Gem PR & Media

10/12/2026

Congratulations to Noah Schlosser Media, CLP Insurance Solutions, LLC , The Brinkerhoff Mansion, West of Wise Winery, Pear Tree Pups!

This year's Illinois Local Ambassador Award finalists!

09/24/2026

We’ve loved every moment working with John, Robin and Chris on the Route 66: The Main Street of America documentary and Centennial Roadshow.

Take a piece of Route 66 home with you!

For nearly a decade, roughly 1,500 pieces of Route 66 sat quietly in storage, waiting for the right moment.

That moment has arrived. The American Business Club of Springfield (ABC Springfield) is selling "Bricks of the Mother Road," individually numbered paving bricks pulled from an original 1926–1936 alignment of Route 66, with every dollar going toward the club's charitable work in Central Illinois.

The bricks are U.S. Route 66 Centennial certified and debut in person at the Illinois' International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in downtown Springfield: Friday, Sept. 25, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 27, 8 a.m.–noon.

They aren't available online, so festivalgoers get first crack.

For more on the story behind the bricks, visit the link in comments.

One of the first bricks to see the light of day was gifted to award-winning filmmaker John Paget, who is currently traveling with his Centennial Roadshow showcase his new documentary Route 66: The Main Street of America, and stopped in Springfield, IL earlier this month.

09/10/2026

September is a BIG month for Illinois Local! 🎉

We’re kicking off one of our busiest seasons of the year with opportunities to connect, learn, promote your business and grow your Illinois Local network.

Here’s what’s happening:

🏆 Illinois Local Awards — Nominations are officially OPEN! Nominate a business, organization or cause making a difference in communities across Illinois. Supported by Bailey Family Insurance and awards designed by Ceramics Made by Rosie.

🤝 September Networking Event — Join us September 16 at Bailey Family Insurance in Springfield for our monthly networking event.

💡 Skill Share on September 22 — We’re teaming up with the Illinois Illinois SBDC for Central Illinois for our second Skill Share of the year, hosted by Innovate Springfield at Horace Mann.

📸 Complimentary Member Photoshoot — Members can take advantage of our complimentary photoshoot on September 24 at Kate Spencer Photography. Because having great photos of you for your business or cause matters!

🛍️ Illinois Local Holiday Market — Now is the time to register for our 6th Annual Illinois Local Holiday Market on Small Business Saturday, November 28, at the Orr Building at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Supported by Illinois SBDC for Central Illinois.

Member registration is just $75, or $200 for non-members.

And if you’ve been thinking about becoming an Illinois Local member, there’s no better time. Membership is about more than a directory listing—it’s about building relationships, gaining visibility and being part of a statewide community that believes in supporting Illinois businesses and organizations.

Whether you’re looking to make connections, learn something new, showcase your business or find new customers, Illinois Local is here to help you grow.

👉 Want to learn more, become a member, register for an event or get involved?

Links are in the comments!

07/17/2026

We ❤️ AlignLife Chiropractic - Springfield!!

🧡 Member Spotlight: AlignLife Chiropractic - Springfield 🧡

At Illinois Local, we're proud to celebrate the businesses and organizations that make our communities stronger.

AlignLife of Springfield is dedicated to helping people improve their overall health and well-being through personalized chiropractic care and wellness solutions.

The team focuses on addressing the root causes of discomfort while empowering patients with practical strategies for long-term health and balance.

As part of its commitment to supporting our local community, AlignLife of Springfield regularly provides education and resources that encourage people to prioritize their health—both personally and professionally.

Kate Spencer Photography is hosting a FREE Lunch & Learn featuring AlignLife of Springfield!

📅 Tuesday, September 2
🕧 12:30–1:30 p.m.
📍 Kate Spencer Photography Studio

This informative session will focus on stress management for entrepreneurs and business owners, offering practical tips to help you manage stress and thrive in your business.

🍴 Lunch is complimentary, but space is limited. To reserve your spot, please email Gemma at [email protected].

We're grateful to have AlignLife of Springfield as part of the Illinois Local community and appreciate the positive impact they continue to make throughout Central Illinois.

06/08/2026

Great piece in the LA Times this weekend. This sits among the NYT, BBC, and Time Out pieces so far this year.

We love working with the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership and U.S. Route 66 Centennial.

A 70-car caravan embarked on a journey from Santa Monica to Chicago to celebrate the centennial of the famed 2,448-mile Route 66.

06/04/2026

We 🩵 Alpha-Lit Springfield-Peoria!

If you're looking for a fun, unique, and memorable way to elevate your next event, Alpha-Lit Springfield-Peoria has you covered. From weddings and birthdays to corporate events, fundraisers, and grand openings, their stunning marquee letters and numbers add the perfect touch.

Locally owned and committed to helping make celebrations shine, Alpha-Lit Springfield-Peoria is one of the many incredible businesses that make our community special.

Have you used Alpha-Lit for an event? We'd love to see your photos in the comments! ✨

06/02/2026

We ❤️ Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway!

🌟 Member Spotlight 🌟

🚗Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway

Today we’re highlighting Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway a proud member of Illinois Local!

The Byway helps preserve and promote the historic Route 66 experience, supporting tourism, local heritage, and economic development across Illinois. Its work keeps this iconic roadway alive for residents and visitors alike.

🎶🎤🎸Coming up on November 11, the Byway will host the Route 66 Centennial Conference and Celebration at in Springfield, featuring STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas, along with food, festivities, and a full live concert experience as part of the Route 66 Centennial commemoration. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased here: https://illinoisroute66.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/illinoisroute66/event.jsp?event=2

We’re proud to have the Byway as part of the Illinois Local network!

01/08/2026

We've had so much fun working with the folks at Visit Santa Monica to help raise awareness of this historic event!

https://www.smdp.com/route-66-celebrations-begin-with-road-trip-from-the-pier/

Route 66 centennial celebrations began at Santa Monica Pier with a vintage car caravan departing for a cross-country journey to Chicago and Detroit's Auto Show.

01/08/2026

We love working with Tara and the team at THE PRAIRIE LAND BUZZ magazine and we love that they collaborate with other news organizations to get the message out about the great work our clients are doing!!

https://www.riverbender.com/news/details/storyteller-studios-launches-storyteller-small-batch-to-bring-emmywinning-video-productions-to-local-small-businesses-89614.cfm

Storyteller Studios
Cured Catering

Storyteller Studios introduces Storyteller Small Batch, bringing Emmy-winning video storytelling to small businesses in Springfield, Illinois.

10/18/2025

🛑 STOP THE PRESS!🛑

We are working with an Illinois magazine to tell the story of our amazing vendors ahead of our 5th annual Holiday Market on Small Business Saturday - November 29 in the Expo Building at the IL State Fairgrounds and we want to include comments from our vendors in the article!

If you’ve been a vendor at the IL Holiday Market either comment below about your experience (you’ll need to provide at least one or two sentences), DM us, or comment in our members-only Facebook group!

You can also email [email protected] ❤️