Hundreds awed with look inside new Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities
(RiverBender,12/4/15)
A sneak peek after Lewis and Clark Community College opened the new Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities (MJCH) Thursday night in the former Lincoln School building in Edwardsville was received with much "awe" and "anticipation" by a large crowd.
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Illinois beats Missouri, Indiana, Ohio in small-business job growth
(Illinois Business Journal , December 2015)
It may be surprising to some but Illinois was recently ranked seventh among the nation's 20 largest states in small-business job growth. Similarly, Chicago ranked seventh among the country's 20 largest cities.
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Rauner signs $3 billion spending bill
(Advantage News, 12/8/15)
A bill to get tax money into the hands of local governments and pay lottery winners sailed through the Senate on Monday and gained the governor's almost-immediate signature.
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Council makes first move to create new TIF in Fairview Heights
(Belleville News-Democrat, 12/1/15)
The Fairview Heights City Council took the first steps Tuesday night to establish a new Tax Increment Finance district in town to help bring more business to a shopping center and spark adjacent development.
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New connector road opens in Granite City
(Advantage News, 12/11/15)
Weather forced a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony indoors, where state, county and local officials gathered to celebrate the opening of the Morrison Road connector.
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Year-to-date Metro East home sales continue rise
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)
Metro East home sale statistics continued
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  Hofbräuhaus beer hall to open in mid-2016 in Belleville
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 11/30/15) 
Hofbräuhaus is expanding its chain of beer halls with a new Belleville location set to open in mid-2016.
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Fairview Heights company awarded Hofbräuhaus contract
(Belleville News-Democrat, 12/1/15)
Impact Strategies has been awarded the contract to develop the new Hofbräuhaus beer hall and restaurant in Belleville.
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Saving Grace Beauty wins first round of InnovateHER contest
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)
Metro East resident and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville graduate Erica Harriss has captured first prize in the local InnovateHER Business Challenge and hopes to vie for a spot in the national competition in early 2016.
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Metro East SBDC assists BOCO Contracting in first year of business
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)
Serving a military tour in Iraq is a distinction not many can claim. Returning from the war to launch a local business is yet another distinction achieved by BOCO Contracting & Construction LLC President Josh Coggins.
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Boeing's Muilenburg calls Ex-Im renewal 'the right thing' 
(St. Louis Business Journal , 12/4/15)  
Boeing President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg issued a statement expressing his support for Congress' reauthorization of the U.S. Export-Import Bank for five years.
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IMPACT Strategies building addition to Fairview Heights church
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)
A $3.5 million expansion of Christ United Methodist Church began in mid-October and should be wrapped up next July.
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Illinois leaders report minor progress in state budget talks
(Belleville News-Democrat, 12/8/15)
Illinois legislative leaders said they made minor progress during a Tuesday meeting aimed at ending the state budget stalemate, including agreeing to take another shot at overhauling a public pension system that's billions in debt.
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Professor advancing cybersecurity
(The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 12/9/15)
In a world full of computerized information and rapid advances in technology, the need for cybersecurity is paramount for both personal privacy and national security. 
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Spotlight on Southwestern Illinois: Women in Law -
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)  
This issue of the Illinois Business Journal includes a spotlight on several female attorneys practicing at firms in the Metro East, including HeplerBroom LLC, Heyl, Royster, Voelker & Allen, P.C., Goldenberg Heller Antognoli & Rowland, P.C., Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., Mathis, Marifian & Richter, Sandberg Phoenix & Von Gontard, P.C., and Simmons Hanly Conroy.
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Another round: Happy Hop opens second shop
(Belleville News-Democrat, 12/6/15)
A Belleville home brew and wine making supplier now has opened its first shop in Madison County.
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St. Louis oyster bar to expand to Grafton, pending license approval
(The Alton Telegraph, 12/12/15)
A well-known St. Louis oyster bar is expanding to Grafton, pending approval of business and liquor licenses by the Grafton mayor and liquor commissioner, Tom Thompson.
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Gaming business growing
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 12/10/15)
Eight out of 10 entrepreneurs who start a business fail within the first 18 months, but that also means two survive and not only are the owners of Realms of Gaming surviving, they are thriving. 
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In Other News

Hoffman sponsors measure to protect Granite City steel workers
(The Alton Telegraph, 12/8/15)
Hoping to protect the local economy and the jobs of thousands of Granite City Steel workers, State Rep. Jay Hoffman, D-Swansea, is sponsoring a resolution.
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Good Transportation Drives The Economy, Says Bi-State's CEO John Nations
(Construction Forum St. Louis, December 2015)
Transportation is often seen as a political or social issue. But its most important role is as a driver of economic development, John Nations CEO of the president and CEO of Bi-State, told the audience at Construction Forum STL's networking/speaker event
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Firm gets $9.5 million contract for IT work on Scott AFB project
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)
Chameleon Integrated Services, a St. Louis-based IT services firm that in October won a $54 million bid to do work for the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency, has added another IT consulting services contract worth $9.5 million to the mix.
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HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital earns 'A' grade for patient safety in Leapfrog scores
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)
The independent hospital watchdog The Leapfrog Group has rated HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital an "A" in its national ratings program, recognizing the hospital's commitment to patient safety.
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Gateway Regional recognized as Top Performer for fifth time
(Illinois Business Journal , December 2015)
Gateway Regional Medical Center has been recognized as a 2014 Top Performer on Key Quality Measures by the Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health-care organizations in the United States.
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Organizations recognize hospital for stroke treatment
(Advantage News, 12/7/15)
The Joint Commission, in conjunction with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association, has recognized OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center with Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers.
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Gardens at SIUE earns recognition
(The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 12/7/15)
The Gardens at SIUE was recently named one of the 50 most beautiful college arboretums in the country. 
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Q&A with Brett Barger, president of Lindenwood University-Belleville
(Illinois Business Journal, December 2015)
Lindenwood University has done an amazing job of taking a vacant, former high school and turning it into a vibrant center of higher education. How did that happen?
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Blog recognizes downtown area
(The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 12/ 1/15)  
The city of Edwardsville continues to gain recognition.
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Media Services Department racks up awards
(AdvantageNews, 12/9/15)
Lewis and Clark Community College's Media Services department won six Medallion awards - two gold, one silver and three bronze - during the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations District 3 Awards Ceremony in November.
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Local workNet hosting hiring events, job search workshops
(The Alton Telegraph, 12/5/15)
Job seekers are encouraged to attend several hiring events and job search workshops hosted by the Southwestern Illinois workNet Center in Wood River during the month of December.
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First National Bank gets Superior rating
(AdvantageNews, 12/10/15)
First National Bank has earned another 5-Star Superior rating from Bauerfinancial Inc. of Coral Gables, Fla., an independent bank rating and research firm.
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