The Illinois Business Journalreports that Leadership Council member Contegra Construction has recently completed work on two projects and started work on a third. The two completed projects include the PNC Bank in Fairview Heights and a new 22,000-square-food office building in Shiloh, while the project getting underway is the $25.8 million Illinois State Police's Metro East Forensic Science Lab in Belleville.
Construction to begin on new Highland hospital (Belleville News-Democrat, 4/18/12)
The Belleville News-Democrat reports that construction on St. Joseph's Hospital in Highland is set to begin this spring, with an estimated completion date of summer 2013. The $60 million project will result in a new 90,000-square foot facility offering 25 beds. The new hospital will replace the current one that has served the community for 64 years. Interested? Read more.
Building will be empty no more: Development taking shape on Route 159 (The Edwardsville Intelligencer, 4/14/12)
The Edwardsville Intelligencer reports that the two-story strip mall building located at 4263 Route 159 will have a tenant after some seven years of vacancy. According to Glen Carbon Building and Zoning Administrator Terry Harp, the completed building will become a daycare center, with the neighboring unfinished building at 4273 Route 159 slated to be completed for use as a doctors' office. Work will begin soon on the southern structure, with a completion date of October 2012. Read More
'Manufacturing is back': Metro-east businesses focus on 'green' technology, employee training (Belleville News-Democrat, 4/17/12)
The Belleville News-Democrat reports that there was a sense of 
optimism about the current state of manufacturing among metro-east manufacturers, economists and analysts at a forum at America'sCentral Port in Granite City earlier this month. According to the experts gathered at the forum, industry has embraced new training and green technologies that have led to significant, positive results in both St. Clair and Madison counties. Organizations such as the Southwest Illinois Advanced Manufacturing Center have helped clients like Edwardsville-based Turner Electric utilize new technologies, while the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center is helping other local businesses enhance their products and services. In addition, organizations such as Southwestern Illinois College's Selsius Corporate and Career Training and Madison County's Employment and Training are helping to serve area businesses by providing instruction in computer software and industrial training. Read more.
Olin Corp Awarded Army Contract (Illinois Business Journal, 4/2012)
U.S. Congressman Jerry Costello announced that the Olin Corp., Winchester Division, has been awarded a $9.3 million contract from the U.S. Army for the procurement of shotshell cartridges. The work will be performed at the company's East Alton location. For the original announcement, see pg. 5 of the Illinois Business Journal online at http://www.ibjonline.com/
Solar proposal shines new light on East St. Louis brownfield (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 4/12/12)
Wellesley, Mass.-based Brightfields Development LCC, is looking to transform the Alcoa site in East St. Louis into one of the Midwest's largest solar farms, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. Clean up and development of the 220-acre site would cost approximately $90 million as the site is transformed into a 20-megawatt solar farm, which would provide enough power for about 4,000 homes. Brightfields' managing principal John Hanselman indicated the firm would need a 20-year supply contract with Ameren in order for the project financing to work. Project developers estimate that the project would create more than 600 jobs during site cleanup and construction, as well as 20 permanent jobs. Read More
