City of Belleville to top new building permit record in 2003
By KERRY L. SMITH

   BELLEVILLE -- To homeowners, business owners and developers here, the news that zip codes 62223 and 62221 rank 22nd and 38th on the list of the 50 'wealthiest' zip codes in all of Greater St. Louis (according to the St. Louis Business Journal) had to have come as a pleasant surprise.
   But to city leaders and other progressive thinkers in the city of Belleville, [continue]

Belleville Projects in the Works Opening of IL Distributing warehouse Annexation of 357 acres near IL Route 15 East Construction of 62-unit senior apt. complex Downtown pedestrian improvements R&M Supply Company's move into Belle Valley Industrial Park Expansion of city sewer in east Belleville (1,300 acres) Build-out of Southwind Estates (42 more lots) Construction of new YMCA Completion of Belleville Shoe's $1 million expansion Remediation of pollution on West Main Street Video Jet's consolidation at Belle Valley Industrial Park Annexation of 80+ acres for indus. park #3 Construction of new high school Expansion of St. Elizabeth Hospital ($14 million) Expansion of Memorial Hospital ($11 million)

Entrepreneur wears multiple hats  in support of business, community By KURT PRENZLER    GODFREY -- Although not a native of Southwestern Illinois, Tom Long has become prominent in Madison County as a lawyer, businessman, banker and politician.    Long, 52, is chairman of the First Community Bank of Godfrey, practices law and is active with a variety of community and business groups, along with the Republican Party.    "I was born in Manteno, Illinois, a small farming community just north of Kankakee, the oldest of six children," he said.    "After graduating from Eastern Illinois University with a B.S. in accounting, I was drafted into the U.S. Army." [continue]