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Today's Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward Longtime IDOT Conference Returns May 9 and 10

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting the 31st “Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward” conference on May 9 and 10 at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield. The longtime conference hosted by IDOT’s Office of Business and Workforce Diversity provides female- and minority-owned businesses with opportunities to make connections and develop skills to grow and succeed. “Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward is one of the premier events in the state for our contracting community to build relationships and open the door to participate on projects,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Omer Osman.“Thanks to the historic Rebuild Illinois capital program and unprecedented investments happening at the federal level, there has never been a better time to be involved in the transportation industry. Under Gov. Pritzker, IDOT is committed to making its projects more diverse and inclusive. The information at thi

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Governor Pritzker Announces $250 Million in Grant Awards for Small Businesses

2 years 10 months ago
CHICAGO —During National Small Business Week, Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) announced that the full $250 million in relief funds have been granted through the Back to Business (B2B) program. This concludes the program, providing nearly 6,500 grants to small businesses in over 475 cities and more than 90 counties across the state, with 96 percent of awards delivered to businesses in disproportionately impacted communities or in the hardest-hit industries. A list of Illinois B2B grantees can be found here . “Illinois responded to the pandemic by providing $1.5 billion in economic relief for childcare providers, local government services, and so many hard-hit small businesses that shape our communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These are investments that preserve jobs and Main Streets and dreams. When we put our state’s fiscal house in order, we can invest taxpayer dollars in building a stronger

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First Presbyterian Church Of Jerseyville And The Jersey County Arts Council To Host An Open House And Art Exhibit Saturday, May 21, 2022

2 years 10 months ago
JERSEYVILLE - The First Presbyterian Church of Jerseyville and the Jersey County Arts Council will host an open house and art exhibit Saturday, May 21, 2022, from 1 to 4 p.m. The church is located at the corner of State and Carpenter Streets (400 S. State St.) in Jerseyville. Parking is available both behind the church and across the street to the north. The First Presbyterian Church has served as a Jerseyville landmark since its completion in 1882 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in February of 2021. This will be the first time since that designation was awarded that the public can tour the historic building to learn its history. The church’s roots can be traced to 1834 when a group met in Newel Adam’s log cabin to officially organize a Presbyterian church. It was the first church organized in Jerseyville. All tours are self-guided, and members of the congregation will be available to answer questions. The church’s beauty is no less

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Art on the Square Uses Grant to Purchase Unique Sculpture for the St. Clair County Historical Society

2 years 10 months ago
BELLEVILLE – In connection with a matching grant from The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Art on the Square has purchased an 8’ sculpture titled “Flame” from sculptor Ron Stinson. The sculpture will be installed at the St. Clair County Historical Society’s Daphne Sumner History Discovery Center, located at 705 East Washington St. Belleville. This abstract piece of art can be displayed both indoors and outdoors and is made of Marine Quality Stainless Steel. About the National Endowment for the Arts "The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is the only arts funder in the United States—public or private—that provides access to the arts in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. jurisdictions. Each year, we award thousands of grants to provide everyone in the United States with diverse opportunities for arts participation. We award cost/share matching grants to nonprofit organizations for a wide variety of arts projects, literature

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State Of Illinois Receives Lumina Foundation Grant To Boost Employment Outcomes For African-american Students

2 years 10 months ago
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) announced today a $745,200 grant from Lumina Foundation to further the mission of Illinois Community Colleges to improve employment outcomes for African-American and other minority students throughout the state. The ICCB will use the grant and leverage existing agency resources to strengthen the connection of Workforce Equity Initiative (WEI) students to employment opportunities within their communities as part of Lumina’s Employment Connection Project (ECP). “I’m pleased to see the Lumina Foundation recognize the role of Illinois’ Workforce Equity Initiative in opening up new opportunities for Illinois residents to build great careers,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Since its founding, the WEI has enrolled over 5,000 students across 100 high-demand training programs, operating with a focus on historically underinvested Black and Brown communities. Lumina’s grant will enhance the

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Joe's Market Basket Prepares For One Of Their Busiest Weekends Of The Year

2 years 10 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Joe’s Market Basket is preparing for one of its busiest weekends of the year; Mother’s Day. The store offers a unique selection of Mother’s Day gift ideas to help people celebrate and honor the women in their lives. Joe’s Market Basket General Manager Andy Klos said in preparation for the holiday, each of its five stores is fully stocked with hundreds of varieties of hanging baskets, flowers, planters, gardening supplies, shrubs and ornamental trees. “The beauty of buying your mom or wife a plant or perennial flower is that the gift can last all summer, and in some cases can come back every year,” said Klos. “We also can help people build their own planter so the gift is personalized for what the person likes. Sometimes people add unique plants like a herb or a pot that they know matches their house perfectly. It’s fun to see people get excited about what they’re creating.” Joe’s Market Basket staff

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‘He was a renaissance man’

2 years 10 months ago
Entering The Pageant on the evening of Monday, May 2 to celebrate the life and legacy of Orlando Watson felt a bit surreal. As the line of family and friends entered the building, the energy was like one of the…
Kenya Vaughn | The St. Louis American