Local Business Headlines
Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation awarded $100K Boeing grant to expand programming
The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation recently announced that it has received a $100,000 grant from Boeing to support the expansion of its signature Jackie Joyner-Kersee Winning in Life® program, an evidence-based initiative designed to equip youth with the skills, mindset, and support needed to succeed in school, career, and life. Founded by Olympic legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee,…
Read MoreUPDATE: St. Clair County I-64 westbound lane closures rescheduled to April 8
March 31, 2026 UPDATE: Due to expected inclement weather, the lane closures on I-64 originally scheduled for tomorrow have been postponed to 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8. All lanes are expected to reopen by 9 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. The Illinois Department of Transportation has announced that westbound Interstate 64 will be reduced to…
Read MoreCity of Edwardsville approves bid for Goshen Commons development
The Edwardsville City Council approved a $3.95 million bid from S.M. Wilson & Co. for the Goshen Commons downtown park project. The expected construction start date is Spring 2026, with completion expected in Fall 2026. Goshen Commons will reimagine a one-block area in downtown Edwardsville as a pedestrian-friendly public plaza that will incorporate green space,…
Read MoreEast-West Gateway board of directors approves Public Involvement Plan
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the East-West Gateway Board of Directors approved the agency’s updated 2026 Public Involvement Plan (PIP), a federally mandated document that guides how EWG communicates with and engages residents and stakeholders across the St. Louis region. The updated plan reflects direct input from the public. Earlier this year, EWG invited residents…
Read MoreHoffman advances plan to strengthen Workplace Rights Bureau
A pro-worker initiative led by State Rep. Jay Hoffman (D-Swansea) to strengthen the Workplace Rights Bureau, close loopholes and hold bad actors accountable heads to the full House for consideration. “I’m proud to partner with Attorney General Kwame Raoul as we look to enhance the bureau’s capabilities to investigate and prosecute violations of laws that…
Read MoreTeen entrepreneur builds successful mobile auto detailing business
By MELISSA CROCKETT MESKE Managing Editor, Illinois Business Journal [email protected] A high school student in the Metro East is turning early entrepreneurial instincts into a growing service business, capitalizing on demand for convenience and local digital marketing. Metro East Auto Spa, a mobile vehicle detailing company launched in 2025, has expanded from a small side…
Read MoreACT increases sign-on bonus to $3,500 for drivers, mechanics, others
Driver starting pay also increased to $24 per hour In an effort to recruit professionals for several of its key positions, Agency for Community Transit (ACT) has increased its sign-on bonus to $3,500 for drivers, fuelers, cleaners, and fleet technicians (mechanics). With additional drivers needed to meet the growing demand for Madison County Transit (MCT)…
Read MoreEEOC sues Metro East cannabis company for sexual harassment
Federal lawsuit alleges Ascend Wellness Holdings created a hostile work environment for female employees ST. LOUIS – Cannabis company Ascend Wellness Holdings Inc. violated federal law when it subjected female employees at the company’s Collinsville, Ill., facility to unlawful sexual harassment, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit announced today. According…
Read MoreEdwardsville nonprofit theatrical production company to host first fundraising event
Lights, Camera, Cocktails: Alumni Players! launches effort to celebrate five years of community partnerships Alumni Players! is hosting their first fundraising event Lights, Camera, Cocktails on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, on the third floor of the historic Wildey Theatre in downtown Edwardsville. The evening will celebrate the Alumni Players! legacy of partnering with other local…
Read MoreCommentary: Trump’s tariffs have cost small business importers $306K on average
A new analysis from the Center for American Progress finds that the Trump administration’s sweeping tariff agenda has imposed steep costs on America’s small-business importers, with the average small-business importer paying an average $306,000 more in tariffs from March 2025 through February 2026, compared with the prior 12 months. Tariff costs for small-business importers have…
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