January 7, 2022
Greetings,
This issue of Good NewsLink is our first of the New Year and we're pleased to report that, despite some of the challenges from 2021 that have carried over into 2022, there's a continuing flow of positive news within our region that we’re excited to share with you.
To begin, the Leadership Council is thrilled to announce that Kyle Anderson will take over the position of executive director, effective Feb. 1. He is the current CEO of Glen Carbon-based Greater Gateway Association of Realtors, where he oversees and manages the day-to-day operations of the association and its more than 1,000 members. A Metro East native and graduate of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Anderson brings to his new position a unique mix of passion and dedication, experienced leadership and a rich understanding of the region’s strategic assets that will continue to move the Leadership Council forward in our mission to support economic growth in Southwestern Illinois. You'll hear directly from Kyle in a future issue of Good NewsLink!
In the meantime, looking back at 2021, IDOT continued to make what officials call “transformational investments in infrastructure, people and communities” through the Rebuild Illinois capital program. IDOT was able to manage approximately $2.4 billion in improvements to 1,314 miles of highway and 142 bridges, as well as 194 safety improvements in the 2021 fiscal year – the second full year of the historic, bipartisan capital program. This included the Interstate 255 rebuild in the Metro East, one of the first Rebuild Illinois projects to fix one of the worst roads in the state, which also won top honors for technology and innovation from the Midwest chapter of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
In other good news, the region’s red-hot industrial market is still going strong with the recent announcement that Amazon will open a new facility in the Metro East this February. SparrowHawk LLC is leasing the e-commerce giant 202,300 square feet of distribution space at its logistics center near Interstate 255 in Sauget. Sensient Technologies – a global manufacturer and marketer of colors, flavors and fragrances – also signed a 10-year lease for 300,481 square feet at 255 Logistics Center and will occupy its space by the end of the year.
We invite you to continue reading on for a roundup of several other articles highlighting significant investments in various sectors across Southwestern Illinois, businesses that are expanding in our region and more. Happy reading and have a great weekend!
Leadership Council Staff
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Anderson chosen as next Executive Director of the Leadership Council
(Illinois Business Journal, 1/5/2021)
A longtime public figure has been chosen to head Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, the board of directors announced today. Kyle Anderson, of Wood River, will take over the position of executive director, effective Feb. 1. He replaces Dr. Ronda Sauget, who stepped down last October. (Read More)
State touts Rebuild Illinois successes during 2021
(Illinois Business Journal, 12/30/2021)
The Illinois Department of Transportation continued to make what officials call “transformational investments in infrastructure, people and communities” through the Rebuild Illinois capital program in 2021. (Read More)
New port will help bring COV shipments closer to reality for region
(Illinois Business Journal, 12/20/2021)
Key stakeholders behind the efforts to launch innovative container-on-vessel service to the Midwest say Hawtex Development Corp. is signing on as the lead developer for a new COV port facility in Jefferson County, Mo. (Read More)
St. Louis' industrial market is going strong. But this investor says it's gotten more competitive.
