Local Business Headlines
[Op-Ed] Protecting students today means using every tool — wisely
By MATT HICKAM Regional Superintendent Regional Office of Education 30 By any measure, the job of keeping students safe has become more complex. For educators, safety is no longer confined to what happens inside school walls. It extends to parking lots, surrounding neighborhoods, and increasingly, to a digital and physical landscape where risks can emerge…
Read MoreSIU’s Sharp Museum seeking cryptid-themed art for juried exhibition
Whether it’s Bigfoot, the Big Muddy Monster, creatures from the watery deep among urban legends, Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Sharp Museum wants all artists to put their best work on display in celebrating hidden or unknown animals and creatures. “Spooks or Spoofs,” a national juried cryptid-themed exhibition will run Aug. 11 through Dec. 21 in the museum.…
Read MoreCaritas Family Solutions launches Specialized Foster Care program
Program helps train foster parents on how to care for children with complex needs According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly half of new foster families quit within their first year, often due to burnout, lack of support and not enough training. That kind of turnover makes it even harder for…
Read MoreSIUE expands accessible navigation with NaviLens technology
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has expanded accessibility through the implementation of NaviLens, a smartphone-based wayfinding system designed to support blind and low vision individuals with independent navigation in indoor and outdoor spaces. This initiative is led by the Office for Accessible Campus Community & Equitable Student Support (ACCESS), SIUE’s accommodation services office. The technology uses high-density…
Read More[Op-Ed] $50M in grants: Fueling American skills, rebuilding local manufacturing
By BRAD ZAUN Regional Administrator Small Business Administration (SBA) We all remember the backbone of this country—the skilled hands, the innovative minds, and the resilient small businesses that build our modern life. Right now, those foundations are getting a vital boost through targeted support from the SBA’s Empower to Grow (E2G) Program. This isn’t just…
Read MoreMadison County EMA Emergency Alert system transitions today to a new platform
The Madison County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) is completing its transition to a new emergency notification platform and will officially discontinue use of the CodeRED system today, Friday, May 15, 2026. Residents previously signed up for CodeRED were transferred into the new Everbridge alert platform. However, EMA officials encourage residents to create an account through…
Read MoreSmall business lending: A guide to applying for a loan
By CHRIS LEFEVER, Director Small and Medium Business – Community Markets, UMB The truth about bankers is that we love nothing more than helping people turn their dreams into reality. We entered this line of work to help others reach their financial goals and find their individual path to success. For many, that means opening…
Read MoreRegion’s workforce ecosystem, industry partners recognized for ‘Excellence in Collaboration’
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE Managing Editor, Illinois Business Journal [email protected] A collaborative effort between southwestern Illinois workforce development agencies and the hospitality industry has earned statewide recognition while delivering what partners describe as a “Win-Win-Win” for employers, workers and students alike. The region’s workforce ecosystem received the Excellence in Collaboration Award during the Illinois…
Read MoreFolds of Honor ‘Round Up at the Register’ underway at Schnucks
Round Ups provide scholarships to family members of fallen and disabled military, first responders For the ninth consecutive year, Schnuck Markets Inc. is supporting the Folds of Honor Foundation through a Round Up at the Register campaign taking place at Schnucks stores throughout the Midwest. Folds of Honor is a nonprofit organization that honors the…
Read MoreLC Nursing program earns continued ACEN accreditation
Lewis and Clark Community College’s Associate Degree Nursing program has been granted continued accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), following a site visit in September 2025. The visit takes 2.5 days and is a peer-reviewed process where nursing educators from across the country volunteer to visit and evaluate other nursing…
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