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Gov. Pritzker pauses new data center tax incentives

Governor outlines framework to protect consumers and lower energy costs, calls on General Assembly to act in veto session On June 5, 2026, following inaction from the Illinois General Assembly, Governor JB Pritzker is directing the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to pause processing agreements for the Data Center Investment Program starting…

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Mascoutah School District preparing to open new MC² Career Center

  By ZACHARY DAUM Managing Editor, Herald Publications [email protected] The former Dollar General building on Jefferson Street is being transformed into a new career and technical education facility for the Mascoutah School District, with district officials aiming to have the project completed and operational by August 2026. The new facility, named the Mascoutah Career Center,…

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Poettker Construction awards grants and scholarships through NextGen

Poettker Construction recently awarded six $500 grants to elementary schools and four $500 scholarships to high school seniors through the company’s NextGen program. Rooted in its “Community Engagement Core Value” and dedication to educating students and teachers about construction, Poettker Construction founded its NextGen community outreach program to support hands-on learning, student resources, and future…

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Ask SCORE: How to pitch an angel investor

Pitching an angel investor can feel a bit like a catch-22. You need angel funding to grow your business. Yet, the angel investor wants to see, among many things, the growth and success you’ve already secured. If you’re like most business owners in pursuit of angel funding, you don’t have years of sales to demonstrate…

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DOJ: $300M to model cities ‘dedicated to restoring law and order’

The Model Cities Initiative will demonstrate the effectiveness of the “Make America Safe Again” mission by taking a whole-of-city approach to reduce crime and restore law and order On June 3, 2026, the United States Department of Justice announced the Model Cities Initiative (MCI), a whole-of-city approach directing nearly $300 million in federal funding to…

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Public engagement for EWG Transportation Improvement Program set for July

Each year, East-West Gateway releases the draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for public review and comment. The current FY 2026-2029 TIP includes approximately $5.5 billion federally funded transportation projects scheduled throughout the region over the next four years. These projects include roadway improvements, bridge repairs, transit enhancements, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and other transportation-related investments…

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How IFF’s lending to CDFIs powers Midwest’s small business growth

Story provided by IFF Since its founding in 1988, IFF has worked at the intersection of facilities and finance to provide nonprofits with the resources and support they need to create and maintain the physical infrastructure required to provide essential services to their communities—like quality affordable housing, accessible child care and K-12 education, health care,…

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