Contegra honored as 2018 Business of the Year in Edwardsville

Contegra Construction was honored Tuesday as 2018 Business of the Year during the city of Edwardsville’s annual economic forecast breakfast at the Leclaire Room of the Historic N.O. Nelson Complex.

Eric Gowin, president and founder of the company, accepted the award from Mayor Hal Patton.

The award has been given each of the last five years. Winners must set standards of excellence with their practices and community involvement, Patton said.

Contegra distinguished itself in the past year by having the largest value of construction projects in the city, Patton said. Contegra is responsible for 70 percent of the space that’s been constructed in Gateway Commerce Center, the center of the city’s industrial growth in the last two decades.

“Contegra accounted for almost 48 percent of our dollar value of new permits issued in 2018,” Patton said.

The company was founded in 2003 but principals of the business have been working in the general contracting, design/build business for more than 50 years.

“It’s not just how much you construct or how much you produce, it’s what you do for the community,” Patton said, listing charitable support from Contegra for the Ronald McDonald House, Pedal the Cause, and Songs4Soldiers. Contegra also hires several interns each year from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Gowin was humble when speaking to the crowd of more than 200.

“This wouldn’t be possible without the 120-plus folks that work at Contegra,” Gowin said. “We’ve been in Edwardsville for 15 years now, and I can’t think of a better place to invest our money and grow our business.”

— Dennis Grubaugh/Illinois Business Journal