New Developments in Southwestern Illinois and St. Louis Metro East Illinois

Southwestern Illinois is a dynamic real estate and development market that has experienced significant economic growth over the past several years. In 2010 alone, approximately $6 billion in construction projects were underway or completed in Madison and St. Clair counties. Check out our new bi-monthly e-newsletter, Metro East NewsLink, for a quick summary of the most recent projects making news. The New Developments section below also provides a quick overview of other significant project announcements in the past year in the industrial, commercial, public, and office & institutional sectors.

Industrial Sector | Commercial Sector | Office & Institutional Sectors | Public Sector

The information in this section is compiled from local media sources. The Leadership Council assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions. If you know of other significant projects that you would like to see included, please follow the format of the following examples and e-mail the relevant details to klong@siue.edu for consideration.

Industrial Sector Developments

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Leadership Council member Impact Strategies will be constructing and designing the new refrigerated warehouse for North Bay Produce at MidAmerica Airport. The new warehouse will be a 19,000-square-foot extension of the existing building. Having built North Bay's first warehouse, Impact will also assist with the connections and installation for the packaging equipment. The $3.5 million expansion is set to be finished in September. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (April 2013)

The City of Grafton received a $1.9 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to begin construction on an Asian carp plant. The grant was awarded last July to help fund the construction of the 130,000-square-foot processing facility, which, once operating, will export 15 million carp to China. With construction set to start next month, the project is estimated to provide 36 jobs. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal.(February 2013)

Kraft Foods is asking Granite City and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to expand the street outside its plant before it moves forward with a $40 million expansion that would add 30 new jobs. The company would like a 750-foot stretch of Missouri Ave. to be widened in front of the plant to improve traffic flow and safety. The improvements of the street will cost $400,000, with $300,000 provided under IDOT's Economic Development Program and $100,000 provided by Granite City through tax increment financing. The work would take six to eight weeks to be completed, if approved by City Council. Read more in the Suburban Journals. (February 2013)

Contegra doing $20 million project in Madison County

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Leadership Council member Contegra Construction will be responsible for the construction services for another project at Gateway Commerce Center, this one a $20 million project to add an additional 482,000 square feet to the Westway 1 warehouse distribution center. The warehouse was originally built in 2007, and the new construction will expand the facility to a total of 964,000 square feet under 32-Foot ceilings. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (September 2012)

ECF spends $1 million for new Illinois headquarters

ECF, Inc. has decided to consolidate from two locations into one based in the Metro East. The petrochemical contracting firm is moving from Soulard and Sauget to Columbia, Ill. The firm decided on the location due to property values. According to the St. Louis Business Journal, the new headquarters will have about 5,000 square feet of office space with another 5,000 of shop/warehouse space to accompany it. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal. (July 2012)

Will shipping firm be a big boost to MidAmerica?

North Bay Produce last week celebrated the grand opening of its new $5.4 million perishable warehouse at MidAmerica Airport. North Bay specializes in the year-round production and marketing of fresh produce, currently selling its products to customers located in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Middle East and Europe. The company's expansion to MidAmerica Airport is a key step in its plans to open the Asian trade lane that is integral to the company's future growth, while St. Clair County officials characterized North Bay as the anchor tenant for the airport's international cargo operators. Read more at the St. Louis Post Dispatch. (June 2012)

Wellesley, Mass. -based Brightfields Development LLC, 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) (April 2012)

Prairie State Energy Campus in rural Washington County will soon be adding 200 additional employees to operate the new power plant and corporate office. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the power plant is 75 percent finished, and by December 2011, the first two energy-generating units at the $4 billion power plant should be ready to function. The second is anticipated to begin by summer 2012. (Posted May 2011)

Bunge North America and a subsidiary of SEACOR Holdings Inc. are joining forces to build a new grain terminal in Fairmont City, Ill. The facility, which will be on the Mississippi River just south of the site of the new bridge, will receive grains, soybeans, their byproducts and other bulk commodities and ship them domestically or internationally. It will have storage capacity of more than 1 million bushels. Construction is expected to take a year and employ about 100 people, and upon completion the new grain terminal facility will have up to 20 full-time employees. (Posted May 2011)

This document draws from local media sources to provide a brief overview of just some of the most recent significant industrial and commercial developments in Madison and St. Clair Counties. The Leadership Council assumes no responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions. If you know of other significant projects that you would like to see included, please follow the format of the examples above and e-mail the relevant details to klong@siue.edu for consideration.

Commercial Sector Developments

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Gundlach Equipment Corp., which operates under TerraSource Global, has begun construction on its $5.1 million two-story office addition in Belleville. The company, which manufactures coal-crushing equipment for the mining industry, is adding new offices to accommodate employment growth. The project is expected to be completed by October. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (May 2013)

FedEx Ground held a ground-breaking ceremony on May 14 for a 181,000-square-foot distribution center the company is building in Sauget. More than 45 acres of farm ground located within the 700-acre Sauget Business Park will be taken up by the building. The center will be one of 500 such expansions FedEx Ground is undertaking in the next five years. Sauget's distribution center is expected to bring 25 full-time and 150 part-time jobs by September 2014, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (May 2013)

The track has shown such promise: New owners at Gateway plan $20 million in improvements

The Belleville News-Democrat is reporting that Leadership Council member Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, which been operating since last year under a lease agreement with a group of investors, has now been acquired by the group. The new owners have plans to reinvest $20 million in the facility. The group, led by local real estate developer and former National Hot Rod Association driver Curtis Francois, has indicated that the capital improvements will come in three phases. The first calls for investment of about $11.5 million in upgrading the track's infrastructure, which includes renovating the grandstand and concession stands, improving drainage and adding new corporate meeting space. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (May 2013)

According to the St. Louis Business Journal, the new 5,000-square-foot Mike Shannon's Grill recently opened at 871 S. Arbor Vitae in Edwardsville. The upscale-casual restaurant includes seating for 130 patrons inside and 30 on the patio. The menu will have burgers, sandwiches, and salads as well as additional entrees. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal. (March 2013)

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, the new Sam's Club and expanded Walmart Supercenter in Glen Carbon will open in August. The 129,000-square-foot existing Walmart will be expanding by 55,000 square feet and will include a grocery store, renovations to the parking and access roadways, and a design remodel. The project is expected to cost $5.57 million and create 80 jobs. A 136,000-square-foot Sam's club will open up on the sites of the former Do-It Center and Four Flags Motors, which sit across the street from Walmart. The building will include a gas station and a pharmacy and will create 175 jobs. Mine subsidence and environmental contamination cleanup work was estimated to cost $6.7 million alone and will be paid via a temporary 1 percent sales tax that was added for that building, as well as through half of the sales tax Glen Carbon will receive from Sam's Club. After the incentive package expires, Glen Carbon will receive an estimated $750,000 a year in sales taxes from the building. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (February 2013)

Two businesses proposed plans during a recent public hearing at the Alton City Hall that would expand the Riverbend area's 13.68-square-mile Enterprise Zone by 60 acres. Quality Buick GMC Cadillac has proposed adding 10 acres, and would use the tax incentives offered by the enterprise zone to help pay for its planned $1.2 - $1.4 million renovation and expansion of its current building, located at 1620 Homer Adams Parkway. The project is expected to get underway in March with completion set for June. Moran Economic Development of Edwardsville also proposed an expansion on behalf of the Village of Bethalto and developer Gary Grewe of G.J. Grewe Inc. of St. Louis. G.J. Grewe, Inc., is looking to build a commercial development on the 50 acres the St. Louis Regional Airport owns southwest of the intersection of Illinois Routes 140 and 111. The approval process for the proposed expansions can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (February 2013)

Eckert breaks tie vote; Belleville to give $200K in TIF funds for new grocery store

The Belleville City Council has approved tax increment financing funds to Kroger Co. The foods retailer will receive $200,000 for the construction of a new 19,260-square-foot Ruler Foods store at 1703 North Belt West in Belleville. In order to locate the new store in Belleville, Kroger Co. had to commit to a development agreement. The agreement insists that the store must invest at least $2.9 million in the infrastructure of the building, remain in the city for at least five years, create 12 full-time jobs and generate a minimum of $5.5 million in sales in the first two years. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat.(February 2013)

Two years after the Walgreens closed in Wood River, the vacant building, which sits at 18 W. Edwardsville Road, will now host Family Dollar. The store officially opened on Feb. 14. Offering every day, affordable products, the retailer will provide between eight and 10 jobs. With stores already in Alton and Jerseyville, the Wood River location will be joining the 7,200 Family Dollar stores nationwide. Read more in The Alton Telegraph.(February 2013)

After undergoing extensive renovations, the 100-year-old Lory Theater in Highland recently reopened after being closed for a year and a half. Upgrades to the theater include the replacement of the electrical system, bathrooms and roof, repairs to the ceiling, restoration of wall fixtures, and the installation of a brand new state-of-the-art sound system, screen and digital projector. According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the project cost $400,000 to complete and was done with the help of the new Highland Entrepreneurship program, which assists entrepreneurs in writing business plans and applying for business loans. Future plans for the theater call for renovations to the second story, as well as adding another screen. Read more in The Edwardsville Interlligencer.(February 2013)