(St. Louis Business Journal, 12/28/2021)
St. Louis is undervalued as an industrial real estate market, a segment that's trending up and with favorable capitalization rates. (Read More)
2040 Master Plan defines future for O’Fallon development, growth
(Belleville News-Democrat, 12/28/2021)
What should O’Fallon look like in 20 years? Figuring out future development and redevelopment as they go was not an option for city officials as they looked ahead to shape its path forward in a 2040 Master Plan. (Read More)
Major highway to open outside Jerseyville
(Illinois Business Journal, 12/21/2021)
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced today that the Delhi Bypass in Jersey County will open to all four lanes of traffic several months ahead of schedule, weather permitting, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 22. (Read More)
Ameren Illinois making electrical upgrades at WWTR
(Advantage News, 12/21/2021)
In less than six months the NASCAR Cup Series will make its first visit to World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in Madison. (Read More)
Madison County is selling prime acreage in Edwardsville
(Illinois Business Journal, 12/22/2021)
Madison County is selling 15.41 acres of property along a key commercial stretch of Plum Street near Edwardsville Crossing Shopping Center and will accept sealed bids through mid-February. (Read More)
IMPACT Strategies wraps projects for two tenants in historic Alton building
(Illinois Business Journal, 12/28/2021)
Fairview Heights-based IMPACT Strategies recently completed work on two tenant finish projects in Building 111 in Alton, the landmark Millers Mutual building. (Read More)
Godfrey eyes summer groundbreaking for new firehouse
(Illinois Business Journal, 1/4/2021)
Ground will be broken on a new firehouse in mid-summer, the village of Godfrey said this week. (Read More)
Construction Begins On Mississippi River Habitat Restoration Project Near Grafton
(RiverBender, 1/3/2021)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Louis District recently awarded a 7.2-million-dollar contract to Luhr Brothers, Inc. of Columbia, Ill., to construct a Mississippi River habitat restoration project, located in Pool 26, between Upper Mississippi River Miles 207.5 – 211.5 near Grafton, Ill., in Madison and Jersey counties. (Read More)
Agency for Community Transit launches grants program
(Illinois Business Journal, 12/20/2021)
Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, the Agency for Community Transit will launch a new initiative to provide $2 million in funding for impactful transportation and accessibility-related projects in Madison County. (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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Looking back on a year like no other
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 1, January 2022 Issue)
In the long history of time, 2021 was just a speck, but most of us agree it was not all that great. Still, there were bright spots amid the gloom this issue focuses on those. (Read More)
Affordable PCs put area in world’s reach
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 1, January 2022 Issue)
Teach a man to fish, you’ll feed him for a lifetime, but provide him with a computer and he’ll connect with the world. In the broadband sens, there is connectivity to spare at PCs for People, a national nonprofit now with a spacious warehouse in Belleville that is becoming a downstate hub for people needing free or affordable computers. (Read More)
Belleville laying out plans for ‘strategic’ development
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 4, January 2022 Issue)
Coming off a pandemic slowdown, the city of Belleville still has several projects on the horizon, but it’s the long-term forecast that occupies the mind of one of its newest city officials. (Read More)
Holland coming off good year, record amount of work ahead
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 6, January 2022 Issue)
If there was one way to sum up the past year, while looking ahead to the next, it’s thankfulness, Mike Marchal says. (Read More)
St. Louis Downtown Airport looks to growth in 2022
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 8, January 2022 Issue)
After weathering challenges posed by the COVID-19 global pandemic, the team at St. Louis Downtown Airport (KCPS) is optimistic about 2022 and is looking forward to continued growth at the airport. (Read More)
Contegra reports stellar year, more construction in coming season
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 9, January 2022 Issue)
Year two of the pandemic continues to challenge and change what and how Illinois-based Contegra Construction builds. (Read More)
At FGM Architects, 2021 was a year of resilience
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 10, January 2022 Issue)
Throughout 2021, FGM Architects (FGMA) continued to thrive by adhering to our mantra: We Build Community. (Read More)
Couple brings life back to old shopping center
(Illinois Business Journal, Page 1, January 2022 Issue)
Horace Greeley’s famous advice was to go west, but Todd and Julia Kennedy are putting their money east of the Mississippi River. (Read More)
Alton High/LCCC Grad Sarah Kinder Is New Owner Of Cookie Factory Business
(RiverBender, 1/3/2021)
Sarah Kinder grew up often eating lunch at the Cookie Factory where she became good friends with the owner Linda McCormick. (Read More)
LCCC launches new Pharmacy Technician program
(Illinois Business Journal, 12/29/2021)
Students interested in a career as a pharmacy technician can now earn a Certificate of Completion in just one semester through Lewis and Clark Community College, starting in the Spring 2022 semester. (Read More)
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Thank you to the Leadership Council's Program Sponsors: |
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