Year-In-Review: Reflections on the year gone by as we launch into 2025
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE
IBJ Managing Editor
[email protected]
Another year has passed and with it, a tradition moves forward. The Illinois Business Journal turns 25 in third quarter 2025, and as we move toward our quarter century mark, a new chapter will begin to shape its history and story. We thought that perhaps the best way to move beyond the monthly print format we have provided for nearly 25 years and into the future of new traditions with our fully digital format was with our Year-in-Review issue.
Here again we highlight some of the most impactful Illinois Business Journal headlines and stories of the past 12 months. Join us in the journey, reflecting on milestones and moments that were among those noted in 2024:
In January, the leading headline was that U. S. Steel was set to be acquired by Tokyo’s Nippon Steel, with the transaction expected to close in the later part of the year. The Associated Press had noted that the combined company would become one of the top three steel-producing companies in the world. The future of Granite City Works with its soon-to-be new owners remained an unanswered question. U. S. Steel, as the current parent company of the Granite City steel mill, had ignited a spark that led to a morale meltdown of its Metro East workforce by announcing the indefinite idling of its blast furnace in Granite City, accompanied by indefinite layoffs, right before the preceding Christmas holiday.
Several Illinois laws went into effect with the new year. Among them: Illinois’ minimum wage increased to $14 per hour. The Paid Leave for All Workers Act became a workplace requirement. The Equal Pay Act – Pay Scale was also rolled out, to take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, making it unlawful for employers with 15 or more employees to not include pay scales and offered benefits packages in job postings.
In February, West Star Aviation shared news of its first cohort of 25 students being welcomed into the newly formed West Star Aviation Academy. Completers of this innovative apprenticeship program, designed to address a critical workforce shortage in the industry, would exit the program as industry-certified aircraft maintenance technicians.
Wieland North America had also announced a $500 million investment in its East Alton facility. The investment would re-equip, expand and modernize this local footprint. This investment, which retained 800 jobs across the state, also enabled the company to increase production of critical copper and copper alloy components used in electric vehicles (EVs), EV charging infrastructure and renewable energy production while supporting the state’s clean energy economy.
In March, news of multiple developments happening in downtown Wood River continued to lead the conversations of the day. A different conversation happened at the fourth annual School Safety Summit hosted by the Madison County Regional Office of Education, however. The Summit dialogue: ‘Uncomfortable’ realities, and with eyes wide open as guest speakers shared topics such as “Grooming 101: A Predator’s Playbook,” substance abuse and a reality that “everybody who uses a public restroom should carry Narcan,” and the interactions that the U.S. Attorney/DOJ’s Southern District of Illinois’ violent crime unit are now having each day with area schools.
Piston Aviation shared news of its March 30 grand opening at St. Louis Regional Airport, bringing a second flight school to the Greater St. Louis region, and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport also shared news of its continued growth.
In April, the leading headline was of Dayton Freight Lines planning a May groundbreaking on a large-scale site in Collinsville. Plans were announced to develop a 106-acre site in Collinsville’s Horseshoe Lake Road Corridor into Dayton’s second trucking terminal within the St. Louis market. The other is in St. Peters, Mo. Dayton Freight Lines COO Anthony Rocco said that the trucking terminal will be developed as an LTL, or “less-than-truckload” cross dock and will be owned and operated by his company.
AltonWorks announced the choice of TechSTL Executive Director Emily Hemingway to concurrently serve as executive director of the Wedge Innovation Center. The Wedge was expected to open in late 2024. More news out of Alton shared that Elaine Kane would be the Alton School District’s next superintendent. Kane was chosen to fill the position, effective on July 1, 2024, with the departure of longtime superintendent Dr. Kristie Baumgartner.
In May, the IBJ’s leading headline was that of Piston Aviation’s flight school opening. Accompanying that story on the front page was news of U. S. Steel stockholders approving the merger transaction with Nippon Steel.
News of the 100-year anniversary of Ironworkers Local 392 of East St. Louis was shared, and 1st MidAmerica Credit Union turned 90. The St. Louis Regional Freightway celebrated its 7th annual FreightWeekSTL in mid-May, highlighting the bi-state area as a solid choice for site selectors while also turning attention toward the pipeline of rail-served, developer-ready sites that keeps growing.
The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois annual awards dinner included the recognition of a lengthy list of honorees: MidAmerica St. Louis Airport, Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., West Star Aviation, Southwestern Illinois College, Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, and NOTS Logistics. Leaders from Scott Air Force Base & the U.S. Coast Guard in St. Louis also recognized several servicemembers who had “gone above and beyond.”
In June, Madison County Transit shared news of the recent opening of its new headquarters facility. MCT had received $4.4 million in funding for the facility from Governor JB Pritzker’s bipartisan Rebuild Illinois capital program. The entire project’s price tag came to $14.7 million, with funding also from prior state commitments, $206,000 locally, and another $4.1 million from the Federal Transit Administration.
The Village of East Alton had the unique opportunity to celebrate ZIP Code Day in June as well, on the 20th; in other words, the celebration occurred on 6-20-24. East Alton’s ZIP Code is 62014. Collinsville hosted the annual statewide workforce development summit at its Gateway Convention Center. MidAmerica St. Louis Airport also celebrated its 25th anniversary.
In July, news that Wieland, Graycor and Helmkamp had launched the first stage of Wieland’s $500 million modernization and expansion project was at the top of the headlines. Continuing to lead conversations as well, West Star Aviation Academy announced its second apprentice cohort approval. Lewis and Clark Community College further announced its receipt of a $346,000 grant to develop an avionics program that would help address an ongoing critical skills gap within the local and regional industry.
