Local Business Headlines
As childhood myopia surges, SIUC team finds cleaner, cheaper way to make a key drug
If it seems like more children are wearing glasses, you’re not imagining it. By 2050, scientists project about 50% of the world’s population will be nearsighted. As families and clinicians look for ways to slow that trend, a team led by Southern Illinois University Carbondale researchers has developed a cleaner, lower-cost process to make…
Read MoreIntersection closure on Illinois 3 in Madison County near McKinley Bridge begins Oct. 6
The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that the intersection of Illinois 3 (Cedar Street) and Broadway near the McKinley Bridge in Madison County will be closed starting at 6 a.m. Monday, Oct. 6, weather permitting. During the closure, one through lane in each direction on Cedar Street will always remain open. However, southbound Illinois…
Read MoreAlton’s ‘First Fridays’ late night art, shopping experience, begins Oct. 3
Alton Main Street presents “First Fridays,” a late night art and shopping experience which spans 19 locations across the Downtown Alton district. This series is held on the first Friday of October, November and December, providing shoppers with an opportunity to check out new shops and galleries and visit familiar favorites to experience art and…
Read MoreDr. Mary Ruettgers moves Edward Jones office to new O’Fallon location
On Sept. 25, 2025, the O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting for Edward Jones Advisor – Dr. Mary Ruettgers, who has relocated her office to O’Fallon. The new location is at 703 Hartman Ln Suite #1, O’Fallon, IL 62269. The official announcement noted that, “Dr. Ruettgers and her team have put in…
Read MoreLouer Facility Planning awarded Madison County bid
By RANDY PIERCE Louer Facility Planning, located at 1604 Eastport Plaza in Collinsville, has been awarded a bid for providing workstations to the Madison County State’s Attorney’s office at a total cost of $34,621.93. A resolution approved unanimously regarding this transaction at the Madison County Board meeting held on Sept. 17 indicates there were four…
Read MoreJust before Alton’s Halloween Parade: Mooneyham Art presents ‘surrealism meets supernatural’
This Halloween, Mooneyham Art invites you to step out of the ordinary and slip into The Zone, a free art exhibition unfolding at 305 State Street in haunted downtown Alton on Oct. 31, 2025. The Zone will coincide with the city’s historic Halloween Parade. This immersive experience offers a surreal escape from the cold, complete with live…
Read MoreBUILT: Contegra sees bright future for region’s robust manufacturing, logistics sectors
The annual St. Louis Regional Freightway FreightWeekSTL report reflects a robust strength in manufacturing and logistics—a trend Contegra is also seeing in the local market, with Aerospace being particularly notable. Contegra recently completed a 120,000-square-foot new manufacturing facility for Elite Tool, a lean contract manufacturer for the aerospace, commercial, and defense industries in Moscow…
Read MoreBUILT: Korte & Luitjohan teams up with Vermeer Midwest for Collinsville build
For years, Korte & Luitjohan Contractors (K&L) of Highland has been a customer of Vermeer Midwest’s, a leading merchandiser of heavy construction and agricultural equipment with locations in five states. Those roles were reversed when Vermeer decided to add a new facility in Collinsville and hired K&L as the contractor. When the project was announced,…
Read MoreBUILT: Poettker Construction at 45 years, and forward
For 45 years and counting, collaboration and shared goals have been at the core of Poettker’s project approach. From pre-planning through final construction, Poettker provides confidence and peace of mind, ensuring every detail in a project’s lifecycle is expertly managed. Whether it is new construction, building additions, interior renovations, or master planning, Poettker’s client-focused…
Read MoreBUILT: Edwardsville’s Marschke Engineering continues building the future at Lake of the Ozarks
When the Lake of the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Council (LOREDC) finalized its multi-year Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy this spring, it marked a turning point for the region’s infrastructure and commercial growth. Marschke Engineering in Edwardsville is working at the heart of that transformation. Led by founder and principal engineer Matt Marschke, the firm…
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