Business and Economy

An economics professor at Illinois Wesleyan University said a recession is inevitable, but flattening the curve on the coronavirus would limit the economic damage.

Editor's note: Hours after this story was published, former Tony Roma's front-of-house manager Mary Sigler said she was just notified that employees will be getting paid March 30.

Employees at Tony Roma’s restaurant in Bloomington say their bosses stiffed them out of their final paycheck, for hours worked before the business shut down.

Bloomington-Normal’s restaurant workers need help.

That’s the message from Nick Birky, general manager at Fort Jesse Cafe, the popular breakfast and brunch spot in Normal. His entire staff of nearly 30 people is now out of work. (Fort Jesse Cafe opted not to offer curbside pickup for customer and staff health reasons.)

U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis said Monday the coronavirus aid package which stalled in the U.S. Senate would provide much-needed help for small-business owners who face uncertain times.

Service industry employees who have lost work due to the COVID-19 response could possibly find employment in one job sector that’s rapidly hiring to meet demand: grocery stores.

One of the last jobs report to precede the full impact COVID-19 is having on the Illinois economy shows job losses in McLean County, despite a drop in the unemployment rate.

The Bridgestone tire plant in Normal will shut down starting this weekend to avoid coronavirus-related problems, the company said in a news release Thursday.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s order that all bars and restaurants in Illinois shut down until at least March 30 has delivered another blow to independent musicians already devastated in just the last week from the damage brought by the coronovirus.

Wages in McLean County are flat and lagging the rest of the U.S. economy despite low unemployment, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Town of Normal officials contend town council member Stan Nord continues to expand a business on his property in defiance of town zoning rules.

The company that is taking over the former State Farm building in downtown Bloomington has secured its first tenant, prompting the developer to abandon its plans to build luxury apartments.

Property owners who want to demolish three aging student apartments and build a new complex are expected to face opposition Monday when their plans go in front of the Normal Town Council.

Allegiant will add its third nonstop route to Florida from Central Illinois Regional Airport (CIRA) in Bloomington starting this summer, officials said Tuesday.

The head of the Federal Railroad Administration took to a train ride to Uptown Station to see the facility that's getting $13 million for an underpass.

A developer has axed plans for an indoor sports recreation business near downtown Bloomington and plans to open on the east side instead.

The Bloomington-Normal area’s jobless rate declined in December, as the local economy added 400 jobs in the past year, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said Thursday.