StandardAero flies under radar in local economy
Perhaps StandardAero flies under the radar in the local Springfield economy, pardon the pun, because not many locals own their jets. But StandardAero and its predecessors, Garrett Aviation and Landmark Aviation, have been a mainstay at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport for decades, servicing planes and jets. “It’s actually woven into the fabric of Springfield because…
Q&A with Bob Sibert
Bob Sibert is the third generation of his family to serve as president of Bound to Stay Bound Books. His grandfather, Lawrence D. Sibert, began working for a Jacksonville printing and bookbinding company in 1908 and later started his own company with a business partner. Originally known as the New Method Book Bindery, Bound to…
Lakeisha Purchase violated IDOT policy, report says
Lakeisha Purchase took part in phone calls unrelated to her job at the Illinois Department of Transportation for almost half of the time she was supposed to be working during an 18-month period in 2021 and 2022, a state report says. Purchase, 35, the Springfield Ward 5 alderperson since September 2021, quit her job as…
Developing more housing downtown
Construction of a 136-unit, market-rate apartment complex in downtown Springfield will commence in the fall, the New York company spearheading the almost $29 million project told Mid-Illinois Medical District commissioners on May 23. “We’re really excited about it,” Victor Salerno, chief executive officer of Adirondack Community Development, told commissioners in a Zoom call updating the…
Springfield: Not just a stopover, but a stay over
Springfield hotels are coming off of a record-setting year, according to Scott Dahl, director of Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau. He said 2023 hotel revenue was higher than any other year in the past two decades, due to a combination of occupancy performance and higher average daily rates. While the first quarter of 2024 hasn’t…
New rules for non-compete agreements
I’ve had lots of questions lately about the new rule issued by the Federal Trade Commission that significantly restricts the use of non-compete clauses in employment contracts. This decision, announced in early 2024, aims to enhance labor mobility, foster competition and ultimately benefit both workers and the economy at large. Whether it will actually do…
The power of business networking
The phrase “networking event” sounds like a cringey waste of time, doesn’t it? Even as a verified extravert, the thought of talking to strangers and making meaningless conversation gives me a visceral reaction – pounding heart and sweaty palms as I imagine all of the awkward silences. At first, networking can seem intimidating, or at…
Twisted Fork
The St. Nicholas Hotel building seems to have been a cursed place for restaurants over the last 10 years or so. We’re hoping that Twisted Fork, a new downtown restaurant, will break that curse. Twisted Fork identifies itself as “Comfort food with a twist! Not a greasy spoon … a Twisted Fork.” And that’s a…
Illinois Women in Leadership is taking a service trip to Kenya
Illinois Women in Leadership has been empowering area women for two decades, and the nonprofit group has about 200 members in the Springfield area. Its IWIL credo promotes professionalism and leadership through purposeful inclusion, education, mentoring, networking and community involvement. Through its history, IWIL members have mentored many people and made an impact in various…
Airport seeks rezoning to facilitate future development
Residents of the Val-E-Vue subdivision near Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport say they are relieved the airport backed down on a plan to change about 92 acres from residential to industrial zoning. The proposed rezoning for the land, which acts as a buffer between the subdivision to the south and the developed part of the airport,…
Motivation to move
Some people will soon be paid $5,000 to move to Jacksonville, Illinois. The Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation is offering the bounty as part of its ongoing effort to lure professionals to the community of 17,600 and surrounding Morgan and Scott counties. According to the U.S. Census, during the second decade of this century Jacksonville…
Illinois legislature makes efforts for the environment
A pair of Senate bills that aim to reduce plastic use in hotels and require waste recycling for event facilities have passed the Illinois legislature and are now awaiting the governor’s signature. Senate Bill 2960, introduced by Sen. Laura Fine, D-Glenview, takes aim at the overwhelming global issue of plastic pollution by prohibiting single-use toiletries…
