Poised for Major Growth

ommercial investments in Belleville exceeded $26 million in 2006. New construction for office and professional space included projects by THF Realty and DESCO. Projects for 2006 include:

• The City of Belleville's $6.4 million Downtown Main Street Streetscape begins.

• THF Realty begins construction of the 500,000 square foot Green Mount Commons shopping center and the northeast corner of Green Mount Road and Illinois Route 161 anchored by Lowe's and a Super Wal-Mart.

• DESCO begins construction of the 6000,000 square foot Belleville Crossing shopping center at the northeast corner of Illinois Route 15 and Frank Scott Parkway anchored by Target and Home Depot.

• Oliver C. Joseph Chrysler opens a new $5 million new car showroom and service facility, with record sales, at Illinois Route 15 and South 17th Street.

• Wagner Buick GMC opens a new car showroom and service facility at Illinois Route 15 and South 17th Street.

• Governor French Academy, a K-12 private school, expands its campus in downtown Belleville to include the former O.C. Joseph Chrysler property.

• TheBANK of Edwardsville expands into Belleville with the construction of a $2 million branch on West Main Street and Frank Scott Parkway.

"Belleville has the infrastructure for major growth in commerce."

HIGHWAY

St. Clair County offers 122 miles of interstate highway including Interstate 55 and Interstate 64. These major interstates are linked via Interstate 255/270, which forms the St. Louis metropolitan circumferential loop. They are an integral part of the east-west and north-south national interstate road network, which converges in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

WATER

The U.S. Inland Waterways System connects Southwestern Illinois with industrial centers in 15 states located along the Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois and Tennessee Rivers and with the Great Lakes of Canada and the Gulf of Mexico. As the most northern ice-free port on the Mississippi River system, the St. Louis region can provide 12-month downriver shipping services.

RAIL

Belleville, as part of the bi-state St. Louis region, is the second largest rail center in the United States. The region handles approximately 10,000 rail cars per day and contains more than 30 rail yard facilities. The region is served by nine trunk-line railroads, with more than 40 rail lines radiating to all parts of North America. Connections are provided by three switching and transfer railroads.

AIR

Southwestern Illinois is currently served by Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in St. Clair County, and two regional airports — St. Louis Regional in Madison County and St. Louis Downtown Parks in St. Clair County. MidAmerica is America’s newest commercial aviation airport and was built as a reliever to Lambert-St. Louis International. Lambert is one of the largest airports in America and a hub for American Airlines.