By PETER HANCOCK, Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Black-owned businesses in Illinois face significant barriers to growth and opportunities that would enable them to compete with their white-owned counterparts, a problem that many Black leaders say is directly tied to Black unemployment rates and the deterioration of Black neighborhoods. That was the message state lawmakers heard […]
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Ask an attorney – COVID concerns at work
Q. Can I refuse to go to work because of COVID-19? A. Most employees are “at will” employees, which means that you could be fired for not showing up. This is true whether you are considered an essential worker or not. As always, the best approach is to explain your reasoning and try to work […]
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Healthy meals made easy
By Carey Smith Meal delivery systems were growing in popularity even before the pandemic, and with many more people eating primarily at home, this business niche is flourishing. National names such as Blue Apron or HelloFresh may have entered our local consciousness, but Springfield has been home to meal preparation and delivery systems for at […]
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Pamela Lewis-Frazier expands and adapts All in One
By Cinda Ackerman Klickna “If you have items to clean, I’ll make it happen,” says Pamela Lewis-Frazier, owner of All in One Management & Services. The business started in 2002 as a pressure-washing company with two box trucks carrying equipment to clean cars, boats, trailers, houses and even bridges and signs. In September 2019, […]
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District 186 prepares for school improvement projects
By David Blanchette Numerous public schools in the Springfield area will soon receive needed upgrades as part of a School District 186 initiative to create better facilities and more secure learning environments while addressing needed maintenance and life/safety issues. A total of $40.9 million worth of work on schools is currently in the design phase, […]
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Roots Latin Grill has authentic South American roots
BY THOMAS C. PAVLIK JR. I’ve had the privilege to travel to South America a handful of times. In some respects, I think it’s the food that keeps drawing me back – a blend of indigenous, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese ingredients and styles. With Roots Latin Grill now open, maybe I can redirect my frequent […]
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Program fosters entrepreneurship
Innovate Springfield helps take ideas from concept to completion BY CATHERINE O’CONNOR For nine local start-up entrepreneurs, graduation night on Oct. 30 marked the completion of the Co.Starters program, a series of weekly three-hour intensive seminars presented through Innovate Springfield, the business incubator supported by University of Illinois Springfield. Before deciding on the Co.Starters program, […]
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Construction trades target high school and college students
BY ERICK ZEPEDA As the construction trades are faced with both a growing number of retirements and projected growth, there is a strong demand for apprentices to fill vacant positions. With the cost of college attendance continuing to rise, an apprenticeship offers an earn-while-you-learn approach that allows you to get paid from day one. Certified […]
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Leadership Springfield survey
A group from this year’s Leadership Springfield class is conducting a survey of area professionals to find out what motivates people to volunteer their time to nonprofit organizations and how they prefer to go about doing so. The brief, eight question survey can be accessed on SurveyMonkey. Leadership Springfield, a program of the Greater Springfield […]
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CHARLES CRAIG MANNSCHRECK (Nov. 6, 1944 – Aug. 21, 2019)
By Karen Ackerman Witter The world could use more people like Craig Mannschreck— kind, upbeat, friendly, genuine, humble and concerned about others before himself. Mannschreck passed away peacefully on Aug. 21 after a three-month battle with lymphoma. “Craig was ‘others-oriented,’ “says Cindy Davis, Mannschreck’s longtime business partner at Resource One, located at 321 E. Adams […]