By Carey Smith The heart of a vibrant downtown is its residents, who often work, live and play all within the same walkable community. The patterns of revitalization repeat in mid-sized cities across the nation. After decades of development on the edges of a community, which unerringly decimate downtowns and city cores, residents begin to […]
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BOS Asset Management has acquired L.A. Burton & Associates
BOS Asset Management, a newly created registered investment advisory firm, has acquired L.A. Burton & Associates following the retirement of owner Larry Burton. “It was an acquisition of his book of business; he was retiring after 27 years,” said Brian Brewer, senior vice president and program manager for BOS Investment Services. Brewer also serves as […]
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J&J Ventures Gaming acquires Illinois Gaming Systems
J&J Ventures Gaming has acquired Illinois Gaming Systems, and the purchase of all gaming operations of IGS will give J&J Ventures nearly 3,000 locations in gaming and amusements. J&J Ventures Gaming and J&J Ventures Amusements are headquartered in Effingham, Illinois, where their predecessor, J&J Ventures, Inc., began route operations in 1929. IGS is headquartered in […]
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Black-Owned Business Vendor Fair
The Springfield Park District and Springfield Black Chamber of Commerce are hosting a Black-Owned Business Vendor Fair on Sunday, May 2 from 1-4 p.m. at Erin’s Pavilion in Southwind Park. “One of the many challenges that Black businesses owners are faced with is lack of exposure,” said Dominic Watson, president of the Springfield Black Chamber […]
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SJ-R building back on the market, asking price reduced by more than $1 million
The State Journal-Register building at 915 E. Capitol Ave. is back on the market, with a significant price reduction. Last month, Illinois Times reported that the building was under contract to an undisclosed buyer for slightly less than the asking price of $2.9 million. Now, the property is back on the market at a list […]
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New data tracker shows decline in small business — hospitality businesses experienced largest decrease
By Sarah Mansur, Capitol News Illinois Hospitality jobs in Illinois have declined nearly 52% since the pandemic began, according to new data, as lawsuits continue against the governor’s orders to close nonessential businesses. While leisure and hospitality jobs were hit the hardest, the number of small businesses open in Illinois overall has fallen by about […]
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Davidsan’s Japanese Maples is closing
Davidsan’s Japanese Maples will be closing due to the owner’s retirement, although customers still have a short window of time to place orders. In a written statement, owner Gale Myers said, “During this last year full of major changes in the country, the world and our lives, including COVID, each of us has had the […]
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Adams Pest Control moves into the former Springfield Archery building
After more than a decade on MacArthur Boulevard, Adams Pest Control has relocated to a significantly larger space. Owner Sonny Adams says he explored numerous options before purchasing the building at 1550 Recreation Dr., next to Knight’s Action Park. Adams had leased the space at 1425 S. MacArthur Blvd. for more than a decade and […]
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LLCC apprenticeship program builds tech skills
By Cinda Ackerman Klickna “Let’s build talent, not buy talent,” says Brenda Elliott, director of apprenticeship programming at Lincoln Land Community College. The program, only in existence for a year, was developed as a way for local businesses to fill needed information technology positions while offering LLCC students a path for a career or career […]
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Nonprofits adapt to COVID-19 – Demand for services increases while fundraising options are reduced
By Carey Smith For many Americans, leaning heavily on social service agencies has gotten them through the pandemic. But how have these nonprofits adapted and coped with the increased demand but often reduced fundraising opportunities? For Midwest Mission Distribution Center, which specializes in disaster relief, the transition was fairly smooth. The organization distributed three times […]
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Architecture firm selected for renovation of the State Armory Building
The Illinois Capital Development Board (CDB) has selected Tilton, Kelly + Bell, as the preferred architectural design firm for the renovation of the State Armory Building in Springfield. CDB will oversee the project’s design and construction in accordance with the protocol for state-appropriated projects. Through Governor JB Pritzker’s capital plan, Rebuild Illinois, nearly $122 million […]