Leadership Council salutes Scott AFB with awards 

(Belleville News Democrat, 4/3/14)

The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois on Thursday night showed lots of love for Scott Air Force Base with an awards presentation that celebrated the sprawling base's importance to the metro-east. Dennis Wilmsmeyer, the leadership council president, noted that at least 140,000 people benefit economically each year from Scott, which employs 13,000 military and civilian personnel and generates a $3.2 billion impact on the region.  (Read More)

New SIUE building receives LEED Gold certification 

(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4/14/14)

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's new 29,000-square-foot addition to its School of Art and Design recently received LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The general contractor on the project was R.W. Boeker Co. Inc. of Hamel; the architect was St. Louis-based Trivers Associates. Trivers Associates was responsible for the programming, planning and design through construction documents, construction administration and interiors.  (Read More)

SIUE becomes Institute of International Education partner 

(Illinois Business Journal, 4/14)

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has pledged to double the number of students studying abroad over the next five years as a lead partner in the Institute of International Education's Generation Study Abroad initiative.  (Read More)

Spotlight on Southwestern Illinois: Commercial Construction 

(Illinois Business Journal, 4/14)

This section has a lot of great stories about several Leadership Council members and the fantastic things that they are accomplishing! The link to the whole article is below. Further down you will find individual links to each story.  (Read More)

Six Mile Regional Library, Granite City, Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc.  

(Read More)

Wingate Elementary School, Belleville, Poettker Construction Co.  (Read More)

Stillwater Senior Living Community, Edwardsville, The Korte Company   

(Read More)

West Star Aviation hangar, St. Louis Regional Airport, East Alton, Contegra Construction Co. (Read More)

Chuck Fruit Aquatic Center, Edwardsville, Plocher Construction   (Read More)

Fairview City Centre, Fairview Heights, IMPACT Strategies   (Read More)

Flora Elementary School, Flora, Holland Construction Services   (Read More)

Governor Quinn Announces $52.7 Million for Local Transportation Improvement Projects (Illinois Government News Network, 4/12/14)

Governor Pat Quinn today announced a $52.7 million investment in community transportation projects throughout Illinois. The investment will support more than 400 jobs through 71 projects, including bike paths, walking trails, historic preservation and streetscape beautification projects in communities across Illinois.  (Read More)

$100M for local transportation improvements in Illinois (The Telegraph, 4/8/14)

Emerald in the rough: Housing springing up on old defense site 

Fairview Heights TGI Friday's plans redevelopment 

(St. Louis Business Journal, 4/8/14)

A new TGI Friday's restaurant is planned for Fairview Heights. The building that houses the current TGI Friday's and Ramada Inn is slated for demolition. The Fairview Heights City Council is expected to approve the $3 million project at its April 15 meeting, the Belleville News-Democrat reports.  (Read More)

Governor announces millions for area park and open space projects 

(Illinois Business Journal, 4/14)

Gov. Pat Quinn has announced $16.5 million in investments for 46 local park projects across Illinois. The investments will expand outdoor recreation opportunities in communities across Illinois.  (Read More)

1st MidAmerica and Laclede credit unions merge 

(St. Louis Business Journal, 4/10/14)

Can you imagine Belleville in 2035? (Belleville News Democrat, 4/9/14)

Goals in the city's draft comprehensive plan includes Belleville growing its population by 10,000 in the next 21 years, extending Illinois 15 to St. Louis and attracting mixed-use development near MetroLink stations.The plan reflects how community members would like Belleville to grow in the next 20 years and recommendations on how to achieve those goals. (Read More) 

Illinois Business Journal Special Section: TIF Success Stories 

(Illinois Business Journal, 4/14)

This section has a lot of great stories about several Leadership Council members and the fantastic things that they are accomplishing! The link to the whole article is below. Further down you will find individual links to each story.  (Read More)

Uptown Collinsville buildings rehabbed with help of TIF grants   (Read More)

Highland uses TIF to protect and enhance commercial tax base   (Read More)

Maryville hires Moran Economic Development to create first TIF district 

(Read More)   

Alton uses TIF to help renovate vacant buildings, attract jobs   (Read More)

Fairview Heights using TIF to revitalize aging commercial area  (Read More)

Columbia using TIF to pursue development of Admiral Trost Development Park  (Read More)

IN OTHER NEWS

Q & A with Bill Tindall, new president of the Southern Illinois Builders Association (Illinois Business Journal, 4/14)

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce is again teaming up with the Illinois Development Council to present the sixth annual Economic Development in Illinois awards - the Edies. ComEd is this year's sponsor of the Edie Awards.The Edies honor those who imagine, design, invest and build in Illinois, and by doing so bring jobs, growth and prosperity to their communities. (Read More)