement with Hawkeye Hotels on Tuesday.

“We are very excited to redevelop this property as we understand the positive impact hotels of this size can have on local economies,” said Ravi Patel, president and principal of Hawkeye Hotels. “We often see a significant uptick in economic indicators across the board when we’re able to build or revitalize full-service properties in thriving markets like Peoria, and we fully expect the new and improved Four Points by Sheraton to be an economic boon for the area.”

Don Welch, president and CEO of the Peoria Area Visitors and Convention Bureau, shared Patel’s outlook. “We are very excited to hear the news that the renovation of the 319-room hotel in downtown Peoria will soon resume. I know our convention and meeting planners are anxious to have this hotel back in operation to support their events,” he said.

The renovated hotel will include 320 rooms, banquet and convention space, and full-service restaurant capabilities, making it the downtown area’s largest hotel. With a purchase price nearing $6 million and total project costs of more than $15 million, this project will have an estimated twenty-year economic impact of over $500 million in the region, bolstering commerce for area businesses and the tourist industry.

“The Four Points property is an incredibly important part of downtown Peoria and the regional visitor economy.  We are excited to see Hawkeye Hotels recognize the great opportunity that is here and invest their money in Peoria,” said Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis.

It is estimated that renovating the hotel will bring 50 to 100 temporary construction jobs. Once the hotel opens, the company plans to hire around 50 permanent employees. The hotel is currently set to open in early 2017.

Under the redevelopment agreement, property taxes will be frozen at 2007 levels as the hotel is within a hospital taxing district. That could save the hotel company about $2 million.

Founded in 1982 with one roadside hotel in Mena, Arkansas, Hawkeye Hotels has become one of the fastest-growing, family-owned hospitality companies in the country. Today, Hawkeye Hotels owns and operates over 55 hotels across the country, with more than 1,000 employees across our portfolio of hotels and corporate offices. The company maintains affiliations with leading brands, including Marriott, Hilton, InterContinental and Starwood.

Valentine's Day spending expected to be higher

From a night out on the town to flowers and jewelry, Americans plan to spoil their loved ones this Valentine’s Day.

According to the National Retail Federation’s Valentine’s Day Consumer Spending Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights and Analytics, 54.8 percent of consumers will celebrate Valentine’s Day, spending an average of  $146.84 on flowers, jewelry, candy, apparel and more, up from $142.31 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $19.7 billion, a survey high.

“As the first major consumer holiday of 2016, Valentine’s Day could provide a positive boost in spending our economy needs,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Low gas prices and guaranteed promotions from retailers large and small should help consumers as they look for the perfect gift for their friends and family. Looking ahead, we’re optimistic consumers are in a good place when it comes to spending on discretionary items like gifts.”

What Consumers Will Buy

When it comes to the top gifts this Valentine’s Day, 50 percent of consumers surveyed said they plan to buy candy, spending a total of $1.7 billion. Nearly four in 10 of those celebrating the holiday (38.3%) plan to treat their dates to a night out at a restaurant, tickets to a show or another experience, spending a record total of $4.5 billion, the highest since NRF began tracking spending on gifts in 2010.

Another $4.4 billion will be spent on necklaces, earrings and other jewelry items, with nearly one in five (19.9%) planning to treat their significant other or family member to something precious; nearly half (47.9%) of those celebrating will spend $1.1 billion on greeting cards. Additionally, it is estimated $2 billion will be spent on apparel and $1.9 billion will be spent on flowers.

Who Americans Will Buy Gifts for

Americans’ husbands, wives and significant others are the ones in for the real treat this Valentine’s Day. According to the survey, 90.8 percent of consumers said they would buy something for their significant other/spouse and plan to spend an average of $89.86, up from $87.94 last year. Total spending on significant others/spouses is expected to reach $12 billion.

Additionally, consumers will spend an average of $27.79 on other family members like children and parents, $7.08 on children’s classmates and teachers and $5.83 on co-workers.

One thing that remains true is Americans’ clear desire to celebrate holidays with their pets: according to the survey, consumers will spend $681 million to treat their favorite pets to Valentine’s Day delights.

