May 13, 2022
Greetings,
With the region experiencing an unprecedented string of 90°+ days this week, things also continue to heat up in various sectors all across Southwestern Illinois and we’re pleased to share the highlights with you in this edition of Good NewsLink.
One hotspot in the region is the Illinois Route 3 corridor, which was highlighted at our May Board of Directors meeting. As Mary Lamie mentioned in her presentation, it is also featured in the latest edition of the Illinois Business Journal as a nationally significant heavy industrial corridor. Spanning from north of Alton to Columbia, Ill., Route 3 is the backbone of a 60-mile-long corridor that is economically impactful and successful, features an accessible workforce with a skill concentration in manufacturing and distribution that far exceeds national averages and is optimized for manufacturing and logistics.
On the development front, big-box retailer Meijer has signed an agreement with Olivette-based real estate firm The Staenberg Group, which is developing the Orchard Town Center project in Glen Carbon. Meijer will open its first store in the bi-state area, replacing home improvement retailer Menards as the anchor tenant for the new $70 million Metro East retail development between Troy Road and Plum Street. Site work is underway at the 52-acre future shopping center ahead of the eventual construction of individual tenant buildings and outlots.
Additionally, Holland Construction Services recently began construction on Keystone Place at Magnolia Commons, a new senior living community in Glen Carbon. The 180,000-square-foot project will be located just off Illinois Route 157 at 245 Magnolia Avenue and feature 79 independent living units, 43 assisted care units, 20 memory care units, a full kitchen and dining room, movie theater, salon, bistro, fitness center and more.
In other exciting news, FreightWeekSTL is gearing up to make its return for the fifth consecutive year May 23 through May 27. Like the previous two years, it will predominantly be a virtual event filled with engaging discussions spotlighting the latest trends and innovations influencing worldwide freight movement. One in-person offering will be a riverboat tour on the Mississippi River, providing a unique perspective to view the key freight assets and opportunities that position the St. Louis region as a thriving freight and logistics hub and contribute to this section of the Mississippi River being recognized as the Ag Coast of America. The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois Transportation Enhancement (SITE) Committee is thrilled to host its May meeting aboard the riverboat tour.
Continue reading for more on these exciting stories and all the other good news occurring in the region and have a great weekend!
Kyle Anderson
Kyle Anderson, MPA
Executive Director and CEO
Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
104 Magnolia Drive, Ste B
Glen Carbon, IL 62034
618-692-9745
|
|
Route 3 is a nationally significant heavy industrial corridor
(Illinois Business Journal, May 2022 Issue, Page 9)
Illinois Route 3 from Alton to Columbia, Ill. Is the backbone of a 60-mile-long corridor supporting the manufacturing and logistics industries in Southwestern Illinois running parallel to St. Louis along the Mississippi River and Interstate 255. (Read More)
Meijer signs deal to open first St. Louis-area store, in Metro East
(St. Louis Business Journal, 05/10/2022)
Big-box retailer Meijer has signed an agreement to open its first store in the St. Louis area, replacing home improvement retailer Menards as the anchor tenant for a new $70 million Metro East retail development. (Read More)
Jerseyville, Illinois, takes action to revitalize its downtown, aiming for small business growth and population gain
(St. Louis Business Journal, 04/28/2022)
When Jerseyville, Illinois, wanted to revitalize its downtown, city leaders didn’t wait for a regional economic development agency or anyone else to take the lead. (Read More)
Holland Construction building new senior living development in Glen Carbon
(Illinois Business Journal, 05/10/2022)
Holland Construction Services has begun construction on Keystone Place at Magnolia Commons, a new senior living community in Glen Carbon. (Read More)
Dual-brand hotel development planned for Edwardsville
(Illinois Business Journal, 05/10/2022)
R.L.P. Development has announced plans to break ground on a 188-room hotel property in Edwardsville. (Read More)
Series of renovations planned at Kaskaskia College
(Illinois Business Journal, 05/04/2022)
Plans for a series of renovations at Centralia-based Kaskaskia College were laid out during a recent meeting of the school board. (Read More)
FreightWeekSTL 2022 to spotlight global freight influences
(Illinois Business Journal, 05/03/2022)
FreightWeekSTL returns for the fifth consecutive year May 23 through May 27. (Read More)
Big rigs see big need in trucking industry
(Illinois Business Journal, May 2022 Issue, Page 1)
As soon as newly trained truck drivers roll off the line at Lewis and Clark Community College, local firms are snapping them up. (Read More)
Wisper upgrading network in Fairmont City
(Illinois Business Journal, 05/01/2022)
Wisper Internet has made significant upgrades of network infrastructure serving the residents and community of Fairmont City, and more is planned. (Read More)
Company awarded bid for first phase of Old Collinsville Road Trail
(Illinois Business Journal, 05/05/2022)
Belleville-based Hank’s Excavating & Landscaping Inc. has been awarded a $767,952 construction contract for Phase I of the Old Collinsville Road Trail. (Read More)
|
|
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.