The Belleville News-Democrat recently featured several new developments that are underway throughout the Metro East:

The first Menard's hardware store in the Metro East will open in O'Fallon this spring. The store will be 162,000 square feet and will include a 42,000-square-foot outdoor warehouse. The Jazz at Walter Circle, a senior housing development in East St. Louis, is expected to open in late March. The four-story, 100,000-square-foot facility will consist of 74 apartment units and will include a grocery store, a credit union and a wellness center. Gordon Food Service, a bulk food delivery service and grocery store, will open at 340 Market Place in Fairview Heights in early April. Cheddar's Casual Café is being constructed on the site of the former Casa Gallardo at 6600 N. Illinois Street in Fairview Heights. The new 10,500-square-foot restaurant will open sometime in May or June. Construction will start this month or next on a new retail center redevelopment in Fairview Heights. The Fairview City Centre, located at 6252 N. Illinois St., will replace existing retail space, and the new center will consist of six stores. Tenants so far include Petco, Office Max and Sports Authority. Read more in the Belleville News-Domocrat. (January 2013)

The historic Kendall Cracker Factory, located at 201 E. Broadway in Alton, is in the process of being renovated and turned into apartments after a storm damaged the building in 2009. The renovations will create a 1,900-square-foot penthouse on the top floor and apartments on the second floor, and according to The Alton Telegraph, the basement and first floor will be used for commercial space. The project has been estimated to cost $1.3 million. The City of Alton will provide $332,735 from the Riverfront Tax Increment Financing District money if specific requirements are met by the owner. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (January 2013)

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Leadership Council member IMPACT Strategies has been chosen to design and build Central Park Center, a new 9,800-square-foot retail center to be located in O'Fallon, Ill. La Casa Mexicana restaurant and eye-care retailer All about Eyes will occupy much of the retail space. The project is scheduled to open next June. Read more in The St. Louis Post Dispatch. (December 2012)

The Post-Dispatch is reporting that the impending opening of a new Mike Shannon's in Edwardsville appears to be getting closer. Buzz about the new location began circulating last week after Co-owner Pat Shannon-Vanmatre, Mike Shannon's daughter, tweeted a job opening for head chef at Mike Shannon's Grill, which will be located in the same shopping plaza as Peel Pizza. The tweet described the décor and attitude of the restaurant, along with pricing and hours of operations. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (October 2012)

Company expanding at Alton Center

The Alton Telegraph is reporting that 1410 Discovery Parkway, a subsidiary American Water Co., will build an expanded office space at Alton Center Business Park to accommodate growth in its business. The company will expand to 24,000 square feet in the unfinished warehouse space and create a new entrance on the west side of the facility. The $2 million project, which will be headed by Leadership Council member Contegra Construction, is estimated to be complete by early December. American Water Resources currently employs 80 people. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (August 2012)

Jazz @ Walter Circle: New housing development follows Emerson Park's Success

HBD Construction is heading a $22 million project in old Emerson Park. The building, Jazz @ Walter Circle is a four-story, 100,000-square-foot complex. A total of 74 apartment units will be available in the new senior housing and commercial development. Along with residential space, a grocery store, a credit union and Southern Illinois Regional Care will all have space on the first floor. According to The Belleville News-Democrat, the structure will gain LEED gold certification due to its use of solar panels and various other energy sources. The project is set to be complete by October. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (July 2012)

Mertz Ford's new home to open by November

A new location for Mertz Motor Company is under construction and expected to be open by the end of the year, according to the Belleville News-Democrat. Plans outline a new 22,600-square-foot showroom on a 3.3-acre site on Illinois 158, where Golden Dipt once operated a plant. The expanded space will allow room to service Ford trucks and will also make more jobs available for technicians, sales and office staff. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (July 2012)

New pub ready to pour in O'Fallon

The Global Brew Tap House and Lounge opened its second Metro East location on June 15 in O'Fallon. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the new pub will offer 50 beers on tap and more than 200 bottled brews from throughout the world. The Belleville News-Democrat's Retail Round Up column also reports that Regions Bank also is getting ready to add another branch in the metro-east, this one at 8401 State St. in East St. Louis. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (June 2012)

This is a huge deal: Centreville breaks ground on 100-room hotel

Centreville is set to welcome two fo the largest projects the city has ever seen. The Belleville News-Democrat is reporting that a company known as RJ3A LLC bought 67 acres of land at Illinois 15 and Lakewood Drive, where ground was broken this past week for a 100-room hotel that is expected to open by spring of 2013. The site will also be home to EZ-Z Lock, a business that will make residential door locks. It's expected to be finished at the end of the summer or in early fall. The two projects are expected to bring well over 100 new jobs to the community. Read more in the Belleville News Democrat. (June 2012)

Coming soon: Belleville theater complex set to open in July

Eat Drinks Games Etc. (EDGE) will soon open a new five-movie theatre complex named EDGE 5. The Belleville News Democrat reports that the theater will include two "movie grill" theaters for patrons 21 and older that feature reclining seats and call buttons to place food and drink orders. Read more at the Belleville News Democrat. (June 2012)

Edwardsville gets mini building boom

Undeterred by the current lag in the economy, Edwardsville continues to grow with three commercial and one mixed-use development in the works along IL-157. Leadership Council President Gerry Schuetzenhofer, president of Coldwell Banker Brown Realtors, comments on the Alpha Omega Commercial Park in a recent round up story. Read more in the Post-Dispatch.

$50 million in Granite City development pipeline

Several projects ranging from retail development to new restaurants to factory renovations are expected to take shape in Granite City this year, totaling more than $50 million in commercial and industrial construction. The Suburban Journals report that among the projects contributing to the total are $13 million to improve plant efficiency and space to increase Prairie Farm's factory's workforce to 125, scheduled to finish December 2012; over $10 million to expand Wal-Mart into a supercenter, expected to be complete in August; and $6.9 million for construction of 43 new energy efficient apartments at Granite City Commons, expected to be complete December or January. (Posted July 2011)

Multi-use entertainment complex opening December in Edwardsville

Edwardsville is getting closer to housing a new, state-of-the-art entertainment facility that will include a 12 lane bowling alley, arcade, 3,700-sqaure-foot laser tag arena, restaurant and more. Scheduled for a December opening, Edison's will be located off Illinois 157 near Sunset Hills Country Club and will offer a high-end bowling experience. Patrons can be waited on for food and beverages at coffee tables and leather couches down by the lanes at the bowling alley, which will offer black lights, fog and other effects at night. The complex will also offer projection screens for customers to watch sports games, as well as a frozen yogurt bar. (Posted July 2011)

Historic Wildey Theatre reopens for first time in 27 years after $2.9 million renovation

The Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville, first opened in 1909, has reopened its doors for the first time since 1984.

The $2.9 million renovation was financed without using general tax revenue. One-third of the funding came from an amusement tax the city collects on movies and video rentals, a third from a downtown tax-increment financing district and a third from community fund-raising. Rangwala Architects of St. Louis was architect for the renovation. Miller & Maack of Collinsville served as general contractor. (Posted June 2011)

The Lincoln Theatre, which originally opened in 1921 at 103 E. Main St. in Belleville, Ill., is making a range of improvements to enhance visitors' experiences. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that with a $600,000 expansion already underway, the owners are planning to install digital projectors, a bigger self-serve concession area, and a gourmet popcorn shop attached to the theater. (Posted May 2011)

$2 million for two new movie theaters planned for Belleville

The EDGE, a food and entertainment complex at 701 S. Belt West in Belleville, Ill., will soon be home to two new first-run movie theaters. The EDGE, an acronym for Eats, Drinks, Games, Etc., houses a laser tag arena, video arcade and a restaurant and bar. The owners plan to close the facility's miniature golf course and build two theaters, investing over $2 million in the project, which will be completed by year's end. (Posted May 2011)

Office and Institutional Sectors Developments

In order to meet health and safety requirements, Lewis and Clark Community College will be making infrastructure upgrades to its sewer and water systems, according to The Alton Telegraph. The projects are designed to extend the systems by an extra quarter mile in order to accommodate for future construction projects on the campus. Leadership Council Member Sheppard, Morgan and Schwab has estimated the sewer project to total between $308,125 to $510,270 and the water project at $202,145. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (May 2013)

Plans for the multi-million-dollar renovation of St. Patrick's Adult Education Center at Lewis and Clark Community College, a member of the Leadership Council, have been approved to begin this summer, according to The Alton Telegraph. The project, which will cost $5.6 million, will include updates to the center's two current buildings, as well as the construction of a third building. The estimated time for completion is between 15 and 18 months. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (May 2013)

Leadership Council member Holland Construction Services has finished construction on a new 16,800-square-foot addition at St. Clare Catholic School in O'Fallon. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, in total, the project cost $4.9 million and also included renovations to the existing building. Contributions by St. Clare and St. Nicholas parishes in O'Fallon as well as Corpus Christi in Shiloh helped fund part of the project, with the remainder provided through a capital campaign and a $200,000 loan. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (April 2013)

