A tourism improvement district that would finance a $100 million expansion of Springfield’s downtown convention center cleared a major hurdle recently, with the proposed district – and a future surcharge on room rates – receiving majority support from the city’s hotels. “It’s a big step,” said state Rep. Mike Coffey, R-Springfield, a downtown restaurant owner […]
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Compass for Kids to hold ribbon cutting for new office
Compass for Kids is holding a ribbon cutting and open house on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at noon to celebrate its new office space. Compass recently purchased a building at 1201 S. Fourth St. after experiencing significant growth and hiring several new staff members. “We had outgrown what Central Baptist Church could offer us; we’ve been […]
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Lawmakers pass bill aimed at modernizing professional licensing in Illinois
As Illinois faces shortages of health care practitioners and mental health professionals, the state agency in charge of licensing for those and more than 100 other industries has struggled to keep up. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has failed to meet its goals to speed up both initial licensing and renewals in […]
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A child care crisis
A lack of affordable day care options is contributing to a workforce shortage in the Springfield area, contends Kayla Edwards, managing partner of Express Employment Professionals. “I don’t use the word ‘crisis’ lightly. But we are in a crisis right now when it comes to finding enough people to fill positions,” she said. Her firm, […]
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Blue Cross fined by state for third time in two years
A third fine in fewer than two years for Illinois’ largest health insurance company proves that stronger regulations are needed to prevent insurers from promoting “ghost networks” of providers, state Rep. Sue Scherer says. “The fines are not solving the problem,” Scherer, D-Decatur, said in response to the Illinois Department of Insurance’s $231,900 fine announced […]
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Innovate Springfield to create mentorship program for high school students
Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s downtown business incubator, is partnering with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) to create a professional mentorship matching program for high school students in the Sangamon CEO program. The students will be paired with innovative leaders to work on student-driven business startup ideas. “We hope that these […]
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217 Italian Week happening Nov. 6-12
Enjoy the new 217 Food Week, celebrating all things Italian, from Nov. 6-12. Sample featured dishes at Bella Milano, Curve Inn, Legacy Pointe Eatery, Main Gate Bar & Grill and Razzo’s Family Pizzeria. This food week allows restaurants the opportunity to set their own dish price, which range from $9-$14. Some locations offer to-go orders, […]
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Illinois has some success in attracting manufacturing
I told you back in January that if Gov. JB Pritzker managed to help convince Stellantis to reopen the Belvidere auto assembly plant and even expand, “he’ll have overcome some gargantuan hurdles.” Credit where credit is due. Pritzker helped the United Auto Workers Union and the White House put together a deal with Stellantis to […]
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Cannabis business grant recipients push back on audit claims
Some recipients of business grants funded with a portion of Springfield’s share of sales taxes on adult-use cannabis are upset their businesses were mentioned in an independent audit critical of the new program. Meanwhile, city officials are considering changes to the program in coming months to create a more consistent system for disbursing and monitoring […]
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Q&A with Steven Koch
After 36 years of helping clients plan for their financial goals and prepare for retirement, Steve Koch made a transition of his own last year when he sold his financial planning practice, Koch, Sylvia and Associates, to a longtime business partner. Koch is also known for his extensive community involvement, and says he plans to […]
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Bus Gates: A local business with a global reach
An estimated 43 million drivers in the United States will illegally pass stopped school buses this year, according to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services. In fact, the association’s latest survey during the 2022-2023 school year reported that nearly 62,500 vehicles illegally passed stopped school buses during a single measurement day. […]
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Higher interest rates and fewer deposits
Inflation is the name of the game in 2023, with higher prices for consumers and the Federal Reserve continuing to increase interest rates in hopes of countering rising costs. “In order to get inflation under wraps, the need to increase interest rates has become problematic,” said Joel Oschwald, market president at First Bankers Trust Company. […]