Forward Progress
Ameren Among Nation’s Top Economic Development Utilities
(Ameren Newsletter, 4th Quarter 2019)
For the fourth time, Ameren Corporation has been named to the prestigious list of Top Utilities in Economic Development in 2019 by Site Selection magazine. About 3,300 energy companies from across the country were evaluated on many criteria, including innovative programs and incentives to attract and expand businesses and create new jobs.
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Madison County awarded $3.7 million in housing funds
(Advantage News, 10/27/2019)
U.S. Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-Illinois) and Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) announced approximately $39.2 million in federal funding to Illinois communities — including about $3.7 million for Madison County — through programs administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
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Ag Coast of America now has all the ingredients in place to feed the world
(American Journal of Transportation, 10/29/2019)
The Ag Coast of America is expanding to lead the world in addressing global food security concerns. Strategically located in the center of the world’s agriculture production, the bi-state St. Louis region is recognized as a world leader in agriculture technology (agtech) research and grain barge handling capacity.
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Duckworth, Durbin announce $1 million in funding for firefighters
(Advantage News, 11/1/2019)
U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced a total of $1,139,969.68 in federal funding to communities in the Metro East area through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program.
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State issues massive list of road projects for ‘20-‘25
(Edwardsville Intelligencer, 11/1/2019)
Now that Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation released the department’s annual Multi-Year Plan of road and bridge projects across the state, called ‘Rebuild Illinois,’ the Intelligencer focused in on how the plan affects Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and Maryville.
Southern Illinois Builders Members Give Students Up Close, Personal Intro to Trades Careers
(St. Louis Construction News & Review, 10/30/2019)
During four days this week, more than 1,400 middle school and high school students from across the Metro East participated in the Southern Illinois Builders and Southern Illinois Construction Advancement Program Association’s 21st annual Metro Construction Career Expo.
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How Legal Cannabis Could Cloud Illinois Employers' Ability To Enforce Drug-Free Policies
(St. Louis Public Radio, 11/6/2019)
BELLEVILLE — Recreational cannabis will be legal in Illinois in less than two months, and some employers are scrambling to understand what legalization will mean for their drug-free policies.
Specifically, the new law pits an employee’s right to use marijuana recreationally on their own time against an employer’s ability to enforce drug-free policies under Illinois’ Cannabis Regulation and Tax
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Illinois American Water acquires Godfrey wastewater system
(Illinois Business Journal, 11/6/2019)
Illinois American Water President Bruce Hauk said the company’s acquisition of the Village of Godfrey wastewater system adds approximately 6,200 wastewater customers to the Southern Illinois service area. The system serves customers in Godfrey and nearby communities of Brighton and Fosterburg.
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Ameren Illinois donates $60,000 to Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation
(Illinois Business Journal, 11/9/2019)
Ameren Illinois is making a $60,000 donation to the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation in East St. Louis to support programs for at-risk children.
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Senior Services Plus Will Have About $25,000 Per Year for Programs Thanks to Illinois Solar for All
(Riverbender, 11/11/2019)
Senior Services Plus, a nonprofit in Alton, Illinois, offers exercise classes, foster grandparent programs, travel, meals-on-wheels, and many other programs for low-income seniors in the rural community.
Soon the organization will have about $25,000 more per year for such programming, thanks to energy savings through the Illinois Solar for All program, which incentivizes solar in low-income and environmental justice areas underrepresented in the solar market.
(Read More)
