$1.1 million endoscopic center planned for Illinois (St. Louis Business Journal, January 18, 2013)
According to the St. Louis Business Journal, an application has been filed with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board to bring a new medical facility - the $1.1 million Metroeast Endoscopic Surgery Center - to Fairview Heights. The planned 2,600-square-foot facility would be part of Dr. Shakeel Ahmed's practice, located at the Center for Gastrointestinal Health at 5023 N. Illinois St. It is estimated that approximately 2,100 procedures would be conducted at the new facility in its first year. ( Read More) HSSD turns to solar power (The Edwardsville Intelligencer, January 8, 2013) The Holiday Shores Sanitary District's administration building and water treatment facility in Edwardsville have been officially converted to solar power. Thanks to the completion of the $600,000 renewable energy project, the District has installed 390 solar panels at the water treatment facility and 120 panels at the administration building. According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the project was partially funded through grants from the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation. While the solar power will not decrease residents' water bills, it will prevent service rates from increasing. Trustees of the District approved the project in July 2012 and saw savings by October. (Read More) New grocery store may be built in Belleville (Belleville News-Democrat, January 3, 2013)
According to the Belleville News-Democrat, the City of Belleville's Economic Development and Annexation Committee has agreed to provide $200,000 toward the development of a Ruler Foods store. The new grocery store will be located at 17th Street and North Belt West, which is the site of the old Bel-Air Bowl. The agreement is pending full City Council approval, and after that, the final decision is left in the hands of Kroger Co., the owner of Ruler Foods. Once finalized, construction can begin as early as March with an expected opening date of November 2013. The planned 19,000-square-foot store would initially create 12 full-time jobs and generate $6.5 million in sales a year. ( Read More)
Godfrey spending $76,000 on 'branding' (The Alton Telegraph, January 4, 2013) The Godfrey board of trustees has voted to rebrand the village in order to show the world what it has to offer. The village will be teaming up with North Star Destination Strategies Inc., a marketing firm out of Nashville, Tenn., to highlight Godfrey's accomplishments, including its tax increment financing district, sewer main work and construction efforts on the Illinois 255 extension. The 23-week rebranding process will cost $76,000 and be taken out of the villages' Business District Tax Fund. (Read More) Delyte Morris bike trail extension completed (The Edwardsville Intelligencer, January 18, 2013) Southern Illinoi s University Edwardsville has finished the construction of a new asphalt trail. Located across from the old Mississippi River Festival site, the trail will provide an extension to the current Delyte Morris Trail. The project cost the university $48,821, and the trail will travel along North University Drive to New Poag Road. As part of the project, SIUE closed the dirt portion of the Delyte Morris Trail because it was seen as a safety hazard. The new connection is officially open, however, some minor installation work involving pavement markers will need to be done when the weather improves. SIUE will also be notifying Leadership Council member Madison County Transit about the new trail so that the organization can update its online trail maps. (Read More) Belleville council approves $159,000 to buy vacant furniture store (The Belleville News-Democrat, January 7, 2013) A vacant furniture store located near West Main Street and Illinois 157 is going to be bought by the City of Belleville. The City Council voted to buy the property for $159,000. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Mayor Mark Eckert said the council would decide in a future session if the building would be updated for use or demolished. If demolished, there is potential for the property to become green space for the city. (Read More) Bringing life back downtown: Historic church welcomes theater in Granite City (Belleville News-Democrat, January 6, 2013) The 110-year-old First Baptist Church of Granite City is being converted into a theater by local arts group Alfresco Productions as part of an ongoing effort to bring the downtown area of the city back to life. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that once some improvements have been made, Alfresco Productions will utilize the building to showscase local artists through musical performances, art shows and more. (Read More) Lead control program eyed (The Edwarsdville Intelligencer, January 10, 2013) Madison County Community Development is using a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement a lead hazard control program in an effort to improve lead hazardous homes and rental units. The program will be used to conduct inspections on older homes throughout the county and renovate 137 high-risk properties. With the focus on the health of the children, Madison County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan, a Leadership Council member, said the grant is going to allow the county to limit the exposure of lead for the hundreds of children who live in potentially hazardous areas. (Read More) |
several Southwestern Illinois projects and improvements underway during 2012, many involving Leadership Council members. Some notable articles include: