FinalMasthead
February 27, 2020
 
Greetings,
 
The combination of warmer temperatures headed our way and continuing good news on the development front in the Metro East is putting a little spring in our step this week. 

The St. Louis region's inland port system, which includes America’s Central Port, has climbed from the third position into the #2 spot for total tonnage moved in the 2018 rankings, according to the latest data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. That's in addition to holding on to its ranking as the most efficient inland port system in the nation in terms of tons moved per river mile. The port system handled an impressive 37.4 million tons of commodities over the course of 2018!

On the development front, Glik's, one of the region's oldest companies, has plans to build a new headquarters, distribution and web fulfillment center in Collinsville, Ill., that company officials said will make its e-commerce side more efficient. The $5.3 million project will be built along ABC Parkway and take an estimated 10-12 months to complete.

Continue reading on for more on these developments and exciting news related to additional investments in various sectors, including infrastructure, transportation, healthcare, education and more. Have a great week, and we look forward to seeing you at our Annual Salute to Southwestern Illinois Awards Dinner on March 19!

Dr. Ronda Sauget
 
Ronda Sauget, D. Mgmt, MBA
Executive Director and CEO
Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
104 Magnolia Drive, Ste B
Glen Carbon, IL 62034
618-692-974


Apprenticeship Tours
February 4th and 6th

13 Local High Schools Visited Local Unions
'We really didn't have a choice': Why Glik's knew it was the right time to move
(St. Louis Business Journal, 2/18/2020)
For nearly 70 years, national clothing retailer Glik's has called Granite City home. Before that, Madison, Illinois, was the base of operations for 52 years; downtown St. Louis for about six years. (Read More)

Local ports post tonnage mark
(Alton Telegraph 2/17/2020)
The latest data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data shows St. Louis regional ports moved from the third position into the second position for inland port total tonnage in the 2018 rankings. The port system handled 37.4 million tons of commodities over the course of 2018, a 13.2 percent increase over the prior the year.  (Read More)

Café Biz 618 opens entrepreneur shared space in Fairview Heights
(Illinois Business Journal, February 2020 Issue, Page 11)
Café Biz 618, a business unlike any other in the area, specializing in shared office or small event space and related amenities, has opened in Crossroads Centre in Fairview Heights. (Read More)

IEPA awards almost $1 million for Cahokia Creek Watershed
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 2/5/2020)
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director John J. Kim announced HeartLands Conservancy will receive nearly $954,000 in grant funding to provide technical and financial assistance to rural and urban landowners to voluntarily implement the locally developed Canteen Creek-Cahokia Creek Watershed Plan. (Read More)

New historic tax credits will help save landmarks
(Illinois Business Journal, February 2020 Issue, Page 1)
A state income tax program designed to foster renovation of historic properties is about to pay off for two landmarks in Metro East. Developers are working to bring new life into the former YMCA in Granite City and the former Hotel Belleville in Belleville. (Read More)

Highland moving forward with ‘streetscape’ renovation. What all will it include?
(Belleville News-Democrat, 2/21/2020)
Residents of Broadway Street will get a different view later this year, as the city moves forward with a “streetscape” project. Highland will replace the streetlights and sidewalks along Broadway from Poplar to Laurel streets later this year, encompassing approximately half a mile of street. (Read More)
As part of the Building Workforce 2030 program, we have partnered with Dupo, IL High School to bring speakers into their Co-op class. These speakers introduce students to a variety of careers in industry and business.
HSHS St. Elizabeth’s providing transcatheter valve replacement
(Illinois Business Journal, February 2020 Issue, Page 6)
HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon is the only hospital in the Metro East area approved to conduct transcatheter aortic valve replacement.  (Read More)

AAIC returns to Gateway Center for Convention project 
(Illinois Business Journal, February 2020 Issue, Page 9)
AAIC Inc. enjoyed a rare accomplishment this past year when it completed work on renovation of a project it first designed as a new facility almost 30 years ago. (Read More)

Alternate routes have capacity during I-255 shutdown, IDOT says
(Illinois Business Journal, 2/10/2020)
The Illinois Department of Transportation is pushing better use of specific alternate routes, based on its first few days of observance of the Interstate 255 rehabilitation project. (Read More)

Pritzker stumps for more higher ed funding
(Alton Telegraph, 2/20/2020)
CHICAGO — One day after delivering his budget proposal to the General Assembly in Springfield, Gov. J.B. Pritzker was in Chicago on Thursday rounding up support for his proposed increases in higher education funding. (Read More)

St. Elizabeth's Hospital Earns Blue Distinction Center Designation
(Riverbender, 2/17/2020)
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois has selected HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital as a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, part of the Blue Distinction Specialty Care program. 

Waterloo among safest cities in Illinois
(Republic Times, 2/17/2020)
Waterloo is once again among the safest cities in Illinois, according to a national trade association. The National Council for Home Safety and Security ranked Waterloo at 19th on its list of “Safest Cities in Illinois” for 2020. (Read More)

New rehabilitation program is offered
(Illinois Business Journal, February 2020 Issue, Page 6)
HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital Highland recently added a new cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program, Supervised Exercise Therapy, or SET, for peripheral arterial disease. (Read More)

Egyptian Workforce Partners completes multiple projects for Budnick Converting
(Illinois Business Journal, February 2020 Issue, Page 9)
Geoff Baltz, director of technology for Egyptian Workspace Partners, said the Belleville-based company had a clean slate from which to build the infrastructure needed to serve computers and more for the new Budnick Converting headquarters in Columbia, Ill.  (Read More)

Park district awards $16,000 grant to Godfrey
(Advantage News, 2/17/2020)
Metro East Park and Recreation District has awarded a $16,000 community planning grant to the village of Godfrey for its forthcoming project, Vision 2020-2030 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan. (Read More)
Thank you to all the Leadership Council SWIL
2020 Salute to Southwestern Illinois Dinner Sponsors!

Centerpiece Sponsor
IllinoiSouth Tourism

Wine Sponsors
Deloitte
Greensfelder

Presentation & Award Sponsors
Andres CPAs + Advisors
Busey Bank
Holland Construction Services
Impact Strategies
Memorial Network – BJC Healthcare
Boeing

Program Sponsors
AllianceSTL
Ameren Illinois
Cork Tree Creative
Gateway Foundation
J.F. Electric
Kaskaskia University
Mathis, Marifian, & Richter, LTD
Prairie State Generating Company
SIUE
Southern Illinois Builders Association
Utilitra

Music Sponsors
Express Employment Professionals
Jackson Lewis P.C.
The Korte Co
Truck Centers, Inc.
Webster University - Scott AFB

Appetizer Sponsors
ARCTURIS
Barber Murphy
Egyptian Workspace Partners
Hank’s Excavating & Landscaping, Inc.
Horner & Shifrin
Louer Facility Planning, Inc.
SCI Engineering, Inc.
SW IL Building and Construction Trades Council
The Hauser Group

Table Sponsors
Ameren Illinois
Anders CPAs + Advisors
Associated Bank
Carrollton Bank
City of O’Fallon
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Enterprise Holdings
Gulfstream Aerospace
Hank’s Excavating & Landscaping, Inc.
HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital
icon Mechanical
Impact Strategies
McKendree University
Phillips 66
Poettker Construction
Professional Therapy Services
Raifort Properties
Realtor Association of Southwestern Illinois
Regions Bank
Sandberg Phoenix
Southwestern Illinois College
St. Louis – Kansas City Carpenters
St. Louis Regional Chamber
Truck Centers, Inc.
World Wide Technology Raceway

Thank you to the Leadership Council's Program Sponsors: