October 17, 2018
Greetings~

The temperature outside may be cooler, but there's little sign that things are cooling down on the development front here in the Metro East. A series of multi-million-dollar projects planned or underway in communities throughout southwestern Illinois have been making news in recent weeks. 

Among the largest featured in this edition of Good NewsLink are the $35 million Edwardsville Town Center that will offer a combination of living and retail space in a convenient, pedestrian-friendly environment and the $70-million renovation of Science Building East on the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus.  Other projects by a variety of Leadership Council members in the construction industry also are highlighted below.

Another Leadership Council member making news is Mike Riley, who will be presented with HSHS St. Elizabeth's Foundation's 2018 Elizabethan Award on Nov. 2. The award recognizes Riley for his commitment to HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital and the future of health care in the region.  Please join us in congratulating him.

In other good news, Illinois' unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in August, a rate that matches the lowest on record for the state.

We also want to remind you that the Leadership Council is welcoming the fall season at our new office, located 104 Magnolia Drive, Suite B, Glen Carbon, IL 62034.

Continue reading for all the other good news occurring in the Metro East and have a great week!

Ronda Sauget, D. Mgmt, MBA
Executive Director
Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
Crane Watch: See projects from the Metro East to St. Charles County
(St. Louis Business Journal, 10/4/2018)
Multimillion-dollar projects are happening all across the St. Louis region.  We highlighted the $8 billion in development going on within the central corridor in last week's issue of the Business Journal. Now we're expanding our coverage to the surrounding communities.  From the Metro East to St. Charles County, bulldozers are moving dirt and cranes are hoisting structures. (Read More)

Contegra busy with regional developments
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 9/24/2018)
EDWARDSVILLE - This has been a busy year so far for Contegra Construction. The company, which has offices at the Gateway Commerce Center in Edwardsville, has had its hands in several local construction projects recently including a retail center that houses a Japanese restaurant, a multi-use housing project down the road from it and a massive expansion at the Gateway Commerce Center. (Read More)

Anderson unveils plans for medical campus in Edwardsville
(Illinois Business Journal, 9/20/2018)
Anderson Healthcare has unveiled plans to develop an $8.5 million medical campus on a 10-acre parcel of land on Goshen Road in Edwardsville across from the YMCA Goshen Center.  The planning objectives are to create a medical office campus for the benefit of the surrounding community as well as future developments within the limits of the I-55 Corridor planning area. The medical campus will be walkable for residents in proposed neighboring districts. (Read More)

Rededicated SIUE science complex provides state-of-the-art teaching and research
(Riverbender.com, 9/24/2018)
EDWARDSVILLE - The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) hosted a Science Showcase Friday, Sept. 21 as it celebrated the $70-million renovation of the Science Building East. The renovation focused on teaching and research facilities in the Departments of Physics, Mathematics and Statistics, and the Center for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Research, Education and Outreach. (Read More)

Holland Construction Services Begins Construction On New Fire Station In Glen Carbon
(St. Louis Construction News and Review, 10/3/2018)
Holland Construction Services, Inc. (Holland) recently joined with the Glen Carbon Fire Protection District and community leaders at a ground breaking ceremony for a new fire station in Glen Carbon.  The new 19,531 square-foot building will replace Station #1 built in 1957. It will be constructed on the baseball field directly behind the current station located at 199 South Main Street.  The Fire Protection District is building the new station to better serve the district's growth and the expansion of the EMS services.  (Read More)

Village trying to expand on success of housing
(Illinois Business Journal, October 2018 Issue)
A housing development that helped transform the core of East Alton could be greatly expanded under a plan being promoted to the state. Mayor Joe Silkwood and others traveled to Chicago in September to meet with officials of the Illinois Housing Development Authority to push their case for funding for the expansion of the Emerald Ridge area. (Read More)

Contegra Construction, Edwardsville Ironworks
(Illinois Business Journal, October 2018 Issue)
Bike riders using the Madison County Transit bike trail will soon be able to access restaurants and retail establishments directly from the trail. Edwardsville Ironworks is a $5 million retail development under construction on Plum Street between Center Grove Road and Governors' Parkway. Contegra Construction Co., LLC is responsible for its development, design/build, and construction. (Read More)

Korte & Luitjohan, Distinctive Dermatology, Fairview Heights
(Illinois Business Journal, October 2018 Issue)
Korte & Luitjohan Contractors Inc. is nearing the finish line in the construction of Distinctive Dermatology in Fairview Heights. Construction began in May 2018. The building should be substantially completed in October. Dermatology partners Susan Jouragan, M.D. and Courtney Tobin, M.D. plan to move from their Swansea office and start seeing patients at the new building on Nov. 1. (Read More)

Plocher Construction Co., Edwardsville Town Center
(Illinois Business Journal, October 2018)
The initial phase of Edwardsville Town Center is underway. Plocher Construction Co., Inc., in partnership with Christopher W. Byron from the law firm Byron, Carlson, Petri & Kalb, LLC, are the developers, legal counsel and design/builder of the $35 million project.  When completed, The Town Center, or ETC, will provide a combination of living and retail space in a convenient, pedestrian-friendly environment. It is located at the intersection of Governors' Parkway and Illinois Route 157 on the former Madison Mutual Insurance site. (Read More)