Gifts of Experience this Valentine’s Day

NRF for the first time asked consumers about their hope to receive and plans to give a gift of experience. According to the survey, 24 percent of those surveyed said they plan to give a gift of experience such as tickets to a concert, a spa service or an art lesson, while nearly four in 10 (38.8%) said that they would love to receive a gift of experience.

“With the winter holidays behind us, consumers may have a little more room in their budget to indulge on gifts for their loved ones,” said Prosper’s principal analyst Pam Goodfellow. “This year we expect consumers will look for unique and creative gifts, including that extra special ‘experience’ that can be shared any time throughout the year. Even those on a tight budget can find affordable ways to create a special moment with each other even past Valentine’s Day.”

Where People Will Shop for Gifts

Department stores will see the most traffic this Valentine’s Day (34.5%) and nearly one-third (31%) will shop at their favorite discount store. Additionally, 27.9 percent plan to shop online, 19.4 percent will visit a florist, 19.1 percent will visit a specialty store, and 15.4 percent will shop small at a local, small business.

About the Survey

The NRF’s 2016 Valentine’s Day spending survey was designed to gauge consumer behavior and shopping trends related to Valentine’s Day. The survey was conducted for NRF by Prosper Insights & Analytics. The poll of 7,293 consumers was conducted from January 5-12, 2016 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.2 percentage points.

City of Peoria Public Works Public Works 3505 N Dries Lane, Peoria, IL 61604 Phone: (309) 494-8800 Fax: (309) 494-8855 City of Peoria Pilots Passport Mobile Pay for Downtown Drivers Peoria, IL - The City of Peoria, IL has announced a new way to pay for the parking meters in the downtown area. The City has introduced Passport, the leading mobile payments provider for parking and transportation, to offer the convenience of paying for parking via the app on their smartphone. This eliminates the need to carry around change or walk up to the parking meter to swipe a credit card. Drivers can even monitor time left in their parking session and extend parking remotely. The Passport pilot program is available at the on-street parking meters downtown. Parking locations where the service is available will display signage instructing users how to download and get started with the app. “We’re thrilled to be offering this convenience to our parkers,” said Nick Stoffer, Traffic Engineer at the City of Peoria. “Especially with the winter season approaching, it will be helpful for parkers to move from their vehicle to their destination without standing in the cold.” “We’re looking forward to simplifying the parking experience in Peoria,” said Conor Kelly, Vice President of Sales at Passport. “This will be a convenient option for parkers who are traveling to and from the downtown area.” The PassportParking app is free to download from the iPhone App Store and Android Google Play. Users can also manage their parking online at http://m.ppprk.com. Passport has successfully launched its mobile payment service in over 17 Chicago suburbs, including Hinsdale, Downers Grove, Clarendon Hills, and Brookfield. Passport also developed ParkChicago, Chicago’s branded mobile payment application. #### Peoria Public Library ZONE 299 ZONE 300 ZONE 300 ZONE 300 ZONE 300 ZONE 300 ZONE 300 ZONE 300 ZONE 299 CAD FILE: 1 SHEET www.peoriagov.org PH 309-494-8801 FAX 309-494-8855 Traffic Engineering 3505 N. Dries Ln. Peoria, IL 61604 PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT PREPARATION DATE: CHECKED: NAS APPROVED: NAS DRAWN: BRW 1-22-2016 REVISIONS: NOTEBOOK: N/A CITY PROJECT NO.: SURVEY: N/A N/A PROJECT TITLE: DRAWING TITLE: X:\Transportation\BWetherill\ CSM\Bcitystreetmap_22.dwg - Misc 2 Passport Parking Map C.O.P. 2016 2016 Passport Parking Map Parking made easy. Register at m.ppprk.com Pay for parking anywhere, at anytime with your phone! Log in quickly with Facebook Extend parking from anywhere Get reminders before your time expires SIGN UP & PAY FOR PARKING AT m.ppprk.com How do I start? How do I pay? Where does it work? Download PassportParking Go To m.ppprk.com ZONE #### # # # # Enter Your Vehicle’s Zone Number Enter Your Plate or Space # Enter Length of Stay (if applicable) See this sign? You can pay with your phone. ZONE ### PAY ON THE GO GET REMINDERS ADD TIME REMOTELY Pay by Web m.ppprk.com Pay by App PassportParking or