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$500,000 in pandemic relief money from the Town of Normal will help a not-for-profit agency that offers service to those with disabilities get a new facility and expand programs.
The Normal Town Council voted Monday to put $500,000 of its federal COVID-relief funds toward Marcfirst relocation to northeast Normal, and the nonprofit's collaboration with two youth-focused programs.
Human service agencies like Marcfirst are having to find new ways to help clients find jobs as employers change what workers they need after the pandemic. Marcfirst CEO Brian Wipperman says he thinks it will be neutral once all is said and done. Two McLean County Board members detail how they came up with 24 volunteers to help the county create new district maps. Sales tax revenue in Normal has returned to prepandemic levels as City Manager Pam Reece explains. Plus, Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason discusses ramped up road work plans for the summer.
An ongoing labor shortage Bloomington-Normal is making restaurant hiring managers look to unconventional places for workers.
A rendering of the new Marcfirst space. An agency that serves people with disabilities in central Illinois says it will open a second pediatric therapy center. Marcfirst CEO Brian Wipperman said Friday it will be in the Carle BroMenn outpatient center on East Empire Street across from Central Illinois Regional Airport. It will open this fall. The center will have a sensory gym and six therapy rooms to analyze children ages 1 to 3 who are on the autism spectrum, the agency said in a news release. Marcfirst also will share some things with Carle BroMenn, including a water therapy pool and addit...