Holland Construction Services, Whispering Heights, Edwardsville
(Illinois Business Journal, October 2018 Issue)
Holland Construction Services broke ground in September on a new mixed-use property in Edwardsville, Illinois. The new Whispering Heights development on Illinois 157 will feature a mix of retail and residential units.
Holland is working with Edwardsville developer, Fireside Financial, on the $34 million project. It will include two six-story buildings totaling 172,000 square feet. (Read More)

IMPACT Strategies, Wellness Center, Senior Services Plus, Alton
(Illinois Business Journal, October 2018 Issue)
IMPACT Strategies Inc. is the general contractor for the Senior Services Plus Wellness Center expansion project currently under construction in Alton.  The project is an addition to the existing campus for the non-profit organization. Senior Services Plus is a United Way agency that works to enrich the lives of older adults in the community. It provides programs and services that encourage independent living for seniors. (Read More)

Average days on market decreasing for Metro East homes
(Illinois Business Journal, 9/30/2018)
Average days on market is still decreasing in most of the Metro East, proving houses are selling faster than last year, real estate agents say.  The number of homes sold in much of the Metro East has increased in comparison to 2017 year-to-date. Home sales in St. Clair and Madison counties increased by 4.62 and 2.78 percent, while Jersey county increased by 4.32 percent. Monroe County saw a rise of 10.02 percent year-to-date 2018. Realtors in Clinton County reported a major 28.92 percent increase in homes as well. (Read More)

Two solar farms get approval
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 9/27/2018)
EDWARDSVILLE - A second pair of solar farms was approved by the Madison County Zoning Board of Appeals Tuesday. This follows the approval of another solar farm by the full Madison County Board last week. The action was among seven requests acted on by the board. Another request was pulled from consideration after numerous objections, and is expected to be amended and refiled. (Read More)

Centerstone receives $3M, five-year grant to launch new integrated care program
(Alton Telegraph, 10/9/2018)
ALTON - Centerstone, a national leader in behavioral health care, announced Monday it was awarded a $3 million, five-year grant via the State of Illinois and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to promote and develop integrated primary and behavioral health services in Madison County. Centerstone is one of three organizations selected by the state to collaborate on the SAMHSA "Promoting Integration of Primary Behavioral Health Care (PIPBHC)" grant. (Read More)

Solar farm planned for Highland as Chicago-based company leases land
(Belleville News-Democrat, 10/13/2018)
In the last year, nine different companies approached Dr. William Drake about his land a half a mile west of Highland Road and Hemlock Street in hopes of leasing the land for a solar farm. The increased interest is part of an ongoing push for solar in Illinois, stemming from the state's Future Energy Jobs Act of 2016. Legislation enacted last summer implemented requirements and incentives for renewable energy providers creating a gold rush-like push to build solar farms throughout the state. (Read More)

Ameren Illinois fortifying power grid for Troy, Collinsville, Madison County
(Illinois Business Journal, 10/5/2018)
Ameren Illinois is enhancing the energy reliability and flexibility of the company's transmission system throughout Madison County by constructing two, new substations - one each in Troy and Collinsville, respectively.
Construction of a 345/138kV substation in rural Troy, known as Jarvis substation, is underway near the intersection of West Kirsch and North Liberty roads. (Read More)

Madison County veterans to benefit from U.S. Department of Justice grant
(Illinois Business Journal, 10/13/2018)
The Madison County Probation Department has been awarded $502,058 for its Healing Heroes Veterans Drug Court Enhancement Program. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the grant on Oct. 1, which was the first day of National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. The justice department grant is part of $320 million in grants its awarding to combat the opioid crisis in America. The county is required to match the grant at 25 percent. (Read More)

Hospital Foundation to honor Riley with Elizabethan Award
(Illinois Business Journal, 9/25/2018)
HSHS St. Elizabeth's Foundation will present Michael R. Riley Sr., owner and President of Professional Therapy Services, Inc., with the 2018 Elizabethan Award. The award will be presented on Friday, Nov. 2, at the 2018 Elizabethan Gala Fundraiser, and it recognizes Riley for his commitment to HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital and the future of health care in the region. Riley has devoted his life to giving back to his community through both local and statewide service organizations. (Read More)

OSF Saint Anthony's recognized for cancer-care efforts
(Illinois Business Journal, 9/14/2018)
The American Cancer Society recently recognized OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony's Health Center with its Mission Award for support of the society's fight against cancer.  "OSF Saint Anthony's Health Center is a collaborative, engaged, and supportive partner of the American Cancer Society," said Linda Schulz Health Systems manager for hospitals in the North Central Region for the American Cancer Society. "Leading the fight against cancer, whether it be in the River Bend or across Illinois, it is an honor to work with Saint Anthony's as such a strong partner to focus on a mission of caring for individuals with cancer and their families." (Read More)

State's unemployment rate matches lowest on record
(Advantage News, 9/24/2018)
The unemployment rate fell to 4.1 percent in August and nonfarm payrolls decreased by -5,200 jobs over-the-month, based on preliminary data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. The July job gain was revised down slightly from its initial report to show no growth. (+0 jobs versus +3,700 jobs). (Read More)

Area road projects coming along slowly but surely
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 9/19/2018)
GLEN CARBON - Major road construction projects have altered traffic patterns in the area throughout the summer and the end is near for some of them. Bridgework on Illinois Route 143 at Wanda Road is making gains towards completion and Glen Carbon Village Administrator Jamie Bowden said work is progressing on the Old Troy Road project. "We have had some rain and weather delays but they are making progress," Bowden said. (Read More)
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