OSF Saint Anthony’s Health Center in Alton had also debuted its 379th “mission partner (employee)” with the introduction of Dwight the robot, tasked with transporting laboratory specimens from the ER to the lab at the hospital. The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce shared surprise with its $50,000 award from the State of Illinois’ Back-to-Business Chamber Grant program. The Collinsville Area Vocational Center announced that it would undergo a $25 million expansion, with a target of opening the renovated center at the start of the 2026-27 school year.
Closer to home, the Illinois Business Journal’s publisher, and Better Newspapers Inc. president, Greg Hoskins passed away on May 30. In July, it was announced that Scott Hoskins, BNI vice president and Metro East general manager, would step into the role his father had filled since first launching Herald Publications in May 1991. The Better Newspapers media family today includes the Illinois Business Journal as well as four daily newspapers, 35 weeklies, five magazines, and seven radio stations.
In August, Southwestern Illinois College would share the details of its Fall 2024 opening of the new Advanced Manufacturing Academy at a ribbon cutting held in the previous month at its Belleville campus. At another ribbon cutting ceremony, officials celebrated the grand opening of the $15 million Emerson Park Transit Center Public Safety Building in St. Clair County.
Mario Hayek, Ph.D., had been named as dean of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s School of Business and Michael Yazbec had been named the next president of S. M. Wilson & Co.
In September, Schnuck Markets announced the first 10 companies accepted into Schnucks Springboard – a business accelerator designed to provide education, resources and access to diverse-owned businesses. The selected companies will receive business development classes at Schnucks’ St. Louis headquarters, networking opportunities, $5,000 of equity-free funding and, if they meet food safety, insurance and certification requirements, an in-store product trial at select Schnucks stores in 2025. Among the 10 and coming from the southwestern Illinois region: Bethalto’s Phathead BBQ Sauce.
Madison County Transit also shared news of its “MCT Micro” launched service in Collinsville.
In October, two years following an incident at its East St. Louis manufacturing site, Allnex eagerly shared news of its comeback by hosting a tour of its facility with the Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois. More good news came out of the region as West Star Aviation opened its Hangar 67 and graduated its first apprentice cohort from the Academy. The Troy/Maryville/St. Jacob/Marine Chamber of Commerce further celebrated 40 years of service, as did Mathis, Marifian & Richter Ltd. law firm. St. Louis Regional Freightway was joined by other industry leaders in launching the new St. Louis Regional Aerospace and Aviation Taskforce.
Anderson Healthcare shared news of its recent groundbreaking on the site of a planned medical office building in Collinsville. The Illinois State Police also shared that all 102 counties in Illinois now had 9-1-1 service in place.
In November, the IBJ itself was again part of the headlines as the announcement was shared of leaving behind its in-print edition after its January 2025 issue and transitioning to a fully digital footprint. The move would allow for more timely reporting, expanded coverage opportunities, and for readers to get their news when and where they had indicated they wanted to – via a digital presence. Further, IBJ Managing Editor Melissa Crockett Meske had come home from the recent Southern Illinois Editorial Association annual session with three awards. Meske received second place awards in the Best News Story and Best Education Story categories along with a fourth-place award in the Best Feature Story category.
Crysalis Biosciences Inc. was joined by Governor Pritzker and Illinois DCEO to share the news of a $239.5 million investment in its Sauget sustainable aviation fuel facility. The Illinois Department of Labor issued a reminder to employers of the salary transparency law that would take effect in January, requiring wages/salaries and benefits be included in all job postings starting Jan. 1.
And in other news: The Lewis and Clark Radio Club turned 40 and continues “hamming it up” locally and around the world. St. Louis Regional Airport was recognized as the Illinois Reliever Airport of the Year by IDOT. First Mid Trust Services also announced Darren Wright as their chief investment officer.
And in December, Carrollton Bank announced a deeper investment in Edwardsville with its construction of a permanent structure to house its services next to the drive-through facility it had opened earlier in the year. The new dedicated banking services facility was expected to open in late 2025.
The 2024 Metro East Startup Challenge winners were announced, with their awards presented during the previous month’s Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois board meeting. Coordinated each year by the Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East at SIUE, cash prizes awarded included: first place prize of $10,000 to Moxie Pelvic Health and Wellness of Maryville; second place prize of $6,000 to Central Equipment Solutions LLC of Alhambra; third place prize and $4,000 to Smokehouse Jellies LLC of Highland; fourth place prize and $2,000 to Go Ahead Transport of Belleville.
The news also noted Ameren Illinois and the City of East St. Louis’s celebration of energizing a second solar energy facility. SIUE shared that 22 companies had chosen to invest in its surveying and geomatics programs, to the tune of $520,000, to help market their programs to potential students. The Gori Law Firm announced an expansion, welcoming several new attorneys to its Edwardsville office, while also garnering a 2024 Women-Led Top Workplace award from Energage.
A great way perhaps to top off all the news shared from 2024: The Leadership Council of Southwestern Illinois’s receipt of the Abilene Trophy, recognizing its exemplary military service contributions and support.
Be sure to stay with us in 2025: Updates every weekday at ibjonline.com and weekly e-news coming to your email inbox. If you haven’t signed up for our weekly newsletter, visit our website to get started…and come back each day.
(Editor’s note: This story also appears in the January 2025 print edition of the Illinois Business Journal.)
