2017 January Issue
COUNTERPOINT: Should the U.S. repeal the federal inheritance tax?
No, estate tax should be strengthened, not eliminated By BRENDAN V. DUKE One reason Donald Trump was elected president is that throughout his campaign, Trump did not sound like a typical Republican. He didn’t deliver bland praise to “job creators” — instead he talked about his dream of transforming the Republican Party into a “workers’…
Read MorePOINT: Should the U.S. repeal the federal inheritance tax?
Yes, ‘death tax’ is especially onerous to farmers, small businessmen By JOHN SHIMKUS It is an exciting time for our country right now. After six years of divided government, Republicans now have a huge opportunity to fix bad policies of the past that have made life more difficult for many hard-working Americans. The American people…
Read MoreCommerce Bank bolsters workforce throughout Southwestern Illinois
By ROBERTA CODEMO Commerce Bank has been an industry leader for more than 150 years and is committed to serving the Southern Illinois area. Commerce employees live in the communities where they work and understand the needs of their customers. “Our senior management team is located in the Metro area,” said Matt Gomric, senior…
Read MoreAmerica’s Central Port increases its rail capacity by 30 percent
By ROBERTA CODEMO America’s Central Port, located in Granite City and Madison, completed two major rail projects in 2016, increasing rail capacity by 30 percent. “We laid 4.25 miles of new track,” said Bill Stahlman, director of engineering and construction for America’s Central Port. “That’s a lot of track to put in.” The port…
Read MoreGrowth Association aims to expand popular high school CEO program
By DENNIS GRUBAUGH Alton area high school students are getting a real-world view of business through Riverbend CEO, a program that supporters want to bring to more schools in the next year. “I have a fantastic group of students, very eager to learn and enthusiastic,” class facilitator Katie McBee said of her first-year cohort, comprised…
Read MoreAssociated Bank completes $3 million renovation project
By ALAN J. ORTBALS Associated Bank completed a year-long, $3 million renovation of its branches in Fairview Heights, Alton, East St. Louis, Glen Carbon, Columbia, Millstadt and the one on West Main Street in Belleville in 2016. “The investment reflects Associated Bank’s long-term commitment to the region,” said Phillip Hickman, Southern Illinois Community Market president.…
Read MoreFocus on quality of life, development and business retention pays off for Alton
By ALAN J. ORTBALS Improving the quality of life, supporting development and retaining and strengthening businesses is the blueprint the city of Alton followed to a strong 2016. “We can hardly keep up with the building permits,” said Mayor Brant Walker. “The big push has been quality of life with regards to our economic…
Read MoreKorte Company logs $280 million in revenue through projects spread around the country
By ALAN J. ORTBALS The Korte Company was propelled to a strong year in 2016 by projects ranging in size from 1,000 square feet to more than 800,000 square feet and scattered across the nation from Louisiana to Washington. All told, the company logged $280 million in revenue for the year. “During 2016, The Korte…
Read MoreIllinois American Water Co. honored by J.D. Power for customer satisfaction
By ALAN J. ORTBALS Illinois American Water received the J.D. Power award for ranking highest in customer satisfaction among water utilities in the Midwest according to J.D. Power’s 2016 Water Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study. The utility also achieved the highest score in the region for price and communications. The first-time, national study was based…
Read MoreHighland programs invest in residences, workforce
By DENNIS GRUBAUGH The city of Highland made progress on multiple fronts this past year that bodes well for the community’s workforce and quality of life. Assistant City Manager Lisa Peck says the city’s home buyer program was very successful, with evidence that home values are starting to rise and conditions stabilizing in the historic…
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