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Shelter project gets boost
CHAMPAIGN – Tough economic times temporarily sidelined plans to expand the Center for Women in Transition, but a new $50,000 grant has the project back on track.
The transitional housing program for homeless women originally hoped to complete a new residential and educational center in early 2002, but groundbreaking was postponed until last fall when costs ran higher than expected.
Local office develops defense technologies
CHAMPAIGN – The Champaign office of Science Applications International Corp. works on projects ranging from radar modeling to 3-D visualization to remote sensing.
The office, at 1901 S. First St. in the University of Illinois Research Park, employs 67 people and has a direct payroll of about $10 million, said Dennis Andersh, vice president and operations manager for SAIC/Demaco.
It's Your Business: Monticello tackle company sold to Ohio firm
Carlson Tackle, a Monticello fishing tackle company that exclusively employed developmentally disabled workers, has been sold to Erie Dearie Lure Inc. of Cortland, Ohio.
The Monticello site ceased operation about a week ago, said the company's former president, Danny Strand.
Insurance costs ground Frasca school
URBANA – Until this month, there had been a flight school at Frasca Field for decades.
No longer. Frasca Air Services discontinued its flight instruction and mechanics service at the private airfield north of Urbana on June 30. Airport manager Tom Frasca said he had little choice because he couldn't get the liability insurance he felt he needed.
Woman picks right time to be Urbana watchmaker's apprentice
URBANA – Stephanie Frankhauser never thought of herself as unorthodox. She's a mom with a husband and three kids she home-schools, plus a part-time weekend job.
It's not that she needed to find something to fill her time.
Carter's expanding in Urbana
URBANA – Carter's Furniture will be putting extra space to work at its Urbana store with some new merchandise intended to appeal to younger and more budget-conscious shoppers.
Starting this fall, Carter's will add a selection of moderately priced furniture in a separate division called "Furniture Direct" at the 410 N. Vine St. store.
Study notes area lacks open spaces
URBANA – Illinois ranks sixth of seven Midwestern states in terms of percentage of state-owned recreation lands, and last on a per-capita basis.
Of five regions in Illinois, East Central Illinois ranks last in the percentage of green space available within the total land area.
Summer: Extra time to succeed
CHAMPAIGN – Shannon Gardner, Emmanuel Lynch and hundreds of other Champaign high school students are spending time this summer keeping their graduation records on track.
School officials in Champaign and Urbana say summer is an opportunity to take their mission a step farther, give floundering students a second chance, give at-risk students some advantages, introduce young students to expectations at new schools and give extra attention to all students who need it.
Service center for new firms opens
CHAMPAIGN – It's official. The long-awaited Illini Entrepreneurship Center is finally open.
The center, housed in Suite 228 of the new EnterpriseWorks building in the University of Illinois Research Park, is designed to help entrepreneurs connect with the services they need.
New use for old town hall
SAVOY – Now that Savoy has found a new location for its village hall, officials might convert the old village hall site into a community center.
The village already owns the land on which the old village hall sits, as well as an adjacent lot, and the village board is looking at the possibility of redeveloping the entire block.
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