Economic Injury Disaster Loan program
To further meet the needs of U.S. small businesses and nonprofits, the U.S. Small Business Administration reopened the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and EIDL Advance program portal to all eligible applicants experiencing economic impacts due to COVID-19 as of June 16. SBA’s EIDL program offers long-term, low interest assistance for a small business or…
Ben Paoletti joins Downtown Springfield Inc.
Ben Paoletti has been hired as a program coordinator for Downtown Springfield Inc., the first time in the organization’s history there have been three full-time staff members. Paoletti graduated in May from the University of Illinois Springfield and served as the Student Government Association President. He recently completed an internship as a grant writer with…
Karen Whitney named interim chancellor at UIS
Karen M. Whitney, a nationally recognized higher education leader, has been selected to serve as interim chancellor of the University of Illinois Springfield. Whitney is the president emerita of Clarion University in Pennsylvania and recently served as interim chancellor of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. She takes over from Chancellor Susan Koch, who…
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Best Life Counseling Services, LLC is expanding and moving to a new location. Owner Melanie Jesse said the practice took off faster than she anticipated. “I filled up really quickly, so my dear friend, Melissa McCulloch, who is also a licensed clinical social worker, is joining me.” The office is currently located on Clocktower Drive…
Building permit roundup – June 8 – 14
Read about the most recent building permits issued by the City of Springfield. Mt. Zion Apostolic Church, Inc. obtained a commercial accessory structure permit for 2637 S. 10th St. The owner is the contractor and the project is valued at $3,500. PK Downtown Springfield, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit to change office space into…
Illinois State Fair is canceled for 2020
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Governor JB Pritzker will issue an Executive Order cancelling the Illinois and Du Quoin State Fairs this year. The annual State Fairs, which attracted over 600,000 visitors combined in 2019, will return in August 2021. “The Illinois and Du Quoin State Fairs have been some of my favorite opportunities…
State House Inn rebrands as a Wyndham hotel
The State House Inn, located at 101 E. Adams in Springfield, is now part of the Trademark Collection by Wyndham, although the ownership remains the same. “We decided that we needed more uniqueness in the market,” said Robin Hood-Grazioso, vice president of sales and marketing for Packard Hospitality Management, which operates the State House Inn.…
Businesses encouraged to take the ALL IN 4U pledge
Businesses in Springfield and Sangamon County are encouraged to take the ALL IN 4U pledge, a new health and safety initiative organized by several community organizations to instill consumer confidence and energize the local economy. As our community moves into the next phase of re-opening Illinois, Springfield and Sangamon County businesses are unifying and pledging…
National Federation of Independent Business survey results
Illinois small business owners surveyed by the National Federation of Independent Business say they’re concerned about the possibility of lawsuits related to the COVID-19 outbreak. Sixty-two percent of owners who responded to the online survey say they’re very or moderately concerned about increased liability. Eighteen percent say they’re not too concerned; 10% aren’t concerned at…
Henson Robinson Company has two new additions to the staff
Henson Robinson Company has hired Braden Aaron as a roofing project manager and Brandon Koishor as a residential HVAC sales supervisor. Prior to joining Henson Robinson Company, Aaron spent several years in Texas working for a large general contractor who built multi-family apartment complexes and condos. He holds a bachelor’s degree in construction management from…
Building permit roundup – June 1 – June 7
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between June 1 and June 7. AWH Springfield, LLC obtained a commercial remodel permit for 3201 S. Horizon Drive. The contractor is Composition Construction and the project is valued at $1,200,000. Daniel Sronce obtained a commercial remodel permit for first and Jefferson, LLC for…
Volkert opens Springfield office
Volkert, a professional services firm with locations in nearly two dozen states, has opened an office in Springfield at 2925 Meadowbrook Rd. as of June 1. “We do work across central Illinois with Ameren, Prairie Power, IDOT and regulatory agencies here in Springfield,” explained Meghan Oh, an environmental project manager who is based out of…
A new chapter for American Harvest owners Jordan and Aurora Coffey
In April, chefs Jordan and Aurora Coffey announced they would not be reopening their restaurant, American Harvest Eatery, even when the stay-at-home order was lifted. The original announcement hinted at other things to come, with Aurora stating, “When you next eat our food, drink our cocktails, and greet our staff it will be in a…
Barney’s Furniture to close, Ashley Outlet Store will take its place
Barney’s Furniture has reopened as of June 1, but only long enough to have a going-out-of-business sale. However, owner Barry Seidman said the pandemic is not to blame. “This was actually planned before any of the shutdown occurred,” he said, explaining that the closure due to COVID-19 simply delayed the ability to liquidate the remaining…
Building permit roundup
Read which building permits were approved by the City of Springfield between May 18 and May 31. Woodmire Court Condos obtained a commercial roofing permit for 1248 South Grand Ave. West. Sutton’s, Inc. is the contractor and the project is valued at $25,000. Ameren Illinois Company in care of Ameren Services Tax Department obtained a…
Kelly Thompson stepping down as CEO of Ronald McDonald House
Kelly Thompson, who has served as CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois for nearly 10 years, will be stepping down next month as she prepares for a move to North Carolina. “I absolutely love the charity and love the mission and want to make sure it’s in good hands,” said Thompson…
Ebben Moore announces plans to close Arlington’s, transition to catering and events
Even when dine-in service resumes for this region, Arlington’s will not reopen as a restaurant. However, fans of the venue will be glad to know that it will continue to exist in a different form. Owner Ebben Moore said the break in normal operations has given him time to reflect. Part of a statement posted…
Are residents ready to return as businesses reopen?
