Trent R. Nelson speaks with Michelle Ownbey, publisher of the Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times, about the latest happenings in the Springfield business community and all of the relevant bits fit for the greater community to learn about.

Topics Discussed In This Interview:

• The Wakery opened downtown a little over two years ago, but owner Elizabeth Wake said the business has not proven to be sustainable, despite a strong public reception and winning several awards.

• University of Illinois Springfield has pivoted from plans to open its new “Innovation Center” in a three-story building downtown and now will rent space for the center three blocks east, inside Horace Mann Educators Corp.’s headquarters.

• Friday Night Live kicks off in downtown Springfield July 11 and continues for three consecutive Fridays, with extended business hours for food, drinks, entertainment, shopping and family fun at local businesses. The collaboration among downtown businesses and community supporters is intended to bring people downtown to experience all the brick-and-mortar businesses have to offer.

• It took nearly two years to find a buyer, but now the new owner of the former Heartland Credit Union building on South Grand Avenue has renovations underway in hopes of securing a tenant.

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Trent R. Nelson speaks with Michelle Ownbey, publisher of the Springfield Business Journal and Illinois Times, about the latest happenings in the Springfield business community and all of the relevant bits fit for the greater community to learn about.

Topics Discussed In This Interview:

• Tacology 201 was launched as the second version of the popular Mexican restaurant, which also experimented with bar partnerships at one point, but owner James Hamilton has announced that his time in the restaurant business has come to an end.

• The planned July 1 opening of The Fountain on Route 66 has been delayed "a few more days," according to owner Tom Hart. The 1950s-themed diner on North Ninth Street is in a building that housed Sonrise Donuts, an iconic Route 66 business, for more than four decades.

• A year after beginning construction, Springfield Gymnastics Center is preparing to move into a new facility on the west side that is nearly twice as large as its previous space.

• The Village of Jerome is planning to form its first TIF district, which President Mike Lopez says will help address infrastructure issues and provide funds for facade improvement and other business development incentive programs. However, District 186 is opposed, with Superintendent Jennifer Gill noting the district already agreed to not collect additional property taxes generated by Scheels Sports Park over a 20-year period, so the financial hit from a Jerome TIF would amount to a "double whammy." A public hearing on the proposed TIF is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. July 3 at the Jerome Civic Center, 2901 Leonard St.

Subscribe to the Springfield Business Journal and their weekly Biz Bites email newsletter

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In this episode of Business in the 217, Trent R. Nelson talks with:

• Heather Burton - Illinois Women in Leadership

Trent R. Nelson spoke with Heather Burton about what the organization does, what the ATHENA Leadership Award is, the nominees, the time of the event, plus more!

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