|
|
Memorial Hospital locations receive Excellence in Healthcare awards
(Illinois Business Journal, 04/29/2022)
Memorial Hospital Belleville and Memorial Hospital Shiloh were recently recognized for outstanding patient experience by national healthcare research leader Professional Research Consultants, Inc. (PRC). (Read More)
Madison County water districts receive ARPA funds
(Advantage News, 04/29/2022)
Eight water districts in Madison County will receive a share of $700,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds, following action by the Madison County Board. (Read More)
Collaboration, creativity reinforce St. Louis region’s global access
(Illinois Business Journal, May 2022 Issue, Page 10)
When the St. Louis region’s freight district was launched in 2014, no one anticipated just how quickly the region would become known as a global freight and logistics hub. (Read More)
(RiverBender, 05/10/2022)
Village of Godfrey Engineer Rich Beran said the Glazebrook Park Splash Pad ground was officially broken on Tuesday morning. (Read More)
(RiverBender, 05/9/2022)
A new water tower is being built at 2609 Airport Road near Godfrey. Greg Bates, manager of Jersey County Rural Water Company, said the tower’s construction is expected to be completed in mid-July. (Read More)
IMPACT Strategies Establishes Charitable Foundation
(St. Louis Construction News & Review, 05/02/2022) .
IMPACT Strategies has established the Making an IMPACT Foundation – a charitable foundation that supports the local community with an emphasis on assisting non-profit organizations that focus on equipping and improving people’s lives. (Read More)
Outdoor fitness court unveiled in Jerseyville
(Advantage News, 05/06/2022)
A new feature for Jerseyville residents will be unveiled later this spring. The city’s new Fitness Court® at Jerseyville’s Lions Club Park will be available to the public as the result of a partnership between the city, community donors, and the national consulting organization known as the National Fitness Campaign. (Read More)
Horse racing resumes in Collinsville
(Advantage News, 05/02/2022)
Horse racing has returned for the spring and summer in Collinsville. (Read More)
Flock Opens With Bar/Food Trucks On Thursday In Alton
(RiverBender, 05/11/2022)
ALTON - The Flock Food Truck Park at the corner of Ridge Street and Landmarks in Alton makes its debut at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 12. (Read More)
St. Clair County Transit District and Madison County Transit to provide free shuttles to and from World Wide Technology Raceway’s Enjoy Illinois 300
(RiverBender, 05/02/2022)
ST. LOUIS — World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, will present its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Weekend on June 3-5. (Read More)
New cafe opens in converted farmhouse
(Illinois Business Journal, 05/01/2022)
A farm-to-table café, June’s Breakfast + Patio, is now open at 430 S Main St. in Shiloh. (Read More)
|
|
Southwestern Illinois Connected Communities Broadband: Access, Use & Adoption
•The Leadership Council Education Committee seeks to build long-term reliability and consistency in internet connectivity and broadband access for remote workers and e-learning for students in the SWIL region enabling further economic development and educational enhancement activities.
•Strategic Regional Planning Built on the Following Objectives:
- Build awareness of connectivity challenges
- Advocate for enhanced connectivity with state and federal legislators and related companies
- Identify regional broadband and internet connectivity key priorities in Urban, Suburban, and Rural SWIL areas
- Identify Infrastructure solution to bridge digital connectivity
- Build regional strategic alliances to further connectivity efforts
How to get involved? Contact the Leadership Council office at 618-692-9745 or office@leadershipcouncilswil.com. Click here for more information about Broadband Funding Opportunities.
|
|
Thank you to the Leadership Council's Program Sponsors: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