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, the new St. Joseph's Hospital in Highland should be ready to open this summer. Located at North Poplar Street and Troxler Avenue near the Highland High School, the $60-plus million project is 90 percent complete. Two Leadership Council members, Korte Luitjohan and McCarthy Building Companies are partnering to complete the project. The Belleville News-Democrat also provided an update on the $1.9 million medical office space Leadership Council member the Korte Co. is constructing as part of the new hospital. That project, which will include physician offices, treatment rooms, exam rooms and triage rooms, will be completed by August. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (April 2013)

According the St. Louis Business Journal, Leadership Council member the Korte Co. has started construction on a 17,500-square-foot medical office building that will be located in the new St. Joseph's Hospital in Highland, Ill. The $1.97 million project is scheduled to be completed by the end of August and will include physician offices, treatment rooms, exam rooms and triage facilities. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal. (April 2013)

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a new senior living apartment complex will be coming to Belleville. The City Council approved the construction of the $5 million Cottages at Cathedral Square development near St. Peter's Cathedral. With construction set to begin this summer, the complex will provide affordable housing for seniors. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (April 2013)

According to The Alton Telegraph, SIUE will be opening its Art & Design building to the public on Thursday, March 21. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 3:30 p.m., and the event will last until 6:30 p.m. The $15.3 million project consisted of renovating the existing building and creating a 29,000-square-foot addition. The new space consists of an art gallery, additional office space, graduate student studio space and classrooms. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (March 2013)

According to the Alton Telegraph, the Alton School Board has approved eight bid packages for the renovation of North Elementary off Godfrey Rd. North will be the last elementary school building in the district to be remodeled as part of a four-phase project that started in 2008. As part of its estimated $2.75 million renovation, North will receive new flooring, wall coverings and coatings and ceilings; renovated kitchen and gymnasium; remodeled, energy- and water-efficient restrooms; and new mechanicals. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (March 2013)

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, Red Bud High School will be getting a $7 million addition, complete with three state-of-the-art science labs and a large gymnasium. Leadership Council members Holland Construction Services and Ittner Architects have been hired to serve as the construction manager and architect, respectively. The construction timeframe is still undetermined, but the Red Bud School District hopes to have the project completed by middle of the 2014-2015 school year. The project will be funded through the school district's reserves. Read more in the Belleville News Democrat. (March 2013)

By the end of this year, East Alton will be getting a $4.4 million dialysis center. Located in one of the new buildings going up on Professional Drive, the 10,244-square-foot facility will house the 19-station FMC Southwest Illinois dialysis center. According to the Alton Telegraph, site work on the building has begun with two phases of construction set to follow. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (February 2013)

Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen Inc., St. Joseph's Critical Care Hospital, Highland

Construction on the new $30 million St. Joseph's Critical Care Hospital in Highland is underway and is expected to be completed in May. Located at the intersection of Troxler Avenue and Illinois Rte. 160, the project will consist of a 67,599-square-foot, 25-bed hospital and 58,000-square-foot medical office building. Leadership Council members Thouvenot, Wade & Moerchen, Inc., an engineering firm, and general contractor Korte & Luitjohan Contractors, Inc., are members of the project team. Read more on page 9 of the Illinois Business Journal. (February 2013)

According to The Alton Telegraph, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) will be opening its brand new Science Building this fall to students and faculty. Connected to the original Science Building, the $52 million, four-story building will allow for more classroom, offices and innovative technology. The 139,000-square-foot facility is being built to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) requirements set by the U.S. Green Building Council, and will include solar panels on the roof, low-flow plumbing fixtures, sun shades and high-efficiency insulation, among other green features. SIUE is also planning on renovating the current building, which is expected to cost an additional $30 million and will take two years to complete. Read more in The Alton Telegraph (February 2013)

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, the City of Belleville Finance Committee recently approved a proposed agreement that would move Replacement Services, LLC's, corporate offices from Swansea to the former downtown YMCA in Belleville. The Belleville City Council will need to give final approval. The company provides claim and underwriting services to property and casualty insurance companies and is looking to turn part of the old YMCA into a call center. Having been vacant since 2006, the building's renovation costs are estimated at $800,000. Replacement Services LLC is looking to buy the building for $1, which is what the city had paid for it. Additionally, the company is asking the city for $210,000 in tax increment financing funds. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat.(February 2013)

Southern Illinois 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 in The Edwardsville Interlligencer.

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 in The St. Louis Business Journal. (January 2013)

Leadership Council member Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation recently opened the new state-of-the-art McKinley Health Center, which is located at the former McKinley School in Granite City. Funded by the Affordable Care Act Capital Development Grant, The Alton Telegraph reports that the facility cost $8.8 million to complete. The facility's services are all-encompassing and consolidate the operations of Koch Health Center and Delmar Dental Center in Granite City. With 31,800 square feet, the facility holds 36 exams rooms and will provide care for 4,500 new patients. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (December 2012)

Southwestern Illinois College showed off part of its new 78,901-square-foot Liberal Arts Complex at the school's annual tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 29. The $19.1 million, three-story addition will officially open in January, just in time for the 2013 spring semester. The facility includes many green features, including rain gardens, a white roof and the use of recycled materials, and it is pending LEED Gold Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Read more in The Edwardsville Intelligencer. ( December 2012)

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that plans for a new $27 million addition to St. Paul's Home, an assisted living and independent care facility serving those 65 years and older, have been unanimously approved by the Belleville City Council. Construction of the expansion is expected to begin in June 2013, pending approval from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board of the Illinois Department of Public Health, with an expected completion date of December 2014. Once the new addition opens, the old nursing home and care building will be demolished. Read more in The Belleville News-Democrat. (December 2012)

The Belleville News-Democrat reports a variety of projects being underway at college campuses throughout the Metro East. The article mentions several projects that are taking place at Southern Illinois University, including the following:

The Belleville News-Democrat also highlights work being done at Lewis & Clark Community College to complete Phase 2 of the Jerry Costello Confluence Field Station, as well as renovation work at McKendree University. The school has made a $425,000 upgrade by adding new locker rooms at the Melvin Price Convocation Center, and renovations are continuing at 225 N. Monroe St. to house offices and a classroom. A former residence on campus has also been renovated and includes offices for health services and counselors. Read more in The Belleville News- Democrat . (December 2012)

According to the Alton Telegraph, a dedication was held on Nov. 29 for the $4.5 million Vadalabene Center Lukas Athletics Annex on the SIUE campus. The building contains approximately 29,100 square feet of space for Intercollegiate Athletics offices and will house all of the athletic offices, kinesiology and health education research and some training facilities. SIUE's goal, with the new building, is to recruit exceptional athletes and make the university competitive in NCAA Division I sports. The Charles S. and Mary L. Lukas Estate gave $4.2 million for the project. Read more in The Telegraph. (November 2012)

Student housing project builder chosen in Edwardsville

Leadership Council member IMPACT Strategies has been selected to build the $35 million off-campus multi-housing community in Edwardsville. The firm is currently working with Enclave Management Group, LLC, to build Enclave West, which is located at the intersection of New Poag Road and Northwest University Drive and will comprise 672 beds. Site work has already begun, and the development is expected to open by August of 2013. Enclave West is approximately double the size of the original Enclave and is located 100 feet from campus. Read more in The Telegraph. (November 2012)

St. Joseph's Hospital Launches $4 million Capital Campaign

St. Joseph's Hospital's "Building for Tomorrow" capital campaign is now officially underway with a goal of raising $4 million. The campaign supports the new hospital of the same name to be located one mile north of its current location. The campaign is scheduled to run until June 1, 2013, and since last November, when a quiet phase of the campaign was launched, the hospital has already raised $2.8 million. The new facility is designed to focus on outpatient treatment and therapy, so that patients can avoid overnight stays. The project has been underway since April 2012 and is expected to be completed in the summer of 2013. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (November 2012)

Madison County Housing Authority unveils housing redevelopment

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, on Nov. 30,the Madison County Housing Authority celebrated the grand opening of the Gateway Apartments Development, two affordable housing developments in Madison and Venice, Ill. The 55-unit John W. Hamm III Apartments, named for Madison Mayor and Madison County Housing Authority Executive Director John Hamm, was recently completed and is located in Madison in the same space that the Garesche Homes once occupied. In Venice, the 23-unit Tyrone Echols Apartments, named for Venice's current mayor, is nearing completion on the former site of the Viola Jones Homes at the intersections of Logan, Meredocia and Calhoun streets in Venice.Both developments are gated and feature one, two, three and four-bedroom single story, garden-style and townhouse-style homes. The apartments were developed by Madison County Housing Authority in partnership with Madison County, the cities of Madison and Venice and Housing Solutions, Inc., a local non-profit. The two projects were funded through a variety of public and private sources. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (November 2012)

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Chestnut Health Systems, a mental and substance abuse treatment center, spent $5.4 million to double the size of its building in Granite City to 70,000 square feet. The center was originally established in 1993, and since then it has grown, having gone through many mergers with other nonprofits and having added numerous programs. Updates to the headquarters facility includes offices for human resources, accounting and facility management, along with space for treatment, outpatient chemical dependency and mental health program and a 24-hour call center, a 16-bed crisis stabilization program and a training program. The center officially opened on Oct. 26, and since the expansion, clients are now able to walk in without an appointment, and physician care is also available. The capacity for the onsite training program surged from 25 to 30 people to approximately 120 people. Read more in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (October 2012)

