Governor awards $10M in grant funding to Illinois small businesses
Grant funding will support 47 small business capital improvement projects throughout Illinois On Nov. 21, 2025, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) joined businessowners, legislators, and community stakeholders at Soul Good Coffee to announce nearly $10 million in funding for 47 small businesses through the Small Business Capital…
Read MoreUnited impact: Violence Prevention Center of Southwestern Illinois
Promise of a new beginning: How your year-end gift builds safety that lasts As the year draws to a close, many of us reflect on what truly matters: safety, stability, and peace. For survivors of domestic violence in the Metro East—Monroe, Randolph, and St. Clair counties—these are not certainties, but goals made possible only by…
Read MoreSIU SDM students host free veterans dental care day, receive lifetime of memories
Fighting the war in Vietnam, being deployed to armed conflict in Bosnia and training in Fort McClellan as a woman medic in the first integrated unit are just a handful of stories shared by patients who arrived at Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SIU SDM) Veterans Dental Care Day. On Thursday, Nov.…
Read MoreEdwardsville Police to step up patrols for Thanksgiving travel
The Edwardsville Police Department is joining forces with the Illinois State Police and other local law enforcement agencies as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches. As part of a focused effort to reduce traffic fatalities and serious injuries, Edwardsville officers will participate in the statewide “Click It or Ticket” and “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” safety…
Read MoreFarm bill extended again in government reopening
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek The Ag Department resumed normal operations while the farm bill was extended for a third year after the president signed a funding package Nov. 12 that reopened the government. The legislation, which was approved after a record-breaking 43-day federal shutdown, funds USDA and several other departments, through fiscal year 2026,…
Read MoreCommentary: 5 tips for fostering meaningful connections within the business community at Thanksgiving
Jackie B. Grice, CEO and founder of Launching Deeper Enterprises, and a certified purpose coach and business strategist, has curated five practical tips for businesses to celebrate Thanksgiving with purpose: Organize a community service day: Encourage employees to take part in a local community service project, such as volunteering at a food bank, participating in…
Read MoreDowntown Alton’s 32nd annual tree lighting tonight, kicking off holiday season
Tonight (Friday, Nov. 21) Alton Main Street hosts an event that organizers say is “sure to get the community into the holiday spirit.” The 32nd annual Community Tree Lighting at Lincoln-Douglas Square will begin at 6 p.m. with the arrival of Santa Claus on the trolley. Free festivities, including caroling, cookies and hot cocoa, will…
Read MoreAirport director responds to incident at St. Louis Lambert International Airport this morning
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE Managing Editor, Illinois Business Journal An early morning security incident at St. Louis Lambert International Airport on Friday resulted in the fatal shooting of a man by an airport police officer. According to airport police, officers conducting routine overnight patrols around 1:05 a.m. encountered an individual armed with a knife inside…
Read MoreFrom SCORE: How do I identify and hire the right talent for my small business?
Finding the right employees for your small business is far more complex than looking for someone who can do the basic tasks you need done. You not only need a competent worker with the appropriate skills and experience, you also likely want someone who will fit in with your company culture and represent your brand…
Read MoreUnited impact: St. John’s Community Care
Compassion that connects caregivers, strengthens the Metro East all year long For nearly 40 years, St. John’s Community Care has been a trusted place of help, hope, and heart in the Metro East. The nonprofit’s mission is simple but powerful: to make a positive difference in the lives of people challenged by aging or disabilities.…
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