Residents, businesses and an art/history endeavor affected by the June fire at 613 E Adams in downtown Springfield have received checks from the INB Benefit for the Businesses Affected by the Adams Family Fire fund. Through this fund, the community raised nearly $30,000 to support those people and entities impacted by the fire. Donations came […]
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Democrats seek to “Trump-proof” some state statutes
Back in 2018, about midway through President Donald Trump’s first term, the Illinois Senate passed a bill that was designed to prevent “the weakening of Illinois environmental and labor regulations in response to a weakening of federal regulations,” according to an Illinois Environmental Council press release. Some state rules are tied directly to federal rules, […]
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Unions lead the way on funding state elections in Illinois
This year in Illinois, there are no statewide elections. There are no fights over a Supreme Court seat. There are no constitutional amendments. At the Statehouse, more than half of general election races are uncontested. And yet, political campaigns in Illinois raised about $600 million in itemized individual contributions, according to a Capitol News Illinois […]
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Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology to host Industry Day Event
The Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology (DoIT), Office of Supplier Diversity, has announced its first-ever Industry Day Event. This event will bring together technology industry leaders to showcase their innovative solutions and discuss their expertise in key areas such as improving resident experience, digitization, accelerating cloud adoption, and automation and modular solutions. The Industry […]
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A roadmap for future development
Creating more affordable and market-rate housing, developing areas currently set aside for surface parking and catering more to walkers and bicyclists are among scores of suggestions in a newly released master plan for downtown Springfield and the Mid-Illinois Medical District. The costs of those suggestions aren’t included in the 278-page document, the first-ever long-term plan […]
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UIS students win $10K in business pitch competition
A group of five University of Illinois Springfield students won $10,000 in seed funding for their startup business, TredBase, during a pitch competition hosted by Innovate Springfield on Oct. 28. The competition featured three entrepreneurial teams pitching innovative ideas. Kayode Ojedele, CEO and co-founder of TredBase, describes it as “a global edtech solution focused on […]
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Meeting the financial needs of a multigenerational workforce
A recent survey found that 78% of U.S. employers say their workers are financially stressed, as compared to 71% in 2023. Meanwhile, survey findings also show that employers are continuing to feel the squeeze financially with the increased costs of benefits, worker retention and recruiting. PNC Bank released findings from its second annual Financial Wellness […]
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Accounting firm closing after more than a century
The accounting firm of Estes, Bridgewater & Ogden has been in business since 1918, but the current partners are getting ready to go their separate ways. “It’s a culmination of a lot of things, but lack of staffing is the biggest piece of it,” said partner Lori Milosevich. “Public accounting has taken a hit over […]
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Makers on the Move
“People may have no idea what’s made right in their backyard,” said Sarah Hartwick, vice president of education and workforce policy at the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association. “The purpose of the Makers on the Move bus tour is to bring awareness and celebrate modern manufacturing in Illinois – the incredible products that are made and careers […]
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Q&A with Brian Barstead
Brian Barstead graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in medical technology and biology and initially worked for HSHS St. John’s Hospital in hematology. He met his wife Nancy there, and the couple has now been married 41 years. They reside in Rochester and have one adult son, Alex. After receiving an MBA […]
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Veteran bankers weigh in on current trends
Lingering inflation, higher-than-desired interest rates and an upcoming election are just a few issues influencing the willingness of consumers to borrow money. On the other side of the coin, bankers are combatting epic proportions of fraud and navigating a commercial lending market that has been shaped by the pandemic. Mark Vance, regional president and senior […]
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Banking on change
Security Bank of Springfield is seeking approval from the federal government to change its ownership structure so that it is owned by investors rather than by the financial institution’s depositors. A recent bank filing with federal regulators also indicated the financial institution is deeply involved with state-licensed cannabis businesses. Bank president and CEO Stephan Paul […]