Announcements

Economic development professionals, elected officials, municipal staff, planners, tourism leaders, developers and community advocates from across Illinois will gather in Springfield Nov. 18-20 for the 2026 Illinois Main Street Conference. This year’s conference comes at an especially significant moment following Landmarks Illinois’ acquisition of Illinois Main Street, marking a new chapter for the statewide program. […]

Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation (JREDC) honored the recipients of its two annual awards during the organization’s investor appreciation event held at the Twisted Tree Music Hall in Jacksonville on Thursday evening. Since 1990, JREDC’s Existing Industry Committee has presented the Industry of the Year Award to a company exhibiting outstanding business development and activity […]

Central Illinois employers, nonprofit leaders, educators and rising professionals are invited to Live2Lead Springfield 2026, a one-day leadership experience at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park on Friday, Nov. 13. Doors open at 8 a.m. for networking and the program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hosted locally by LeadershipDNA and powered by Maxwell Leadership, […]

The Abraham Lincoln Council, Scouting America presented its prestigious Trailblazer Award to Rich Solomon, chair of the board and CEO of Solomon Colors, at a Sept. 8 dinner at Erin’s Pavilion at Southwind Park. The Trailblazer Award was established in 2010 to honor a member of the central Illinois community who exemplifies the attributes the […]

The closure of Reisch Brewery in 1966 ultimately helped facilitate the creation of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine a few years later, an unusual connection that will be highlighted at a Beer, Brats & Beginnings event on Thursday, Sept. 10. The Reisch Brewery opened in 1849 and for 117 years operated on the exact […]

Bistro Verde, Lincoln Land Community College’s student-led café, will reopen Tuesday, Sept. 8, and will serve customers Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The café will be open as Bistro To Go, a counter service concept, from Sept. 8-Oct. 8, offering soups, salads, sandwiches, weekly student chef specials, baked goods, coffees […]

Job seekers navigated through rows of prospective employers stationed at tables with pamphlets, listings of job openings and candy at the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce’s Fall Job Fair.  Kenneth Nwume took a pause near the entrance of the fair held Aug. 25 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. “I’m just surveying and looking around,” he […]

Originally from Macomb, Illinois, Garret Moffett was an international tour guide for more than 20 years, having not only given tours throughout the Midwest but also Britain and Western Europe. With a never-ending love of history and a wealth of historical knowledge, Moffett used his storytelling skills and his experience as a tour guide to […]

Heather Burton has been chosen as the recipient of the 2026 Athena Award, sponsored by Illinois Women in Leadership. IWIL held an awards ceremony at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park on July 23 to recognize the six nominees for this year’s award and announce the recipient. Heather Burton is president and Chief Executive Officer of […]

The Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce hosted the 41st Annual Small Business Awards on June 23 at the Crowne Plaza Springfield Convention Center. The event recognized outstanding community entrepreneurs in the following four categories: Not-for-Profit Director of the Year, New & Emerging Business Owner of the Year, Small Business Owner of the Year and Lifetime […]

Women for Women awarded a record-breaking $70,000 in grants to three local nonprofits during its 18th Annual Grant Reception on Wednesday, May 13, recognizing organizations addressing some of central Illinois’ most pressing challenges facing women and children. This year’s grants will support programs focused on childhood food insecurity, family support services, and care for children […]