PEORIA The state of the city is innovative. And innovators on a broader geographic scale appear to be headed here soon.

That was part of the message Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis conveyed Tuesday in his annual State of the City address.

The focus of his speech, given in front of a lunch-hour crowd at the Peoria Civic Center, was on local entrepreneurs, researchers and others of similar aspirations.

Among the entities Ardis mentioned were the creators of Enduvo, a medical virtual-reality training tool; Natural Fiber Welding Inc., which uses plant-based alternatives to leather and plastics; and NTS Innovations, which is focusing on nanotechnology to boost energy output without creating pollution.

"This isn't pie in the sky," Ardis said following his speech. "(They) have a lot of potential to change things, not just in Peoria but, in the space that they're in, so many things around the globe."

At least some of that globe is expected to visit Peoria this spring as part of an international entrepreneurial and innovation competition.

Peoria is to be the only U.S. site for the Future Agro Challenge, to be held April 13-15 at the Civic Center. The aim is to seek sustainable solutions to global food insecurity, biodiversity and climate change.

As many as 300 competitors from nine Midwestern states are expected, according to Jake Hamann, executive director of the recently formed Peoria Innovation Alliance.

Future Agro Challenge organizers last attempted a U.S. competition a few years ago in Las Cruces, N.M.

According to Hamann, Peoria was attractive because it's centrally located and because it's home of the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, commonly known as the federal Ag Lab.

"It shines a spotlight on what we've got going on here, it brings exposure to us as a community and it shows we've got the resources to support if any of these companies make a connection with the Ag Lab," Hamann said.

Judges in Peoria are to select a winner from among as many as 40 entries. Among possible local competitors include a composting service and a developer of a digital ledger that traces foodstuffs from farm to table, Hamann said.

The winner is to receive a cash award and an all-expenses-paid trip to the international competition, to be held in October in Thessaloniki, Greece.

Some of what local innovators are producing has roots elsewhere. NTS' energy-harvesting technology was developed at the University of Arkansas, for example.

But NTS founder and CEO Don Meyer doesn't appear interested in moving his operation to Fayetteville. Or anywhere else.

"We have offers from around the country to put our global headquarters somewhere, but you know, I told Jim yesterday, 'I want to keep it at home,'" Meyer said. "So if we can do that and build a community ... that's the key."

Nick Vlahos can be reached at 686-3285 or nvlahos@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @VlahosNick.

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In State of the City address, Mayor Ardis praises Peoria innovation - Peoria Journal Star