June 19, 2019
Greetings,
The Leadership Council is pleased to have welcomed Ron Starner, Executive Vice President of Conway, Inc. and
Site Selection Magazine
, to the Metro East last month for the council's May board meeting. During his visit, we also facilitated a meeting between Starner and the editor of the Il
linois Business Journal
, prompting coverage in the June issue that captures his thoughts on what works — and what doesn’t — when it comes to attracting or repelling development, and saluting Leadership Council leaders and members for their efforts in spreading the word about Southwestern Illinois. The coverage also highlighted other key insights shared by Starner, including a list showing that in 2018, the state of Illinois was actively involved in 444 development projects — making the state third on a list of top 10 most active states.
As you'll see in this edition of Good NewsLink, investment activity remains high across the Metro East region with some major infrastructure announcements leading the headlines in recent weeks. The Illinois General Assembly moved to pass a six-year, $45 billion capital improvements bill to fund infrastructure construction projects statewide. The new capital bill includes funding for roads, bridges, mass transit, schools, prisons and other public works.The Korte Company’s construction project at The Hershey Midwest Distribution Center is nearing completion, adding nearly 300,000 square feet onto the existing warehouse distribution facility in Edwardsville-based Gateway Commerce Center. Additionally, the highly anticipated Mid America Commerce Center around Interstate 64’s Rieder Road in O'Fallon is now officially moving forward through city channels, bringing one of the largest industrial, logistics and light manufacturing developments to the area. The proposed development calls for over 1.5 million square feet of construction in Phase 1.
The healthcare sector also is active, with Anderson Healthcare recently starting construction of its new $8.5 million Goshen Campus expansion in Edwardsville, featuring a one-story ambulatory surgical treatment center and pediatric specialty clinic.
Continue reading for more on these exciting stories and all the other good news occurring in the Metro East and have a great rest of the week!
Dr. Ronda Sauget
Ronda Sauget, D. Mgmt, MBA
Executive Director and CEO
Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois
104 Magnolia Drive, Ste B
Glen Carbon, IL 62034
618-692-974
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Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois and local leaders traveled to Washington D.C. to present to the Keidanren, Japan Business Federation
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Illinois Governor, Legislators Pass Long Awaited $45 Billion, 6-Year Capital Bill
(St. Louis Construction News and Review, 6/6/2019)
Southern Illinois Builders Association CEO Donna Richter says the Illinois General Assembly’s move to pass a six-year, $45 billion capital improvements bill to fund infrastructure construction projects statewide – with some funding for vertical construction as well – is long in coming but very welcomed.
(Read More)
Korte Company Completing Hershey Distribution Expansion in Edwardsville
(St. Louis Construction News and Review, 6/6/2019)
Adding nearly 300,000 square feet onto the existing warehouse distribution facility in Edwardsville-based Gateway Commerce Center for The Hershey Company is a construction project that is nearing completion, according to Todd Korte, president and CEO of The Korte Company.
(Read More)
Southwestern Illinois doing some things right in economic development
(Illinois Business Journal, June 2019 Issue)
The council’s Executive Director Dr. Ronda Sauget and individual committee members have traveled extensively in recent years spreading the word about Southern Illinois, trying their best to get this region’s name in front of people who are simultaneously considering dozens if not hundreds of other opportunities.
(Read More)
Commerce Center moves closer to approval
(Belleville News-Democrat, 5/28/2019)
The highly anticipated Mid America Commerce Center around Interstate 64’s Rieder Road (Exit 21) is now officially moving forward through city channels. The O’Fallon City Council could advance one of the largest industrial, logistics and light manufacturing developments for the area at its meeting Monday.
(Read More)
Illinois gets mixed reviews from site selectors
(Illinois Business Journal, June 2019 Issue)
What do prospective companies want in a community? They want workforce skills, transportation infrastructure, and quality of life. What they don’t want are politics and lack of responsiveness. Southwestern Illinois leaders got some rare insight into what firms everywhere are looking for in the way of development potential during a two-day visit by the executive vice president of Site Selection magazine.
(Read More)
IMPACT Strategies completes work at logistics park
(Illinois Business Journal, 5/14/2019)
Fairview Heights-based IMPACT Strategies recently completed its first and second projects in the Fenton Logistics Park. In just over two months, IMPACT finalized improvements of a 78,000-square-foot space within a 170,000-square-foot warehouse for the relocation of BASF’s agricultural services division in Fenton, Mo.
(Read More)
More than 2,000 shippers, carriers on way for FrieghtWeekSTL
(Illinois Business Journal, 5/4/2019)
The St. Louis region will be in the national spotlight the week of May 20 as an innovator in freight transportation and for the assets that continue to elevate its standing as a world-class freight hub and multimodal center.
