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Report highlights projects announced, under construction or completed during 2016; Highlights some of Council’s priorities as it continues work to unite the region for growth 

EDWARDSVILLE, IL., March 10, 2017…The Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois is pleased to announce the release of the 2016 Market Review & Investment Update, revealing significant continuing investment activity in Southwestern Illinois during 2016. 

“The projects highlighted in this year’s report play a pivotal role in the shaping of the region’s economy for many years to come,” noted Ronda Sauget, Executive Director of the Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois, the member-based economic development corporation that complies the economic data for Madison and St. Clair counties in Illinois. “The projects under construction in 2015-2016 were essential and have potential to attract investments for Southwestern Illinois in the years to come.”

Among the essential projects under construction in 2015-2016 was the $50M New Madison South Harbor Project and the continued restoration of the American Bottoms levee system.  The American Bottoms levee system protects more than 156,000 people, 4,000 businesses and over 56,000 jobs from Alton, IL to south of Columbia, IL located in Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties. This $110M restoration of the American Bottom Levee restoration and utility infrastructure enhancements competitively positions Southwestern Illinois as a top development site. 

The report provides sampling of many other individual projects completed in Madison and St. Clair counties in 2015-2016, paving the way for economic expansion in the region for many years to come.  The completed $130M Memorial Hospital East in Belleville, IL, $23.5M FedEx Distribution Center located in Sauget, IL, the $8M Roxana Water Treatment Plant in Roxana, IL, $5.8M Fire House & Parks Maintenance Facility in O’Fallon, IL, $2M expansion of Alton Memorial Hospital’s Women’s Health & Childbirth Center in Alton, IL, and $4.5M completion of the Mannie Jackson Center for the Humanities in Edwardsville, IL. In addition, several schools were completed including the $30M Father McGivney Catholic High School, $17.5M Wingate Elementary, $19.1M Liberal Arts Building, $4.1M Maryville Christian School.  These projects not only give options to help improve the lives of Southwestern Illinois residents but it also gives state-of-the-art, high tech employment facilities in the region.

In addition, the report lists millions of dollars of projects that are under construction during 2015-2016. The Southwestern Illinois region is growing and continues to be a great place to do business.  If you look geographically, Southwestern Illinois is situated in the midsection of America serving as a central corridor for economic activities now and in the future.

Other areas highlighted in the report include Southwestern Illinois America’s Center for transportation, infrastructure enhancements in Southwestern Illinois, the Manufacture/Craft Your Future Campaign, Scott Air Force Base – National Security Asset, foundational businesses over 100 years old, educating the workforce for the future, residential housing market update, demographics, labor force, private sector employment, and other economic development assets of Southwestern Illinois.

 

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