Construction on McKendree University's new 1,824-square-foot locker room is expected to be completed in mid-November, just in time for basketball season. The university is preparing to enter the NCAA Division II competition next year. The Belleville News-Democrat reports that the $410,000 in improvements, which are being managed by Holland Construction Services, will be paid for entirely with private donations and will help in the university's recruiting efforts. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (October 2012)

The Illinois Business Journal reports that The Korte Company recently completed a $5.1 million, 16,900-square-foot, second floor addition to the Anderson Hospital Women's Pavilion, along with a first floor remodel. The 17 new postpartum/delivery rooms were built to resemble luxurious hotel rooms. The Pavilion is also connected to a surgery suite to allow quick access in the case of an emergency. Other features of the addition include a nursery, social servile suite, classroom, waiting room and staff office. The first floor remodel included updating 12 postpartum/delivery rooms and the addition of elevators and stair access to the newly completed second floor. Read more in the Illinois Business Journal. (October 2012)

SIU awards $6 million in cotracts for new dental school lab

The Southern Illinois University Board of Trustees approved $6 million for a new multidiscipline laboratory at the SIU School of Dental Medicine's Alton campus. The St. Louis Business Journal reports that the majority of the project will be paid for by a $4.1 million grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, University Plant funds, donated funds, and equipment use fees. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal. (September 2012)

New art and design building is nearing completion at SIUE

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, a new $15.3 million Art and Design Building is scheduled to be completed at SIUE in about a month. This new LEED Silver certified building will accommodate students and staff more easily than their current facilities. The new space will contain over 11,000 square feet of classroom space, an art gallery, graduate studio space, and a 96-seat auditorium, along with green features such as restored native prairie grasses and landscaping, floor-to-ceiling windows made up of high performance glass, a reflective roof and a point-of-use ventilation system. The building features stained concrete floors for easy cleanup of paints and solvents, along with plywood walls to accommodate the hanging of artwork. Students can expect to begin classes in the new building in the spring of 2013. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (September 2012)

Helmkamp Construction Co. completes Endoscopy Unit at Gateway Regional Medical Center

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has reported that Helmkamp Construction Co. recently completed construction of an Endoscopy/Post-Anesthesia Care Unit on the second floor of the Gateway Regional Medical Center in Granite City. The challenging project was completed in an active six-story patient facility, adjacent to a surgical suit, and in between the floors housing the maternity ward and radiology unit. The new facility was a finalist in the Associated General Contractors of St. Louis' recent Keystone Awards. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (August 2012)

SIUE students move in to Wenzel's $20 millionn Enclave apartments

The St. Louis Business Journal reported last week that students have moved into the recently completed and fully leased Enclave Apartments, a $20 million complex in Edwardsville, Ill. Leadership Council member Impact Strategies finished the construction of eight buildings by Aug. 1, just in time for the fall semester at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Enclave sits on a 32-acre site on the west side of Highway 157 near Esic Drive and less than two miles from the SIUE campus. The development also includes five acres of commercial retail space along Route 157, and the Business Journal notes that developer Corey Wenzel has plans for a second $20 million apartment development just west of the campus. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal. (August 2012)

Starbucks coffee shop to open at SWIC

The liberal arts building currently under construction on the Southwestern Illinois College campus will undergo an additional $225, 000 in modifications. The Board of Trustees gave its approval of the money for the changes, which include the addition of a Starbucks coffee shop. The Belleville News-Democrat reported that SWIC spokesman Mike Fleming thinks that the addition will draw community members and not just students and faculty. The $19.1 million project budget included a 4 percent contingency fund, and since the project is within budget, it was determined that the contingency funds could be used to add options on to the new building. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (July 2012)

The Cottages at Cathedral Square project to cost $5 million

The Belleville News-Democrat has released additional details about a senior housing community that's been in the planning stages for downtown Belleville for the past two years. Slated to be built adjacent to St. Peter's Cathedral, the project is now estimated to cost $5 million, and the funding for the project should be firmed up by October. The article notes The Cottages at Cathedral Square will include a 32-unit apartment complex and 16 one- and two-bedroom "cottages" for senior citizens. The development will be housed within the block bordering South First Street, West Harrison Street, South Second Street and West Garfield Street and is next door to the Catholic church, grade school and McCormick Center. Construction could begin as soon as six months from now. Read more at the Belleville News-Democrat. (July 2012)

Work is set to move forward on The Enclave West student housing development, an 18-acre project located 100 feet from the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville campus on the northwest part of the intersection of New Poag Road and Northwest University Drive. The planned $40 million project will be an expansion of the original Enclave, where occupancy reached 100 percent before completion. The Alton Telegraph reports the new development will be conducted in two phases. Design work, and some site work, has already begun, with the first phase set to be completed by August 2013. Once finished, students will be a quick walk or bike ride away from campus. Amenities such as a clubhouse, swimming pool, quad area, volleyball court, putting green and work out facility will also be incorporated. The project, consisting of 350 bedrooms is double the size of the original Enclave and will be the largest residential development in the history of Edwardsville. Read more at the Alton Telegraph. (June 2012)

The Edwardsville City Council and Madison County Housing Authority recently agreed to add on to and renovate the May Building, which provides housing for the elderly and disabled. The building is located at 1701 Bryant ve. Currently there are 46 apartments but the Edwardsville Intelligencer is reporting that after renovation there will be an additional 14 one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom apartments. Read more at the Edwardsville Intelligencer. (June 2012)

The $22 million senior citizens apartment building, Jazz at Walter Circle, is near completion in East St. Louis. The building has more than 100,000 square feet and developers plan to attract cafes and small shops to fill out the ground floor space. According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, this apartment complex is the first in the nation to combine public housing development funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with New Markets Tax Credis. Read more at the St. Louis Post Dispatch. (June 2012)

Several educational facilities in the metro-east have scheduled renovation projects to improve their campuses this summer while the students are on break. Projects range from lower cost patch projects and improvements, to major reconstruction efforts, such as the $24 million senior high school in East St. Louis. For a comprehensive listing of dozens of investments being made in the region's K-12 and higher education facilities click here. (June 2012)

Leadership Council member Contegra Construction is wrapping up work on the $4.75 million Lukas Athletics Annex at SIU-Edwardsville. The Post-Dispatch reports that more than 31,000 square feet of office and multipurpose space will be added to the school's existing Vadalabene Athletics Center. The Annex is scheduled to open in August. (Read More) (May 2012)

As SIUE continues to reach new records in terms of enrollment, the Post-Dispatch is reporting that the new $52 million science building will be open by January, helping to address the university's need for additional facilities for its science programs. The new facility will connect to the adjoining existing science buildings, more than doubling the current space. In addition, the new art building is scheduled to open this fall. (Read More) (May 2012)

The Lewis and Clark Community College (LCCC) Board of Trustees is in negotiations for a long-term master plan that will include several expansion and renovation projects, according to the Alton Telegraph. The plan includes new construction of a $40.3 million library and student life center, as well as a $27 million renovation of the Main Complex. According to LCCC President Dale Chapman, the college is under pressure to meet the demands of increasing enrollment, as LCCC currently has the longest record of increasing enrollment at any community college in the state. The master plan includes ten projects totaling $133,522,300 that will be submitted to the Illinois Community College Board for approval by July 1. If approved, the plan will then be reviewed by the Illinois State Board of Higher Education, the Illinois General Assembly and the governor for final approval to be part of hte state's fiscal budget for 2014. (Read More) (April 2012)

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that Leadership Council member Lindenwood University's Belleville campus is planning to spend $2 million on a new communications center and renovations to its Alan

Dixon Student Center. The new communications center will feature computer classrooms as well as space for television and radio stations. The campus will also implement four new bachelor's degree programs with the goal of increasing the number of day students to as many as 900 by the next school year, according to Lindenwood Vice President, Jerry Bladdick. The expansion is also expected to increase the school's full-time faculty from 26 to 35. Construction is targeted for completion by fall 2012. Lindenwood University has, to date, invested more than $10 million to renovate and expand the former high school campus into a full-service university. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat.

Plans are in the works for a new $2.5 million dialysis center in Shiloh, Ill., according to the St. Louis Business Journal. DaVita Inc., one of the nation's largest providers of kidney care and operator of existing dialysis centers in Belleville, Maryville and Sauget, has filed an application with the Illinois Heath Facilities and Services Review Board to open the new, 12-station dialysis center at 1095 N. Green Mount Road. The review board is scheduled to consider the application at its Jan. 10 meeting. (Posted December 2011). Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville board of trustees has approved a plan to extend and renovate the campus' engineering building at a cost of $14.2 million. The board cites growth in the department and a shortage of classroom and office space as the reason for the expansion. The new wing will span 32,000 square feet and will be funded by student facilities. (Posted December 2011). Read more in the Belleville News Democrat.