(Read More)
Alton Steel takes delivery of $700,000 bar peeler
(Advantage News, 5/17/2019)
Alton Steel, Inc. has taken delivery of a refurbished Kieserling WDH125 bar peeler, an investment that enables the Alton plant to offer a value-added service to distributors, forgers, and other customers who require a premium, defect-free surface finish.
(Read More)
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Ron Starner, executive vice president of
Site Selection Magazine
, toured the Southwestern Illinois region May 2nd and 3rd. He was the featured speaker at the Leadership Council's May board meeting.
Site Selection magazine is a prominent international business publication
that covers corporate real estate and economic development sent to nearly 50,000 domestic and international high-profile site selectors and companies.
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HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital opens new therapy location in partnership with McKendree Metro Rec Plex
(Illinois Business Journal, 6/5/2019)
Illinois HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, in partnership with McKendree Metro Rec Plex, opened a new and expanded therapy facility this week, located on the first floor at 209 Rec Plex Drive, O’Fallon. St. Elizabeth’s relocated the outpatient therapy services located at 1512 North Green Mount Road into the 5,500 square-foot addition.
(Read More)
Rieder Road exit opens up 2,300 acres of opportunity at MidAmerica Airport
(Illinois Business Journal, 5/4/2019)
The Interstate 64 exit at Rieder Road that opened in September 2017 spells opportunity for the surrounding land and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is poised to take advantage of it, said airport Director Tim Cantwell.
(Read More)
Terminal Railroad projects to eliminate freight-transport barriers
(Illinois Business Journal, 5/4/2019)
The Terminal Railroad Association is preparing to make major improvements to both the MacArthur Bridge and the Merchants Bridge to make St. Louis a much more attractive crossing point for rail carriers.
Anderson Healthcare breaks ground on $8.5M Goshen Campus in Edwardsville
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 5/23/2019)
EDWARDSVILLE — In about a year, weather-permitting, Anderson Healthcare officials hope to cut the ribbon on an estimated $8.5 million project they broke ground on Thursday. The long-time health care and hospital name in the Metro East recently started construction of its new Goshen Campus expansion in Edwardsville. The project will comprise 18,331 square feet and is located on a 10-acre parcel on the north side of Goshen Road, across from the YMCA and east of Liberty Middle School.
(Read More)
Siteman affiliation touted by Alton Memorial — and patients
(Illinois Business Journal, June 2019 Issue)
The ramifications of having one of the nation’s most recognized cancer care programs at its disposal are many for Alton Memorial Hospital, says President Dave Braasch. Last month’s announcement that the hospital would become the first Illinois affiliate of the Siteman Cancer Network means Washington University physicians at Alton Memorial and at the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis are able to provide cancer care to patients as close to home as possible.
(Read More)
Towneplace Suites by Marriott now open in O’Fallon
(Illinois Business Journal, 5/24/2019)
Marriott International’s TownePlace Suites by Marriott St. Louis O’Fallon has opened at 445 Regency Park Drive, O'Fallon, Ill. It will operate as a Marriott franchise, owned and managed by Allyson Group Inc. of O’Fallon, Illinois.
(Read More)
Scott Credit Union gives $40,000 to Fairview Heights rec center
(Illinois Business Journal, 5/29/2019)
Scott Credit Union has presented a $40,000 check to support The REC, Fairview Height’s new recreation complex for the next 10 years. Scott Credit Union will sponsor the “Little RECer’s Zone” at the new facility on Bunkum Road. Scott Credit Union Fairview Heights Branch Manager Lisa Lawary presented the check recently to The REC Facility Manager Chris Tierney-Hurst and Membership Services Manager Andy Borawski.
(Read More)
Expanding the Riverbend Enterprise Zone
(Alton Daily News, 6/6/2019)
Local officials are considering expanding the Riverbend Enterprise Zone. The zone is an area that has been designated by the State of Illinois, Madison County and participating municipalities to provide special tax incentives to encourage businesses to locate, expand and retain their operations with the enterprise zones.
(Read More)
Panel advances $600,000 in grant requests
(Alton Telegraph, 6/5/2019)
EDWARDSVILLE — Seven Community Development Block Grant projects totaling $600,000 could receive funding after the Madison County Board’s Grants Committee agreed to approve the project list during a special meeting Tuesday.
(Read More)
Illinois, Missouri shipping firms eye St. Louis-Georgia trade pact
(Chronicle Media, 6/5/2019)
A burgeoning international seaport in Georgia could soon be sending millions more tons of finished merchandise, product components, and commodities to St. Louis and Metro East for distribution, warehousing or final assembly.
(Read More)
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Thank you to the Leadership Council's Program Sponsors:
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