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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Ocean Crab House opens in former Show Me’s building
Ocean Crab House, a Cajun seafood restaurant, has opened in the former Show Me’s restaurant at 3101 S. MacArthur Blvd. According to Sangamon County tax records, the property was sold on Dec. 2 for $700,000 to Ocean Crab House, Inc. That LLC is registered with the Illinois Secretary of State and lists Jinming Wu as […]
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CEFCU has acquired four additional branches from Simmons Bank
Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU) has completed its purchase of four Illinois branches from Simmons Bank, effective March 15. The branch offices are located in Columbia, Edwardsville, Godfrey and O’Fallon, Illinois. CEFCU’s total assets as of the end of January 2021 were more than $7 billion. The purchase increases CEFCU’s assets by just over […]
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Audrey Kondelis plans to break ground on an event venue for her company
Audrey Kondelis has turned her passion for parties into a new business, Pole Barn Chic Events. Kondelis said she threw a birthday party for herself last year that inspired her to start professionally planning events for others. “Last year, I had a great big Mardi Gras party at my house. I brought up a Grammy-nominated […]
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Former Chamber of Commerce building undergoing renovations
The building at 3 S. Old State Capitol Plaza has been empty since the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce moved out in 2009, but a new owner hopes to put the property back into productive use. Aaron Acree, owner of Michael von Behren Builder, acquired the property last year from United Community Bank, which had […]
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Small business grant program ends, less than 20% of applicants received money
By Sarah Mansur, Capitol News Illinois smansur@capitolnewsillinois.com The grant program for small businesses owners in Illinois who suffered losses during the pandemic has run out of money. Illinois’ Business Interruption Grant program was the largest state program of its kind, but only about 20%, or 8,974 applicants, received a grant. The Illinois General Assembly created […]
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The City of Springfield has announced the recipients of the city’s Small Business Assistance Grant program. The Office of Planning & Economic Development awarded $5,000 grants to 126 Springfield businesses through a program that was rolled out in November in response to economic hardships caused by COVID-19. The city made $630,000 in funding available through […]
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Illinois Presbyterian Home Communities plans new construction in 2021
A significant expansion is planned for the Illinois Presbyterian Home Communities in 2021, utilizing the existing 27-acre campus at the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Chatham Road. Fair Hills Residence and Fair Hills Apartments currently provide assisted and independent living for seniors. Sixteen cottages will be constructed in the next phase, along with Fair Hills […]
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CWLP to begin accepting applications for small business utility rebate
On Dec. 1, the Springfield City Council passed an ordinance to provide utility rebates to small businesses that have been impacted by COVID. The COVID Relief – CWLP Small Business Program uses money from the Environmental and Regulatory Initiatives and Relief Fund (ERIRF) to assist eligible small businesses with utility rebates of up to $3,000 […]
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New jobless claims surge in Illinois
By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois More than 107,000 Illinois workers filed first-time unemployment claims last week, a 45% increase over the week before as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to wreak havoc on the state and national economies. The Illinois Department of Employment Security reported that there were 107,616 new claims filed during the week […]
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CEFCU to acquire four bank branches in the Metro East
Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU) has entered into an agreement to purchase four Simmons Bank branches located in the Metro East area. Select loan and deposit accounts, along with non-deposit product relationships, are included in the purchase. CEFCU’s purchase of the Simmons Bank locations in Edwardsville, O’Fallon, Godfrey and Columbia is subject to the […]
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Pritzker warns of looming crisis if jobless programs aren’t extended
By Peter Hancock, Capitol News Illinois phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com Gov. JB Pritzker warned Monday of another looming economic crisis for the state and nation if Congress does not act soon to reauthorize extended unemployment benefits for people displaced from their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I can’t overstate the implications of this,” Pritzker said during his […]