Business News: Medical Center opens new cardiac catheterization lab

Leadership Council member Gateway Regional Medical Center recently unveiled $3.5 million in renovations and expansions to its cardiac catheterization lab. The new 2,624 square-foot space features technology designed to improve image detailing and reduce radiation exposure. (Posted December 2011). Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Contegra Construction Co., Hatheway Hall, Lewish and Clark Community College, Godfrey

Lewis and Clark Community College has a new $10.5 million fine arts venue thanks to Edwardsville-based Contegra Construction Company, another Leadership Council member. The 62,500-square-foot renovation of Hatheway Hall was completed in less than a year and included the installation of 8,600 square feet of solar roof panels. (Posted October 2011). Learn more on page 17 of the October 2011 Illinois Business Journal.

Korte and Luitjohan Contractors, Highland: City of Roxana Wastewater Treatment Plant

This past July, new Leadership Council member Korte and Luitjohan Contractors completed two significant projects in Southwestern Illinois - a $5 million wastewater treatment plant in Roxana and a $583,000 medical office for St. Joseph's Hospital of Breese in Greenville. (Posted October 2011). For details, see page 17 of the October 2011 Illinois Business Journal.

Granite High gym to get $2 million in fixes

Using funds received from federal stimulus dollars, the Granite City School District plans to spend $2 million to upgrade Granite City High's gym lobby and the surrounding areas, according to a recent Granite City Press Record article. The renovations include expanding the lobby by 30 feet and constructing new hallways that will connect the locker rooms and the gym. Construction will begin this month with work scheduled to be completed in April. (Posted October 2011) Read more in the Granite City Press Record.

Ground broken for off-campus student housing

Construction is now underway on "The Enclave," a $14 million, 120-unit student housing development near SIUE to serve the growing demand for housing among students at the university. Leadership Council member Impact Strategies is handling the construction and hopes to have the first phase of the development ready for the start of school in August 2012. (Posted August 2011) Read more in The Telegraph.

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will begin construction on two, 29,000-square-foot projects, each totaling almost $13 million. Work on the Charles and Mary Lukas Athletics Annex and the west wing at the Art and Design Building is expected to be complete by fall of 2012. This construction reflects the continuing investments being made in our region's educational facilities, which is highlighted in the Leadership Council's 2010 Market Review and Investment Update. (Posted August 2011) Read more in the Edwardsville Intelligencer.

St. Elizabeth's eyeing property in O'Fallon

Illinois panel OKs Memorial's $118 million Shiloh hospital

Belleville's plans to build a $118 million satellite hospital in Shiloh are set to move forward now that The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board have given its stamp of approval. The plans call for a 94-bed hospital, to be known as Memorial Hospital-East, on a 94-acre tract of land at Frank Scott Parkway and Cross Street. Hospital officials purchased the site in 2008. The new facility will expand Memorial's reach and allow for all-private rooms in both locations. The St. Louis Business Journal reports that a 12- to 18-month design and development phase will commence right away and completion of the new hospital is slated for the summer of 2017. (Posted July 2011)

Third, $7.5 million senior housing development planned

Wellspring opens new $7 million facility

Wellspring Resources, formerly known as Community Counseling Center, has opened at its new location, 2615 Edwards St. in Alton. The Alton Telegraph reports that the new $7 million facility was one of the first projects in Southern Illinois to take advantage of the federal New Markets Tax Credits, and also one of the first in Illinois to access the Illinois New Markets Tax Credit Program. The organization invested $2.5 million of its own equity, as well as received assistance from Madison County government with a first-of-its-kind HUD 108 loan for the project. The larger facility will allow the organization to offer more services to the community, such as counseling, psychiatric and medical services, substance abuse counseling and medication-assisted recovery. Construction of the new 36,000-square-foot facility began in July 2009 and was completed this month. (Posted June 2011).

Ziemer Group affiliate to renovate downtown Alton building for $1.5 million

An affiliate of Ziemer Group, a Swiss company that manufactures and markets leading-edge ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical products, is planning a $1.5 million renovation to transform a vacant, 50-year-old office building in Alton into its new U.S. headquarters. The building has about 24,000 square feet of interior space. Ziemer completed purchase of the building from Cornerstone Bank on May 25. Alton City Council approved city assistance of $300,000 in tax increment financing money for the project. The work is expected to be finished later this year. (Posted June 2011)

Lindenwood plans $5 million in upgrades

Lindenwood University will spend $5 million on its Belleville Campus in the next year to revamp its stadium, create space for several new academic programs and improve safety. About $2.3 million of the investment will go toward the stadium renovation in anticipation of the university adding a football team as soon as the fall of 2012. In addition to the stadium work, Lindenwood will renovate the classrooms and backstage area of the new auditorium building to accommodate a planned bachelor's degree program in theater. New laboratories will be built in the main building's annex. Remaining capital improvement plans call for added office space and for the installation of security cameras and Code Blue stations across campus. (Posted June 2011)

Collinsville School Board okays $1.3 million for improvements at the high school

The Kahoks football and soccer field will soon be covered with synthetic turf and receive other upgrades. The Collinsville School Board approved spending $1.3 million for improvements, which in addition to the turf also include the creation of new bleachers, an upgraded public address system, scoreboard and fencing. (Posted June 2011)

Quinn announces $19 million plan to expand SWIC building

The state is making a $19.1 million capital investment in Southwestern Illinois College to pay for an expansion at the Belleville Campus. Gov. Pat Quinn traveled to SWIC to announce the plan, which calls for funding from the $31 billion Illinois Jobs now! initiative formed two years ago. The college will build a 72,000-square-foot expansion of the Liberal Arts Building, which opened in 2008. The project is expected to be complete by December 2012. (Posted June 2011)

Mitre to build $5.5 million office building in Shiloh

Shiloh, Ill. will soon be home to a new $5.5 million, 22,000-square-foot office building which will house 66 employees. The facility is for Mitre Corp., a national nonprofit that serves the defense industry and other government agencies. Mitre Corp. will be consolidating its entire St. Louis area staff from three separate facilities into the new location, which will be located at the intersection of Route 158 and Seibert Road. The business park will have 15 acres remaining for future development. (Posted May 2011)

SWIC approves $3.3 million in projects

Southwestern Illinois College approved $3.3 million for two new projects at its board of trustees meeting April 20. The board approved $1.6 million for the construction of a new 9,230-square-foot building for the college’s horticulture and technical education programs, and also approved a $1.8 million contract for the 72,000-square-foot expansion of the college’s Liberal Arts Building. The latter follows the state’s announcement that it will give the college $19.1 million to help pay for the project. (Posted May 2011)

St. Elizabeth’s on the prowl for property

St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is investing $4 million in a variety of upgrades at its 426-bed, downtown Belleville facility. $2.5 million will be used to upgrade the hospital’s cardiac monitoring systems, while $1.5 million will fund improvements to the interior finishes in its intensive care unit and critical care unit, conversion of some patient rooms to private rooms and renovation of several visitor lounges and nursing stations. The work is expected to begin in July and be completed by mid 2012. (Posted May 2011)

$1.5 million project at Lincoln Elementary School breaks ground

Holland Construction Services has broken ground on a $1.5 million expansion and renovation project at Lincoln Elementary School, located in Troy. A one-story 5,333-square-foot brick addition will include three classrooms, a media center/library, a computer lab and new restroom facilities. Approximately 1,600 square feet of space will be renovated to include electrical upgrades, a new kitchen freezer and a remodeled office. Enhancements to the outside bus drive-up lane will also be made. The project is expected to be completed in the summer of 2011. (Posted Winter 2011)

$12 million renovation and expansion underway at Lewis and Clark Community College

Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey is investing $12 million to remodel and expand Hatheway Hall. The 47 –year-old, 62,500-square-foot building that houses a 1,000-seat theater, a performing arts center, pool, locker rooms, gym, offices, board room, VIP lounge and MEP systems will be completely renovated. The roof will also be outfitted with an 8,600-square-foot solar rooftop array to reduce the building’s energy costs. The expansion will include a 6,500-square-foot addition, which will consist of a metal-framed glass lobby, an art exhibit area, and a full commercial kitchen and offices. Contegra Construction Co. has been hired as the general contractor on the project, which is expected to be completed in May 2011. (Posted Winter 2011)

$8.8 million new Southern Illinois Healthcare medical complex planned for Granite City

A new $8.8 million, 31,800-square-foot medical complex will be constructed on the site of the former McKinley School building in downtown Granite City for Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation. The new center will allow Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation to consolidate and expand the health care services it currently provides in space leased at Gateway Regional Medical Center. The facility will contain 36 examination rooms and will provide assistance to an additional 4,500 patients. Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation has received an $8.5 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act grant that will help pay for most of the new complex. There are plans to add a dental clinic in the future. The stipulations of the grant say the project must be completed by September 2012, and demolition will begin in late spring 2011. (Posted Winter 2011)

Recent News from the Public Sector

According to The Alton Telegraph, improvements will be made to several area rural roads as part of the state's six-year transportation construction program. In total, projects throughout the state will cost $12.62 billion and will include improvements to roads and bridges. Area projects include the $47.1 million continued expansion of U.S. Route 67 between Jerseyville and the Madison County line, as well as the $8.6 million widening to six miles of Illinois Route 3 in the Grafton area. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (May 2013)

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, four parks in St. Clair and Madison counties will be receiving a total of $1.2 million in upgrades.The improvements, which include various renovations and expansions, will be seen in parks in Alton, Belleville, Shiloh and Bethalto. The projects will be paid for by the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program, which encourages outdoor recreation throughout Illinois. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (May 2013)

