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2019’s biggest WGIL stories regarding local economic impact

As we turn the calendar over to 2020, WGIL is taking a look back on the biggest economic-impact stories of the past year. It was announced on Thursday, October 10th that Galesburg Castings Inc. was merging with Faircast Inc. in Fairfield, Iowa. The local foundry that had been in operation for over 110 years would close. A week earlier in October, Gates Corporation announced plans to cut around 120 jobs over the next year.

On Friday, October 25th, the Monmouth Municipal Airport Hangar was destroyed by an early-morning fire. The call came into the Monmouth Fire Department at around 5:54 am that morning. The fire was contained in under three hours, and no injuries were reported. Officials said three water main breaks were indirectly caused by firefighting efforts. A total of 10 aircrafts valued at over $750,000 were destroyed – only two aircrafts were recovered. Pending approvals from the FAA and Aeronautics Division of IDOT, rebuilding the hangar could be over a year and a half away.

On Monday, August 26th, Milan-based Nature’s Treatment of Illinois announced they had purchased the former Aldi Building on the corner of West Main and Henderson Streets in Galesburg. The intent is to bring a recreational cannabis dispensary to town which included around 25 new jobs. Plans are to subdivide the building into smaller retail shops including a coffee shop. It was announced last week that due to a state-wide shortage the opening of the store in Galesburg has been delayed tentatively to February 3rd of next year.

In August, the Executive Director of the Galesburg Area Chamber of Commerce, Jessica Linder, announced she was moving on for a new opportunity. Earlier this month on December 6th, the Galesburg Chamber of Commerce board announced the hiring of Pam Gaither as the new Executive Director. Previously, Gaither had worked for Kindred Healthcare as the Supervisor of Community Relations and in marketing for Galesburg Broadcasting Company and The Register-Mail. Gaither just completed her second week as Executive Director.

In other local economic-impact-related news from 2019: in February the Monmouth Shopko announced it was closing its doors in May and the new Fareway Grocery Store in Monmouth opening for business on Wednesday, July 31st.

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