January 26, 2022
Greetings,
There’s been no shortage of positive news for this edition of Good NewsLink with a couple of major infrastructure developments leading the headlines in recent weeks, in addition to significant investments in various sectors across the Metro East, businesses expanding in our region and more.
As part of the groundbreaking Illinois Works Apprenticeship Initiative, some $9.6 million in grant funding will be used to support construction pre-apprenticeship programs aimed at creating a talent pipeline of diverse candidates across the state. Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville is among the list of 23 organizations that will receive a share of the funding to provide pre-apprenticeship training and wraparound supportive services to more than 1,000 participants, the vast majority of whom are underrepresented in the construction industry. These programs will help participants gain admission to apprenticeship programs, which provide a greater opportunity to obtain employment in the construction trades. Additionally, several local libraries will receive a share of more than $5.7 million in grant funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to modify library services and develop resources for the local workforce.
Also in recent weeks, the World Trade Center St. Louis hosted a webinar focusing on the ongoing national supply chain crisis and the role the St. Louis region can play in helping to alleviate it for businesses and consumers. The event featured a panel of experts discussing the global challenges being faced and how routing it through the bi-State St. Louis region can be part of the solution. With the most efficient inland port in the nation and six Class I railroads, the St. Louis region offers access to all four quadrants of the U.S., making the area an ideal location for customers who need to quickly move during supply chain disruptions. The Mississippi River to the Gulf Coast supply chain also provides access to a wide array of international customers in places such as Europe, Africa, and South America.
Continue reading for more on these exciting stories and other developments underway across the region and have a great rest of your week!
Leadership Council Staff
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SWIC in line for grant funding of pre-apprenticeship program
(Illinois Business Journal, 01/18/2022)
Some $9.6 million in grant funding will be used to support construction pre-apprenticeship programs aimed at creating a talent pipeline of diverse candidates as part of the groundbreaking Illinois Works initiative, state officials said. (Read More)
Local libraries receive grants
(Advantage News, 01/16/2022)
A number of local libraries will receive a share of more than $5.7 million from the Illinois Secretary of State’s office. (Read More)
Fairview Heights looks to upgrade its oldest commercial corridor
(Illinois Business Journal, 01/10/2022)
Fairview Heights has applied for a $2.3 million grant through Illinois’ Rebuild Downtowns and Main Streets Capital Grant program, funds from which will be matched and used to upgrade the city’s oldest commercial corridor with sidewalks, decorative lighting, new landscaping and other capital improvements. (Read More)
Cahokia Mounds Interpretive Center to close for improvement projects
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 01/05/2022)
The Interpretive Center at Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site will be closed to the public beginning March 1 to facilitate $5 million in capital improvement projects at the site. (Read More)
IMPACT Strategies completes construction of 50 West Office Building
(Illinois Business Journal, 01/12/2022)
Fairview Heights-based IMPACT Strategies recently completed construction of the 50 West Office Building in O’Fallon. (Read More)
Edwardsville eyes piece of Rebuild Downtowns, Main Streets grant
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 01/03/2022)
Plans are in place to replace a century-old water main that runs through the heart of downtown Edwardsville. (Read More)
MidAmerica Passenger Traffic Hits Record High, Tops 320,000
(RiverBender, 01/16/2022)
MidAmerica St. Louis Airport today announced that passenger traffic through the airport during 2021 increased to a total of 320,000 travelers, a new annual record high for the airport. (Read More)
Supply chain woes may leave Midwest shippers with edge, freight authorities say
(Illinois Business Journal, 01/13/2022)
The World Trade Center St. Louis recently hosted a webinar discussing the ongoing national supply chain crisis and the role the St. Louis region can play in helping to alleviate it for businesses and consumers. (Read More)
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Making Headlines in the Metro East |
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Four Illinois American Water Supervisors Honored by Department of Defense for Support of Employee in National Guard |
Four Illinois American Water supervisors were honored last month by the U.S. Department of Defense Employee Support of the Guard and Reserves (ESGR) for their support of an employee and co-worker who is deployed with the National Guard. Fred Campbell, Senior Manager, Production; Mark Barton, Senior Superintendent, Production; Jeff Lampe, Senior Superintendent, Production; and Ken Bast, Senior Supervisor, Production, all received the ESGR’s Patriot Award, which recognizes supervisors who are nominated by a Guardsman or Reservist employee for support provided directly to the nominator. The Illinois American Water supervisors were nominated by Jack (Jake) Sciuto, a production technician at the company's water treatment plant near East St. Louis, Ill., who is deployed in the National Guard and currently stationed in Texas. Click the link below to read more! |
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PCs for People help get computers in the homes of those who truly need them!
•Distributes refurbished corporate computers updated to Windows 10, with very low-cost, unlimited internet access for students, underserved populations, elderly, and veterans.
•They have connected over 450,000 people to internet and computing devices. The State of Illinois Office of Broadband has committed to facilitate the donation of 10,000 computers to PCs for People Metro East, but they have set a goal of sourcing a total of 25,000 computers in their first year in order to meet the significant need in our community, and they need our help to meet that goal.
•PCs for People is NAID AAA certified to wipe clean all data off computers and recertify them for reuse
•PC donations needed!!
If you would like more information about how to donate computers, please contact the Leadership Council office at 618-692-9745 or office@leadershipcouncilswil.com.
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Edwardsville's Hartman sees his art take flight at Lambert
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 01/14/2022)
Steve Hartman is getting international exposure for his artwork without having to leave the St. Louis area. (Read More)
Wood River City Council to seek bids on rec center
(Advantage News, 01/19/2022)
Facing a ticking clock, the Wood River City Council moved forward Tuesday night with plans to build a new rec center. (Read More)
New Splash Pad Funding Approved By Village Of Godfrey Trustees, Project Is Underway
(RiverBender, 01/20/2022)
A new splash pad is coming to the Village of Godfrey’s Glazebrook Park sometime this year. (Read More)
Glen Carbon ready to bring improvements near Troy Road
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 01/12/2022)
Village trustees unanimously approved a professional services agreement with Thouvenot, Wade and Moerchen, Inc. (TWM) Tuesday for coming improvements on Cougar and Junction drives on the village’s north end. (Read More)
Progress is being made on new Godfrey firehouse
(Advantage News, 01/06/2022)
Saying they are entering an “exciting time” in the project to build a new firehouse in Godfrey, a member of the Godfrey Fire Protection District gives an update on its progress. (Read More)
Wood River pursues grants for trails
(Advantage News, 01/10/2022)
Heartlands Conservancy will be lending its expertise to the City of Wood River as it works on a pedestrian and bicycle master plan. (Read More)
Work continues to expand Grafton Ferry service
(Advantage News, 01/20/2022)
The process of getting the Grafton Ferry to launch a year-round schedule in the future seem to be moving forward. (Read More)
Alton’s historic district expands
(Advantage News, 01/12/2022)
In a process that took more than two years to complete, most of downtown Alton is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. (Read More)
icon Mechanical names co-chief operating officers
(Illinois Business Journal, 01/20/2022)
Granite City-based icon Mechanical, one of the largest full-service design-build/design-assist mechanical contractors in the Midwest, has named industry veterans Alan Bolt (left) and Dennis Savat (right) as co-chief operating officers. (Read More)
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Thank you to the Leadership Council's Program Sponsors: |
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