Local Business Headlines
Madison County’s Project Homeless Connect links people to housing, health care, support
Madison County will host its annual Project Homeless Connect from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 30, bringing individuals and families who are navigating homelessness or a housing crisis together with services, support, and basic necessities all in a single, accessible location. The event will take place at Riverbend Family Ministries, 144 E.…
Read MoreRegional officials highlight transit trajectory in 2026 during CMT’s “Talking Transit” event
Scheduled opening of first, large-scale transit infrastructure project in 20 years among key highlights The MetroLink extension to MidAmerica St. Louis Airport is scheduled to open in summer 2026 as ongoing efforts on both sides of the river work to deliver reliable access to opportunity. The circumstances surrounding transit funding are changing. Illinois is…
Read MoreSoulcial Kitchen strengthens board leadership with recent appointments
Tony Fuhrmann and Chef Lasse Sorensen bring decades of expertise in workforce innovation and culinary excellence to nonprofit’s mission National award-winning Soulcial Kitchen and The Soulcial Solutions Foundation recently announced the appointment of two distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors: Tony Fuhrmann, a veteran workforce development executive with nearly four decades of public and private…
Read MoreNew dietary guidelines issued
By TAMMIE SLOUP FarmWeek U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins on Jan. 7 released the dietary guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030, marking the most significant reset of federal nutrition policy in decades, according to a news release from the secretaries. The topline message: Eat real…
Read MoreAmeren delivers big economic benefits for Illinois, Missouri
Study estimates company’s operations are generating more than $20.7 billion in annual economic output Ameren Corporation’s (NYSE: AEE) operations in Illinois and Missouri triggered more than $20.7 billion in annual economic output, according to a study by a leading market research and development firm. Conducted by HR&A Advisors and commissioned by Ameren, the study analyzed…
Read More2026 economic outlook: The K factors
By ERIC KELLEY Executive Vice President, Chief Investment Officer UMB Private Wealth Management Economic growth was surprisingly robust in 2025 despite lots of fireworks in Washington D.C. and some pretty challenging periods for the financial markets. We had a painful market sell-off in April after the initiation of the new tariff campaign, but that trend…
Read MoreIllinois Retail Merchants Association launches first-ever statewide retail scholarship challenge
The Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) has announced the launch of the Illinois Retail Scholarship Challenge, which encourages high school seniors to develop creative, practical solutions to real business challenges facing the retail sector, with teams competing for scholarships of up to $60,000. Supported by grant funding from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic…
Read MoreTrump Administration cuts funding for Illinois behavioral health, suicide prevention programs
This week, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) received notice from the Trump Administration that funding for five critical behavioral health and suicide prevention programs, totaling over $5.94 million and affecting hundreds of people and providers, has been cut.…
Read MoreU.S. farmland values enter new phase, shaped by localized market signals
Regional differences underscore the need for local expertise as the agricultural land market adjusts The U.S. agricultural land market is shifting after years of steady growth. Although land values are still high historically, current signs indicate a more complex situation driven by local and regional factors rather than nationwide trends. “After years of steady growth,…
Read MoreHinckley Allen names St. Clair County Teen Court as 2026 Social Justice Partner
Firm expands Social Justice Partner Program to the Midwest, supporting restorative youth justice Hinckley Allen recently announced that St. Clair County Teen Court, based in Belleville, Ill., has been selected as the firm’s 2026 Social Justice Partner, officially expanding the Social Justice Partner Program into the Midwest. The partnership reflects the firm’s continued commitment to…
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