According to The Alton Telegraph, Bunker Hill Public Library District has been awarded a $619,294 grant. Awarded by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, the Public Library Construction Act grant will help the library with major construction. As part of the grant, the library had to contribute a portion of the cost of the project. The construction of the new library will cost $825,725 and $206,431 is being paid for by the library. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (May 2013)

The Suburban Journals reported that members of the community came together in April to help the Junior Service Club of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon build a playground at Township Park. Designed for children with disabilities and sensory disorders, the $437,000 playground was paid for by fundraising by the Junior Service Club. The playground will have a grand opening on May 19. Read more in the Suburban Journals. (April 2013)

Construction will begin this summer on a $250,000 project to create a park and ride stop in Granite City, allowing residents to take the Riverbend Express Bus to Downtown St. Louis. The stop is going to be located at the southwest corner of Route 3 and 20th Street and will include about 100 spaces. The Suburban Journals report that the project is being funded through a federal air quality grant that will cover 80 percent of the cost. The remaining 20 percent will be funded by Madison County Transit. Read more in the Suburban Journals. (April 2013)

The Glen Carbon Heritage Bike Trail will be getting a $3 million upgrade, according to The Alton Telegraph. Eight miles of the trail will be upgraded including 10 bridge structures and two tunnels. Paid for by the Illinois Jobs Now program, Leadership Council member Keller Construction Inc. won the bid for the project at a total of $3,075,742. Construction is set to start in May and be finished by the end of 2014. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (April 2013)

According to The Alton Telegraph, two buildings at the Illinois Youth Center-Pere Marquette in Grafton will be receiving new roofs. The $476,000 project will begin in May and is set to be completed by December. The project is being funded through Gov. Pat Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now capital construction program. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (April 2013)

Watch the roads: $7 million in construction projects coming to the metro-east

The Belleville News-Democrat recently featured 13 road construction projects in Madison and St. Clair counties that are part of the Illinois Jobs Now! Capital construction program. The projects total $7.1 million. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (April 2013)

The City of Alton is moving forward with a project totaling just over $100,000 to replace the aged sewer line located just east of the Alton Memorial Hospital campus along the Thorpe-Cooper streets area. According to The Alton Telegraph, the city's aldermen recommended the project proceed for a final vote. The committee also recommended other measures, including a bid for the Broadway/Piasa Street area Streetscape project. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (April 2013)

The Alton Telegraph reported that Leadership Council member Korte and Luitjohan Contractors Inc. has been approved to start construction on the water infrastructure of the Northeast Central County Public Water District. The project will cost $108,000 and provide a 10-inch water main, interconnect and meter station. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (April 2013)

The Edwardsville City Council recently approved awards for two infrastructure projects. Work on the east well raw water transmission main and finish water main project will begin in May. The project, which will cost approximately $960,000, consists of installing a well water transmission main from the SIUE well field to the water treatment plant, with water lines constructed on Street Car Road, Wanda Road and Hartzel Lane in Edwardsville. Leadership Council member Crawford, Murphy & Tilly was chosen as the construction engineer on the project. M Street, from Ritter St. to Schiller Ave. in Edwardsville, will also be getting improvements, with the road work set to start mid- to late- April. The $429,000 project will include new sidewalks, curbs, gutters, asphalt resurfacing and a reconstructed storm sewer and is being funded through a $100,000 grant from Madison County Community Development with the rest being paid out of the Capital Improvement Program Fund. Read more in the Edwardsville Intelligencer. (March 2013)

The Belleville News-Democrat recently featured 11 Collinsville street projects, many of which are set to break ground this year. Several streets have been deemed necessary to renovate by Collinsville's Streets Department. In total, the projects will cost $8.28 million and consist of new sidewalks, widened intersections, curb restoration, draining, bridge replacement, and resurfacing. All but one project is supported mostly by federal funds with the remaining paid for by TIF funds. Several projects are already underway with some waiting for approval from the Illinois Department of Transportation. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (March 2013)

According to the Belleville News-Democrat, St. Clair County board members have approved the funding to widen Frank Scott Parkway East and North Green Mount Road in order to relieve congestion. Work on a three-mile stretch of North Green Mount Road will cost $10.4 million, while improvements to Frank Scott Parkway East will cost $5.5 million. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (March 2013)

According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the Madison County Board has approved a project to widen New Poag Road in Edwardsville. Leadership Council member Keller Construction Co., Inc. of Glen Carbon was awarded the project. The New Poag Road work is part of the Enclave West student apartments project that will be opening in August. Overall, the project will include the creation of a left turn lane and traffic signals with a cost $1 million. The project will be partly funded by SIUE and the Enclave developer Impact Strategies, Inc., both of which also are members of the Leadership Council.Read more in the Edwardsville Intelligencer. (March 2013)

According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, approximately $925,000 will be spent on upgrades to New Poag Road in Edwardsville. Improvements include widening the road near the proposed Enclave West student apartments, pavement striping, incorporating new signal lights and a left turn lane at Stadium Drive and Northwest University Drive, and installing drainage structures and stabilizing shoulders. The Madison County Board recently approved to fund $660,000 of the project. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville will contribute $125,000, while Leadership Council member Impact Strategies, developer of Enclave West, will cover $140,000. Read more in The Edwardsville Intelligencer. (February 2013)

According to the Alton Telegraph, Godfrey Village trustees have voted to move forward on a road improvement project and the construction of a bike trail. Work will be completed on Stamper Lane, from the Camelot Subdivision to the west entrance of Glazebrook Park, that will include resurfacing, curb and guttering and widening of the road. In addition to the road improvements, a bike trail will be built, connecting Lewis and Clark Community College and Glazebrook Park. The Village has received a $94,000 grant from a Safe Routes to School grant to help fund the bike trail, and $300,000 in funds from the Surface Transportation Programs (STP) will go toward the Stamper Lane improvements. With no finish date established, the village will have to apply for more STP funds to fund the project past this year. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (February 2013)

According to the Suburban Journals, construction recently began on a $1.25 million administration building at the Long Lake Volunteer Fire Department in Pontoon Beach. The 7,200-square-foot addition will replace a smaller addition that was approximately 63 years old and structurally unsound. The building will house new administrative offices, training facilities, a meeting room, kitchen and a small area for firefighters to rest. The new building is being funded through a $1 million loan the Long Lake Volunteer Fire District has acquired. The rest of the project will be funded through $250,000 in savings the district has built up over the last 12 years. Completion of the addition is being targeted for late September. Read more in the Suburban Journals. (February 2013)

Phase I of the new South Harbor project at America's Central Port, a Leadership Council member, is underway and is expected to be completed in May. The $11 million project in Granite City will involve reshaping 130 acres along the Mississippi River to make room for the new harbor. Phase II of the project is set to begin over the summer. Once complete, the new harbor is expected to promote growth and create jobs. Leadership Council members Juneau Associates, Inc., a civil engineering firm, and general contractor Fred Weber, Inc., were mentioned in the Illinois Business Journal as being part of the project team. Read more on page 9 of the Illinois Business Journal. (February 2013)

Leadership Council member SMS Engineers has been working with the Village of South Roxana to help solve flooding issues on Washington Ave. The company plans to install a storm sewer system that will include a 2,400-foot storm sewer line that will run south from the intersection of Washington and Madison and a larger storm water retention basin. The project is being funded through a $500,000 grant from the Midwest Disaster Recovery Relief Public Infrastructure Program and will be completed by early 2014. Read more on page 9 of the Illinois Business Journal. (February 2013)

East Main Street in Collinsville will get new sidewalks, curbs, signage and decorative streetlamps as part of the last phase of the downtown streetscape project, which started in 1999. The $1.5 million project will be funded through a $1.2 million grant the city recently received from the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program. As part of the grant, the City of Collinsville must fund the remaining $300,000 for the project. The renovation is set to be completed in 2015. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (February 2013)

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch recently featured O'Fallon as a city that is a hub for new growth. Over the next year, O'Fallon is set to have over eight projects completed or under construction. These include the new $23 million Menards, a project in which Leadership Council member Poettker Construction is serving as general contractor, an $8.1 million expansion and renovation at Colonnade Senior Living and Memory Care Center on Weber Road, and a $3.9 million expansion project at St. Clare Catholic School, headed by Leadership Council member Holland Construction Services. The city's residential sector also continues to grow, with nearly 100 new homes built annually since 2008. Read more in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.(February 2013)

$2.9 million in federal funds granted for metro area transportation projects

As reported in the St. Louis Business Journal, the Metro East has received $2.9 million in Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) funding for transportation projects. Having received 328 application requests for funding, ITEP awarded funding to the following local projects: The Collinsville Downtown Streetscape Phase 4 project, South Main Street Reconstruction in Troy, East St. Louis Collinsville Avenue Streetscape and the West Belleville Bike Trail Phase II project. Read more in the St. Louis Business Jounal. (January,2013)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently committed to the Southwestern Illinois Flood Prevention District Council's timeline to repair the 74 miles of levees in the Metro East, after months of delays. In response, the Levee Issues Alliance, which is administered by the Leadership Council, reactivated the countdown clock on stlmetroeastlevees.org and reaffirmed that it will continue to serve in a watchdog capacity and sound the alarm if it appears the project schedule is being threatened. The $160 million project is still on target to be completed by January 2015.Read more in The Suburban Journals. (January 2013)

