2,000 jobs saved as Granite City Works gets reprieve
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 5/28/2015)
The Metro East dodged a major economic blow Thursday with the news that U.S. Steel won't shut its Granite City Works or lay off 2,000 workers.
(Read More)

1,500 manufacturing jobs coming online in Metro East
(St. Louis Business Journal, 5/29/2015)
But the difficulty, Giddens said, is finding enough of them to fill positions with Progressive Recovery Inc., a specialty fluids processing equipment manufacturer in Dupo, Illinois.
(Read More)

Kern proposes St. Clair County as ideal NGA site
(Business Journal, 6/02/2015)
This story is part of the Business Journal's coverage on the business community in Southwestern Illinois.
 (Read More)

St. Paul's finishes construction on $29M residence building
(Belleville News-Democrat, 5/30/2015)
There's nothing "institutional" about the new, $29 million St. Paul's Senior Community residence building in Belleville.
(Read More)

O'Fallon Public Library to undergo over $800,000 in repair work
(Belleville News-Democrat, 6/04/2015)
After years of planning and evaluating options, the O'Fallon Library Board of Trustees unanimously voted to move forward with $856,800 in renovations and repairs to be done to the O'Fallon Public Library.
(Read More)

Development occurring throughout Southwestern Illinois
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/07/2015)
While major projects like the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge have been completed, new developments are going on throughout Southwestern Illinois. Here is a review of just some of the projects recently finished, currently underway or set to begin later this year.
(Read More)

Eastport surge continues with planned new buildings
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/2015)
Spec buildings that disappeared from the Southwestern Illinois horizon in recent years are making a comeback, with several large projects in Collinsville among them.
(Read More)

On the way - Barber: Development to come with hospital moves
(St. Louis Business Journal, 5/29/2015)
New hospitals in the fast-growing Illinois suburbs of O'Fallon and Shiloh may contribute to those communities' ongoing commercial development boom, but the prospect of losing a hospital in Belleville could have the reverse effect.
(Read More) 

New trade board, bridge part of county's strategic plan
(Illinois business Journal, 6/2015)
Madison County's economic development head has been busy making the rounds, lining up support from mayors, businessmen, educators and others for an ambitious plan for regional growth.

Building back up: Metro East home sales show signs of improvement
(St. Louis Business Journal, 5/29/2015)
 Bob Dee remembers the bad times, when home sales by his company plunged from 30 in 2009 to four in 2010. Those bad times could be over for Metro East builders like Dee, who is vice president of Homes by Deesign, a Swansea, Illinois-based homebuilding company. The company built 20 homes last year and hopes to come close to that number or match it this year.
(Read More)

Belleville approves TIF plan for Shrine development
(Belleville News-Democrat, 5/27/2015) 

The Belleville City Council on Tuesday night voted 14-1 to approve a TIF plan for an Illinois 15 site where developers want to build an upscale hotel, Hofbrauhaus brew pub, other restaurants, a conference center and a gas station across the highway from the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. 

(Read More)

World Wide Technology readies strategy for continued growth
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 6/14/2015)
Over the last 25 years, World Wide Technology has become one of the St. Louis region's largest companies.
(Read More)

MCT finishes latest segment of 128-mile bike trail system
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/2015)
The Madison County Transit District cut the ribbon last month on its newest bike trail project, the reconstruction of the 12.23-mile MCT Ronald J. Foster Heritage Trail in Glen Carbon.
(Read More) 

Infrastructure Investment Essential for Long-Range Job Growth 

(Riverbender, 5/26/2015) 

This is a critical time for transportation infrastructure in our state, and the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois is encouraged that the message seems to be resonating with our leadership in Springfield.

(Read More)

IN OTHER NEWS

New freight development agency gets executive director
(St. Louis Post, 5/27/2015)
Mary C. Lamie, vice-president of the civil-engineering and surveying firm EFK Moen, has been named executive director of a new freight development agency that will coordinate planning and projects for the region's freight and shipping infrastructure.
(Read More) 

Small IT firm gears up to handle big Scott AFB contract
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/2015)
A relatively small player in the software development industry is eyeing a huge piece of business in the skies as it fulfills a giant contract for Scott Air Force Base.
(Read More) 

Lindenwood University's MBA program takes off
(Belleville News-Democrat, 5/27/2015)
Lindenwood University has seen a huge jump in the number of students seeking MBA degrees at the institution.

(Read More)

Director at SIUE research center receives Patriotic Employer Award
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/12/15)
John Caupert, director of The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, received the Patriotic Employer Award on Wednesday from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Memorial Hospital again recognized as Heart Association Fit-Friendly Worksite
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/03/2015)
Memorial Hospital again has been recognized as a Platinum-Level Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association for helping employees eat better and move more.
(Read More)

SIUE helps develop emergency responder safety program
(Belleville News-Democrat, 6/03/2015)
Researchers from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Engineering are receiving national praise for their work to reduce fatalities and injuries involving first responders.
(Read More)

In the bag: 'Power of Purse' raises $12,000 for charity
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/10/2015)
Nearly 200 women demonstrated their generosity at United Way's Southwest Illinois Division inaugural Power of the Purse event by raising $12,083 to help local people.
(Read More)

Program Helps Veterans Become Farmers
(Riverbender, 6/02/2015)
The Illinois Department of agriculture has a new program called Homegrown by Heroes, which aims to help military veterans pursue careers in farming and agriculture.
(Read More)

Ameren Illinois begins project to convert local town from propane to natural gas
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/09/2015)
Ameren Illinois crews broke ground this week on a first-of-its-kind project to convert residents in the Village of Grantfork from propane fuel to natural gas.
(Read More)

Collinsville sees light at end of roads
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/2015)
The city is nearing the end of the road on two projects that at times have seemed more like obstacle courses.
 (Read More)