By Katie Davison, Innovate Springfield, and Lisa Clemmons Stott, Downtown Springfield Inc. More than 1400 Sangamon County residents responded to a survey this week gauging how they are feeling heading into today’s Phase 3 reopening. They are ready to get their haircut and visit the doctor. A majority plan to wait longer to visit a…
Portillo’s confirms plans for Springfield location
After years of speculation about whether Portillo’s would open a location in Springfield, the fast-casual restaurant based in Oak Brook, Illinois, has officially confirmed plans for a restaurant in the capital city. In April, Mayor Jim Langfelder had indicated the company had a “strong interest” in Springfield and was seriously considering the former Walgreens location…
Resume assistance for job seekers
Alice Campbell Staffing is offering free resume review and recommendations to job seekers in the Springfield area. “With thousands of people laid off and furloughed, we felt this was one simple way we could use our expertise to help job seekers,” said Jean Campbell, business manager at Alice Campbell Staffing. “While there is a lot…
LLCC offering 10 free, non-credit online classes
Lincoln Land Community College’s community education program is offering 10 free, non-credit online classes from now until June 30. Once signed up, participants can complete these courses at their own pace within three months. Classes include 12 Steps to a Successful Job Search, Managing Customer Service, Fundamentals of Supervision and Management, Personal Finance, Creating Webpages,…
Lenz Sales & Distributing has broken ground on a new facility in New Berlin
Lenz Sales & Distributing, currently located in Jacksonville, has broken ground for a new distribution center in New Berlin. The property on the west side of New Berlin, just north of Dollar General, is located in a TIF district, which Village President Michael Krall said was a factor in attracting the business. “There was property…
PPP bridges the gap for some businesses
By David Blanchette The federal and state assistance she received to weather the COVID pandemic has been more than just money for Susan Danenberger. “It’s definitely been a miracle,” said the owner of Danenberger Family Vineyards in New Berlin. Danenberger was able to secure a $20,000 forgivable loan through the federal Paycheck Protection Program…
A Q&A with Chancellor Susan Koch
Susan Koch will retire as chancellor of UIS and vice president of the University of Illinois System effective June 30, a role she has held since 2011. Koch is currently the longest-serving chancellor of the U of I System. Among other accomplishments, Koch spearheaded the initiative to build UIS’s first student union and fundraising efforts…
Springfield’s hospitality industry prepares to rebound
By Karen Ackerman Witter Scott Dahl, director of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB), describes Springfield as a convention city and tourism city. There are approximately 3,500 travel and tourism-related jobs in Sangamon County, representing $110 million in total payroll, so COVID-19 has had a huge impact. Hotels are at a record low…
Don’t panic, pivot
By Lisa Clemmons Stott In 1976, M. F. Weiner wrote an article in the journal Medical Economics entitled “Don’t Waste a Crisis — Your Patient’s or Your Own.” According to the Freakonomics blog, Weiner meant that a medical crisis can be used to improve aspects of one’s personality, mental health or lifestyle. At the moment,…
Nothing Bundt Cakes opening in Springfield
While many businesses remain closed or only partially open, Theo and Kristen Spilman are preparing to open a new business. The husband and wife are new franchisees for Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery chain that started in Las Vegas. The Spilmans, who are originally from Springfield, most recently lived in Austria and managed a cafeteria…
Illinois unemployment rate climbs to record 16.4% in April
New jobless claims in May appear to level out By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com The unemployment rate in Illinois reached a staggering 16.4 percent in April, the highest rate recorded since the modern system of tracking joblessness began in 1976, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday. The previous record of 13.9…
SBJ is hiring
Are you active and engaged in our community? Do you want to help grow and support local businesses? Springfield Business Journal is a locally owned and operated monthly business-to-business publication serving the Springfield/Jacksonville area. For 25 years, we’ve built a reputation for covering issues and people that are important to our community. Central Illinois Communications,…
