Dorsey R Hill
Hometown:
Chicago, IL
Connect: LinkedIn
Dorsey is excited to develop an economic development strategy for the diverse communities and businesses in Greater Peoria, IL through relationship-building and taking an asset-based approach to advance its economy and regional competitiveness.
Dorsey has an extensive background in community building. Her professional experience spans sectors within the nonprofit, legal and healthcare tech space where she worked across fields in fundraising, project management and recruiting. While working at the forefront of communities within the nonprofit and corporate sector to align internal stakeholders on organizational goals, source diverse talent and secure funding, she honed her expertise in relationship building and communications.
She recently earned a MSc with distinction in Local Economic Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research focused on makerspaces within the library as a form of accessible innovation generation within local economies. This degree builds on her B.A in Urban Studies from Barnard College and bridges her professional experience with her longtime passion for empowering communities and promoting social and economic inclusion.
Working as an Economic Recovery Corps Fellow, she hopes to center her varied skill set to implement a robust business outreach program within Peoria, IL. She will work to ensure the Peoria community remains at the forefront of growth within their region and their interests drive economic success.
Outside of her professional life, she enjoys running (completed first marathon in 2023), sewing, salsa dancing and writing.
ERC Project
Project Title:
Connecting the Dots through Business Outreach
Host Community or Region:
Illinois
Host Organization:
Greater Peoria Economic Development Council & Lincoln Economic Advancement and Development (LEAD)
In the heart of Central Illinois, Greater Peoria faces economic challenges transitioning from a historic manufacturing hub to a service-oriented landscape, which impacts the labor force and population. Leading a comprehensive business outreach strategy while strengthening the existing manufacturing ecosystem, the ERC Fellow fosters collaboration, business retention and expansion strategies to drive regional coordination uplifting rural and urban communities in Central Illinois. Leveraging the strengths of small and medium-sized businesses and regional economic development strategies to spur population and talent pipeline growth, the ERC Fellow will identify and design initiatives to promote collaboration between companies or industries. Together with economic development organizations, the project seeks to capitalize on trends in reshoring, electrification, and sustainability. Starting in a small community of Lincoln, Ill. and scaling efforts region-wide, the fellow's strategies will contribute to the region's 2025 rewriting of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, shaping the future of Greater Peoria's economic landscape.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