Leadership Council member AAIC, Inc., of Collinsville, has been chosen to complete the design of the much-needed Wood River Police Department expansion. Earlier this month, the Wood River City Council made a $334,000 agreement with the architect to begin the designs for the $4.5 million project, which includes expanding the facility to 16,591 square feet. According to The Alton Telegraph, the building's main floor will include various offices for administration, records, patrol, evidence, investigation, communications/dispatch, as well as a detention area and sally port for prisoner processing. As part of the project, 2,286 square feet of existing space will be remodeled. Work on the building, which is located at 111 Wood River Ave., is scheduled to break ground in July. The city has approximately $1.5 million in tax increment financing set aside for the project, and the other funding sources will be grant funding and possibly a low-cost loan. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (January 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 in The Edwardsville Intelligencer.(January 2013)

A ribbon cutting was held on December 18 to mark the completion of the reconstructed bridge and new interchange in Troy at Illinois Route 162 and Interstate 55/70. Construction began in 2009, and the project, at a cost of $23.5 million, is the largest transportation effort funded in Illinois by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. With the new renovation, the bridge is now five lanes and has brand new traffic signals and lighting. According to the Alton Telegraph, the project created or supported 300 jobs and will ease traffic congestion and ensure safer travel. The Illinois Department of Transportation's Secretary Ann Schneider attended the ribbon cutting, along with several Leadership Council members. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (December 2012)

According to the Alton Telegraph, Alton's Board of Zoning Appeals recently approved the $15 million redevelopment of the East Alton defense housing area. The Regional Housing and Community Development Alliance will construct 46 affordable ranch-style and two-story housing units in the 300 and 400 block of East Drive, the 600 block of North Street, and the 300 and 400 block of Ohio Street. The units range from two to four-bedrooms and will be operated as rental units for 15 years before residents would qualify for purchasing the homes. In order to maintain affordability, the units will be energy-efficient in order to keep utility bills low. The project will also include new water and sewer lines, 50 on-street parking spaces, sidewalks, new streets and a new Madison County Transit shelter. The Illinois Housing Development Authority has provided the alliance with $1.3 million in tax credits to aid in the project development, which is expected to get underway by the end of 2013. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (December 2012)

Leadership Council member Oates Associates was chosen to oversee design work of a new bridge in Collinsville that will replace the 80-year-old Summit Avenue Bridge. Construction on the bridge, which was recently found to be structurally inadequate, will be completed in 2014. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, replacing the bridge will cost $800,000 with most of the funds provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation. The remaining funds will be provided by the City of Collinsville. Improvements will also include new guardrails, sidewalks, gutters and concrete curbs. Read more in The Suburban Journals. (December 2012)

Leadership Council member Contegra Construction was instrumental in the renovation and construction of American Water Resources, Inc.'s (AWR) recent expansion into the former glassworks site, located just north of Illinois Route 143 in Alton. The building expansion, which cost $2 million, increases the company's space to 20,427 square feet, from 7,972 square feet. According to the Alton Telegraph, AWR, which is a subsidy of American Water, provides insurance to cover water and sewer line repairs and has about 100 employees in Alton. The company is currently operating in 27 states but plans to expand to 35 at the end of January. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (December 2012)

Metro East Park District grants $821,346 to 9 projects

The St. Louis Business Journal reported that nine projects in Madison and St. Clair counties have received more than $800,000 in funding from the Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD). Collectively, the projects will represent a $9.1 million investment in the region. The funds were made available through MEPRD's Park and Trail Grant Matching Program, and include funding for variety of projects, including MetroBikeLink extension, the MCT Heritage - Ronald Foster Bikeway project, upgrades at Glazebrook Park, and the College Road Bike and Pedestrian Trail project. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal. (November 2012)

Granite City Library receives $2.2 million grant for renovation

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Six Mile Regional Library District has received a $2.2 million challenge grant from the Illinois State Library to renovate its 83-year-old main library in Granite City. The district director is confident that raising the $1.7 million in matching money needed to receive the grant will not be a problem. The total cost of the restoration is estimated to be $3.9 million. Construction is expected to begin in the spring and includes updates to wiring, furnaces, air conditioners, an expanded computer area, and updating a lift installed in 1985. The project will take approximately nine months to complete once it is started, and the district plans to continue to offer library services downtown during construction. Read more in The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. (October 2012)

The newly finished 17th Street is expected to promote growth along the Illinois 15 shopping corridor. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the $10.2 million extension that connects drivers from West Main Street to Frank Scott Parkway West. The project overcame a variety of obstacles before being completed through a four-phase process spanning over six years. The new road will ease congestion, improve safety, and increase accessibility to shopping in the area. Read more in The Belleville News Democrat. (October 2012)

The new section of Illinois 255, which opened on October 26, will save motorists time, money and gas. The $22 million in funds approved by the Illinois General Assembly made the completion of the highway segment between Seminary Road and Humbert Road in Godfrey, Ill., possible. The final stretch of Illinois 255 will connect the highway to the "Godfrey Y" and is expected to be finished by the end of November. According to the Alton Telegraph, funds are in place to complete Illinois 255 and connect it to U.S. 67. The project will create 285 construction jobs and tie in with Alton's plans to build an intra-modal transportation hub in the city. Read more in The Alton Telegraph. (October 2012)

Gov. Pat Quinn announces $25 million investment for Poplar Street Bridge and Martin Luther King Connector project

According to KSDK.com, the state of Illinois plans on investing $25 million in the Poplar Street Bridge and Martin Luther King Connector project. The project aims to reduce congestion on Interstates 70/64/55, and promote economic development in the Metro East by allowing more bridge access from both sides of the river. The connector project is part of the $667 million New Mississippi River Bridge project, expected to be completed in early 2014. After the New Mississippi River Bridge is open to traffic, reconstruction of the Poplar Street West interchange will begin, replacing the I-55 single lane with two lanes. Updates will also be made to the westbound Memorial Drive. Read more at KSDK.com. (October 2012)

According to the Belleville News Democrat, construction on the new $3.5 million, 15,000-square-foot Fairview Fire Department fire station is expected to begin early next year. The proposed Engine House No. 2 is planned to be located at 214 Ashland Avenue. The Fire department is in need of a bigger place for its larger fire and ladder trucks and more parking spaces for the volunteer fire staff. The enlarged garage will allow staff to inspect the fire engines without having to pull them into the parking lot. The new, more energy-efficient station will also be equipped with a tornado shelter, capable of withstanding an F4 tornado, which will also serve as sleeping quarters. The Fire Department currently has three paid employees and a volunteer staff of approximately 40. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (September 2012)

Cleaner and greener Illinois American Water invests $12 million to update Granite City plant

The Belleville News-Democrat reports that Illinois American Water Co., the metro-east area's largest water provider has broken ground on a new 2.5 million gallon clear well at its Granite City plant. The $12 million project in Granite City is part of a reinvestment in the utility company's metro-east water service operations that will also include new technology and health standards, such as variable frequency drive motors, and high-service pumps. These new devices operate on an as-needed basis instead of running at a constant speed continuously, saving energy and money. Illinois American Water has recently re-invested approximately $42.9 million in its Interurban District that serves the metro-east area and includes both the Granite City and East St. Louis Water treatment plants. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (September 2012)

According to the Edwardsville Intelligencer, the Maryville Village Board approved a $1,028,739 proposal for the construction of a roundabout at the dog-leg intersection of Lake View Acres Road, Old Troy Road and Route 162. Currently, the site has heavy traffic and frequent accidents. The state will pay $770,000, and the county will cover $250,000 of the projected costs. Work on the roundabout may begin as early as the end of September. Read more in the Edwardsville Intelligencer. (September 2012)

What's in the plan for improvements to Belleville's North Illinois Street?

