Wilmarth Renewals LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 1818/1820 S. MacArthur Blvd. Contractor is Neil Wilmarth and the project is valued at $15,600. First Presbyterian Church received a commercial demolition permit for 621 E. Capitol Ave. Contractor is O’Shea Builders and the project is valued at $200,000. Kashmir DST LLC Series 804 North Sixth […]
Newsletter – Biz Bites
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Sgt. Pepper’s Café opening on West Jefferson
Sgt. Pepper’s Café is coming to West Jefferson Street, but it will be a slightly different venture from the current restaurant on the corner of Stevenson and Baker Drive and will have different ownership. “It will be the same name and concept, and probably the same menu for the most part, but definitely two different […]
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Matt Rutledge joins Hanson Professional Services
Matt Rutledge has joined Hanson Professional Services Inc.’s Springfield headquarters as a project manager. His initial focus will involve state college building updates, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, state of Illinois facility projects and K–12 educational facility updates. Rutledge brings to Hanson over 12 years of experience as a project manager, most recently working […]
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HAE’s Bakery & Coffee Shoppe opens on Wabash
HAE’s Bakery & Coffee Shoppe has opened a second location at 3844 Wabash Ave., just over a year after launching its first brick-and-mortar store. The new store occupies the endcap space of the newly built Wabash Crossing Mall in front of the AMC Showplace 12 theater. Existing tenants include Better With Bubbli Boutique and Galaxy […]
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Sara Linn joins Central Illinois Security
Sara Linn has joined Central Illinois Security, Inc. (CIS) as an account executive for new and existing business development. Linn has two decades of customer service experience and most recently worked for AmeriCall Communications. She will focus on the eastern service area for CIS, including Champaign, Decatur and surrounding communities. Linn serves as a board […]
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Lawmakers pass bill aimed at modernizing professional licensing in Illinois
As Illinois faces shortages of health care practitioners and mental health professionals, the state agency in charge of licensing for those and more than 100 other industries has struggled to keep up. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation has failed to meet its goals to speed up both initial licensing and renewals in […]
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Springfield Reprographics acquires Laser Innovations
Springfield Reprographics has acquired Laser Innovations as part of the company’s expansion of services. “This new purchase adds to what we are already doing in that line of business, plus one more item,” said Steve Wakefield, owner of Springfield Reprographics. He noted that both companies sell toners for office printers, but Laser Innovations also maintains […]
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Academy Sports + Outdoors and Sierra both opening Springfield stores
Two new national retailers are opening in Springfield this week, both focused on outdoor activities and sporting goods. Academy Sports + Outdoors has a grand opening scheduled for 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 17, for the new location at 3211 S. Veterans Parkway. Academy Sports joins Old Navy in the Southwest Plaza III shopping center […]
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A child care crisis
A lack of affordable day care options is contributing to a workforce shortage in the Springfield area, contends Kayla Edwards, managing partner of Express Employment Professionals. “I don’t use the word ‘crisis’ lightly. But we are in a crisis right now when it comes to finding enough people to fill positions,” she said. Her firm, […]
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Blue Cross fined by state for third time in two years
A third fine in fewer than two years for Illinois’ largest health insurance company proves that stronger regulations are needed to prevent insurers from promoting “ghost networks” of providers, state Rep. Sue Scherer says. “The fines are not solving the problem,” Scherer, D-Decatur, said in response to the Illinois Department of Insurance’s $231,900 fine announced […]
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Innovate Springfield to create mentorship program for high school students
Innovate Springfield, the University of Illinois Springfield’s downtown business incubator, is partnering with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC) to create a professional mentorship matching program for high school students in the Sangamon CEO program. The students will be paired with innovative leaders to work on student-driven business startup ideas. “We hope that these […]
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Building permits –Nov. 6-Nov. 12
HMN Properties LLC received a commercial remodel permit for 618 E. Washington St. Contractor is Evans Construction Co. and the project is valued at $1.35 million. Illinois Hospital Association received a commercial remodel permit for 700 S. Second St. No contractor listed. Project is valued at 10,000. Ginobon I LLC received a commercial remodel permit […]