Amy Rasing joined the city’s Office of Planning and Economic Development in 2023 as a grant manager. In December, Mayor Misty Buscher nominated her as the new director of OPED, and her appointment was confirmed Jan. 7 by the Springfield City Council. She has worked more than 30 years in nonprofit agencies on the local, […]
Newsletter – This Month SBJ
Posted inArticles
Notable building projects in 2025
Within a few blocks of each other, both public and private landowners are doing their part to support community reinvestment, working with architects and contractors to find creative, sensible ways to evolve and age in place. The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar, Springfield School District 186 and entrepreneurs Court and Karen Conn are […]
Posted inArticles
Area bankers predict commercial real estate trends for 2025
The annual meeting of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance, held Jan. 23, touted eight notable projects in the area. Highlights included plans for an Amazon distribution center at the intersection of Bissell Road and North Dirksen Parkway, a Frito-Lay warehouse at the south end of town and the Scheels Sports Park at Legacy Pointe that […]
Posted inArticles
Businesses and organizations invited to take part in the UIS Career Connections Expo
Businesses and organizations are invited to register for the Career Connections Expo at the University of Illinois Springfield. The Expo will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, March 21, at the Recreation and Athletic Center (TRAC) on the UIS campus. In addition to the Expo, registered employers are invited to participate in […]
Posted inArticles
Q&A with Molly Berns
Molly Berns is a Sangamon County native who is retiring this month as executive director of the Springfield-Sangamon County Regional Planning Commission. She joined the SSCRPC in 2008 as the senior planner for land use and was promoted to her current position in 2018. Berns has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree […]
Posted inArticles
Renovations continue at Illinois Capitol
A massive $300 million construction project is underway at the state Capitol. The entire north wing, including the Senate chamber, is being renovated. A beautiful new feature of the Senate chamber is an 18-foot square stained-glass ceiling with skylight, consisting of 105 individual panels and 6,566 pieces of glass. During construction the Senate met in […]
Posted inColumns
Critical thinking jiujitsu
In my son’s jiujitsu practice, coaches help competitors remain calm under pressure. In fact, emotional outbursts in a match result in disqualification. Once your emotions take over, you’ve lost the ability for rational problem-solving and decision-making. This is advice I’m leaning heavily into these days (takes deep breath). It seems like any conversation is just […]
Posted inColumns
Supporting redevelopment in downtown Springfield
The June 19 fire that destroyed a building and impacted multiple businesses in the 400 block of East Adams Street left a hole in the downtown landscape, further challenging the area with finding ways to engage the community and grow. But with loss comes potential for renewal. A recently released master plan for rebuilding and […]
Posted inColumns
New laws in 2025 will affect Illinois employers
Starting in 2025, there will be quite a few new laws that will affect Illinois employers. Changes include wage transparency obligations in job postings, inclusion of family responsibilities and reproductive health decisions as protected categories under the Illinois Human Rights Act, stricter record keeping and access requirements under the Personnel Records Review Act and additional […]
Posted inArticles
50 years of Massie Massie & Associates
Kent and Sue Massie found a surprise when they designed and oversaw the renovation of the Lincoln Park lagoon in Springfield. “We needed to excavate the ponds because they were filled with silt, and we discovered old bicycles and park light fixtures at the bottom of the lagoon,” Sue said. “The old light fixtures had […]
Posted inArticles
Nominate your company for Best Places to Work
Here is your opportunity to let everyone know you work for an outstanding company. United Community Bank and Springfield Business Journal are helping to identify the best places to work in central Illinois. Visit https://www.springfieldbusinessjournal.com/category/best_places_to_work-15030611 to make a nomination and view a list of previous selectees. The deadline is Friday, Jan. 11. The company must […]
Posted inColumns
EPA prepares to move to White Oaks Mall
The new Illinois Environmental Protection Agency headquarters is expected to be completed this month – 18 months behind schedule and with a price per square foot more than double that of other new commercial construction projects in Springfield. The $80 million price tag for repurposing the 186,000-square-foot former Sears department store at White Oaks Mall […]