Illinois’ first-in-the-nation law that allows residents to sue companies over the improper collection of their biometric information will be slightly less punitive after Gov. JB Pritzker signed a new law late last week. Lawmakers this spring amended the Biometric Information Privacy Act in response to an Illinois Supreme Court ruling last year that suggested lawmakers […]
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Applications now open for the 2024 Isringhausen DRIVE Grant
Isringhausen Imports and Downtown Springfield, Inc. have opened applications for the 2024 Isringhausen DRIVE Grant, a sizable cash grant presented yearly to individuals looking to kick start or expand a business in downtown Springfield. Now in its third year, the Isringhausen DRIVE Grant is committed to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting the growth of small businesses […]
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Downtown fire sparks call for action
“A revitalized and resilient downtown” was the No. 1 initiative in The Next 10, A Community Visioning Plan for Greater Springfield released by the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln in spring 2021. The report described downtown as “the heart of the community and region, the seat of state and local government, our cultural […]
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No more bitcoin for one Springfield business
A Springfield man has removed a once-prominent feature of his business after he witnessed an alarming trend. “One hundred percent of the time that we saw somebody at the machine they were being scammed,” said Matthieu Fortin. “So I was like, this machine has to go. I’m not going to be a part of that.” […]
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Your website has less than a second to make a first impression
Your company’s website is making first impressions with potential customers 24/7. Forbes Advisor published its top website statistics for 2024 and reported that users form an opinion about a website in 0.05 seconds, and 61% leave a site if they don’t find what they’re looking for in about five seconds. Karen Carlson, web content and […]
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AI and employment practices
Applicant screening, video interview analysis, resume filtering and ranking, candidate sourcing, game-based cognitive and emotional assessments and predictive analytics are just some of the artificial intelligence functions businesses are increasingly relying on for hiring and employment practices. Roughly 83% of employers, including 99% of Fortune 500 companies, use some form of automated tools as part […]
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City council moves Frito-Lay project forward, despite objections from neighbors
Almost two dozen neighbors of what is expected to be a large Frito-Lay distribution center along Interstate 55 near the Chatham exit left a Springfield City Council meeting frustrated July 16. The council voted 6-3 in favor of zoning variances allowing the project to move forward. Voting in favor were Alds. Chuck Redpath of Ward […]
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Q&A With Bruce Sommer
Where were you born and raised, and what was your first job? I was born and raised in Springfield, and technically my first job was when I was 9 years old, emptying garbage cans at the family business. My first job after college was as an accountant at Boulder Medical Center in Boulder, Colo. How […]
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Del’s Popcorn Shop still popping after 90 years
Del’s Popcorn Shop is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year by taking its trademark popcorn and sweet concoctions to an ever-expanding global fan base, and the Springfield Del’s location is expanding to handle the additional demand. “Last December we became one of the top-selling products on Amazon in the popcorn category,” said Del’s chief operating […]
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Gail Lorenzini Aug. 7, 1952-July 4, 2024
Gail Lorenzini was an educator, an entrepreneur and a business owner who immersed herself into the community and took advantage of her varied points of contact to support area causes. Gail did nearly all of this in partnership with her husband, John, before she died unexpectedly July 4 at the age of 71. Gail and […]
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No more bitcoin for one Springfield business
A Springfield man has removed a once-prominent feature of his business after he witnessed an alarming trend. “One hundred percent of the time that we saw somebody at the machine they were being scammed,” said Matthieu Fortin. “So I was like, this machine has to go. I’m not going to be a part of that.” […]
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Downtown’s festival dilemma
Downtown Springfield has been facing some difficult hurdles lately. In addition to the devastating fire which damaged several businesses on Adams Street in June, the Jaycees’ annual Fourth of July Capital City Celebration, with its popular downtown fireworks display, didn’t happen for the second year in a row (the derecho nixed it in 2023). AbeFest, […]