After a three-year hiatus, a project to improve public safety and beautify North Illinois and Main streets in Belleville is once again in the works. The Belleville News-Democrat reports the project has many goals, among which are to widen the intersection of Illinois 159 and F Street, block off West G Street and East E Street with decorative landscaping, and give a facelift to North Illinois Street, from A Street to the Richland Creek Greenway Trail. It is estimated that the project will cost more than $4.1 million, of which 25% of the project will be funded by the city, and the federal government will be responsible for funding the remaining 75% through grants. The city plans to spend this winter on land acquisitions and begin construction in the spring of 2013. Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat. (September 2012)

Work resumes on $37.8 million crime lab after month-long delay

Work on the Illinois State Police Metro East Forensic Science Laboratory project will resume after a short delay last month. The new lab is expected to be completed in October of 2013, very close to the original completion projection time. According to the Belleville News-Democrat, contractors were forced to temporarily halt construction until they could agree on how to connect the steal infrastructure in a way that could withstand earthquakes. The Metro East is affected by two seismic zones, the New Madrid Seismic Zone and the Wabash Valley Seismic Zone. Work was scheduled to resume after Labor Day on the 64,000-squar-foot facility at West Main and 23rd streets next to Lindenwood University. The lab will be outfitted for testing for crime scene services, trace and drug chemistry, polygraph, latent prints, firearms, forensic biology and DNA. Read more in the Bellleville News-Democrat. (September 2012)

Brighton officials lay out sewer project

Brighton officials are developing plans to utilize a $1.164 million revolving loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to replace or repair a substantial portion of the village's sanitary sewer system. According to the Alton Telegraph, residential sewer customers can expect an estimated $5 to $10 monthly increase in their rates, based on water consumption. The plan calls to replace almost 13,000 feet of sewer mains and repair another 2,300 feet. The update should fix flooding and backups caused by heavy rains and prolonged periods of wet weather. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (August 2012)

East Alton improving Main Street

The Alton Telegraph is reporting that Main Street in Alton will receive an upgrade courtesy of $450,000 in grant funding awarded by Madison County and the Illinois Department of Transportation. The improvements will take place from St. Louis Avenue to Shamrock Street. The main focus of the project is to make the street ADA-compliant, but other work will be done as well, including milling, overlay, curb, gutter, and ramp updates. The project is expected to be completed by mid-September. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (August 2012)

Wood River improving 'streetscape'

The Alton Telegraph is reporting that work began last week on a $380,000 project to change Ferguson Avenue's "streetscape" in downtown Alton. The project is currently more than $220,000 under the original project estimate. In 2009, the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program allocated $500,000 to assist the city in revitalizing its downtown business district. Leadership Council member Sheppard, Morgan and Schwaab is the construction engineer on the project. Read more in the Alton Telegraph. (August 2012)

Route 3 projects authorized in East St. Louis, Waterloo

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported last week that several Illinois Route 3 projects in East St. Louis and Waterloo are among the transportation improvements that will be funded under a $1.6 billion bond authorization bill recently signed into law by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn.The legislation authorizes more than $1.6 billion in bonds to be issued to pay for road, rail and transit projects statewide. Included are Route 3 relocation projects in East St. Louis and Waterloo that are expected to total more than $85 million. Read more at the St. Louis Post Dispatch. (July 2012)

Scott Air Force base's 18th Air Force and Air Mobility Command headquarters will undergo $16 million in renovations by K&S Associates. The building, which is one of the oldest at the base, expanded five times between 1963 and 1937. It now requires updates due to space requirements and safety concerns. Read more at the St. Louis Business Journal. (June 2012)

About $25 million will be invested in Union Pacific Railroad's line that runs between Fults, Ill., in Monroe County, and Chester, Ill., in Randolph County. The St. Louis Business Journal reports that the 34-mile project, already underway and scheduled to be completed by mid-October, will replace most of the rail and renew surfaces of road crossings. It represents another investment in our region's multimodal infrastructure. Read more at the St. Louis Business Journal. (June 2012)

$1.2 million will be invested to replace water main piping in several Metro East Communities, including Belleville, East St. Louis, Granite City and Venice. The water main was installed half a century ago and needs updates. Illinois American Water Company will fund the work with revenue from customer water rates. Read more at the St. Louis Business Journal. (June 2012)

The City of Alton is working to transform a portion of the now-closed Robert P. Wadlow Municipal Golf Course into a "gateway to St. Louis" multi-modal transportation center, which would include a railway station served the planned new higher-speed rail service between Chicago and St. Louis. The transportation facility will be funded by a $13.8 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery grant, and is a prime example of the type of investment the Leadership Council hopes to continue to attract to the region through its Southwestern Illinois Transportation Enhancement program. (Read More) (June 2012)

The Collinsville Area Recreation District opened the Pleasant Ridge Park last weekend, celebrating the completion of $3.8 million in improvements. The park now includes a playground with a rock climbing feature, slides, swings and monkey bars. A covered pavilion, bathroom facility, maintenance facility and bike trail have also been added. (Read More) (June 2012)

Kaiser Electric has begun constructing a new water treatment plant in Staunton, Ill. to be completed by February 2013. The St. Louis Business Journal reports that the plant incorporates a state-of-the-art Dissolved Air Flotation Clarification system. Expensive treatment chemicals will not be as necessary with the use of this new technology. (Read More) (May 2012)

The Southern Illinois Healthcare Foundation, also a Leadership Council member, announced plans to improve its East St. Louis clinic, the Windsor Health Center, after receiving a $500,000 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services. They will add space for prenatal and HIV services, replace the HVAC system, and improve the parking lot. The upgrades are expected to be completed in 2014. (Read More) (May 2012)

Leadership Council member Contegra Construction has completed construction work on a new 22,000 square foot building being leased by Mitre Corp. Located off Illinois Route 158 in Shiloh, near Scott Air Force Base, Mitre is using the building as a research and development center for government agencies. The $5.5 million building is owned by Maune Co. The Post-Dispatch reports that the building occupies just a portion of a 20-acre site that may be developed as an office park or warehouse facilities. (Read More) (May 2012)

The Post-Dispatch was one of several local media outlets that announced the release of the construction schedule for the $161 million project to bring the Metro East levees up to required new federal standards. Work is set to start on June 6, and to be finished by Dec. 31, 2014. Members of the Levee Issues Alliance, which is administered by the Leadership Council, made the announcement at a press conference on May 1st, during which they also activated a "Countdown to Completion Clock" on the alliance's webstie, www.stlmetroeastlevees.org. In an effort to reinforce the timely completion of the project remains the top priority for the region, the clock is designed to help the public and local officials follow the progress and 'sound the alarm' if delays threaten the anticipated completion of the project. The improvements are essential to ensuring that the levee system continues to be FEMA-certified and to safeguard the homes and businesses of the 156,000 residents and 55,000 works that lie behind it in the American Bottom. (Read More) (May 2012)

According to the St. Louis Business Journal, construction is now underway on the $37.8 million Illinois State Police Metro East Forensic Science Laboratory in Belleville. Leadership Council member Contegra Construction Co., of Edwardsville, is constructing the facility, which is expected to be complete next year. The project is being funded through Gov. Pat Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! program and will be built on land purchased in 2007 from Lindenwood University. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal.

Illinois gets $186 million for high-speed rail project

The Illinois Department of Transportation has been awarded $186 million to finance the extension of construction on the Chicago to St. Louis rail line. Set to begin this spring, the project will extend the line to Joliet, Ill., paving the way for 110-mile-per-hour service along 70 percent of the route. (Posted January 2012). Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal.

Alton receives $13.85 million in federal funds for new transportation center

The City of Alton and Madison County Transit have been awarded $13.85 million in federal grant funds to construct a transportation center on five acres adjacent to Alton's new high-speed Amtrak station. The center will feature bus bays, bicycle storage lockers, parking and other improvements. Funding for the project was awarded as part of the TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant program. (Posted December 2011). Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat.

Korte and Luitjohan Contractors, Highland: City of Roxana Wastewater Treatment Plant

New booster station to improve water service

Illinois-American Water Co.'s Alton District recently celebrated the completion of its new $980,000 Route 3 Booster Station, which serves Godfrey, Grafton, Elsah and Jersey Rural Water customers. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Karla Teasely, President of the Illinois-American Water Co. and a member of the Leadership Coucil, highlighted the importance of this infrastructure investment, not just for drinking water, but also for fire protection, public health and economic development. (Posted August 2011) Read more in The Alton Telegraph.

The newest addition to the MetroBikeLink trail opened August 18. The St. Clair County supported $4.6 million, 2.2-mile section includes a bridge over IL-159, links Swansea's MetroLink station and Belleville's North End Park, and allows a 4.7-mile ride between Southwestern Illinois College and the Swansea MetroLink station. Meanwhile, the Belleville News Democrat is reporting that construction has already started on another $3.3 million, 2.2-mile section that will extend the trail from the Swansea MetroLink station to the Memorial Hospital MetroLink platform as the County and City continue their support for transit-oriented development and activities. (Posted August 2011) Read more in the Belleville News-Democrat.

17th Street extension is closer to reality

Mixed-use development project breaks ground near Emerson Park MetroLink station

Ground was broken April 21 for Jazz @ Walter Circle, a new $17 million mixed-use development in East St. Louis adjacent to the Emerson Park MetroLink Station. The four-story facility will include 74 affordable housing units for seniors, a green grocery store, community credit union, a Southern Illinois Health Foundation Wellness Center, a 6,000 square-foot community center and roof and terrace community gardens. The development is a public-private partnership between the East St. Louis Housing Authority, Hampton Roads Ventures and Dudley Ventures and is reportedly the first in the nation to combine public housing development funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development with New Market Tax Credits. The project is expected to be complete sometime in 2012. (Posted May 2011)

MidAmerica St. Louis Airport to get $2.24 million runway renovation

A $2.24 million runway renovation deal at the MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascuoutah, Ill. has been approved by the St. Clair County Public Building Commission. The board voted Tuesday, March 14 to enlarge the current runway to hold four 747 air cargo planes on the ground at any given time. St. Clair County is looking into turning the airport into a hub for distribution of Asian carp that are grown in Iowa and Illinois. The Commission voted to pay consultant Larry Taylor $10,000 per month to draft a plan connecting American exporters with Chinese importers. 95 percent of funds will be provided by the Federal Aviation Administration, with the rest supplemented by St. Clair County and the State of Illinois. (Posted April 2011)