SIU APEX Accelerator

08/19/2026

🚧 BID OPPORTUNITY: City of Albion, IL

🔧 Project Description:
The City of Albion is accepting bids for a water main replacement project. The work includes replacing existing water mains along South Sixth Street from Elm Street to Main Street and along East Main Street from Sixth Street to Edwards County High School.

📅 Bid Opening Date: September 29, 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Albion City Hall, 27 W. Elm Street, Albion, IL 62806

👷 Project Contacts:
Grant Administrator
Jeff Vaughan – Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission
📧 [email protected]
📞 618-445-3612

Project Engineer
Alex Riegler – Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
📧 [email protected]
📞 847-697-6700

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
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07/30/2026

🚧 BID OPPORTUNITY: City of Lawrenceville, IL

🔧 Project Description:
Construction of approximately 4,125 lineal feet of 6-inch water main and 100 lineal feet of 1.25-inch copper water main replacements along portions of 16th Street, Christy Avenue, and Locust Street in the southern portion of the City of Lawrenceville.

📅 Bid Opening Date: September 8, 2026
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Lawrenceville City Hall, 700 State Street, Lawrenceville, IL 62439

👷 Project Contacts:
Grant Administrator
Jeff Vaughan – Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission
📧 [email protected]
📞 618-445-3612

Project Engineer
Luke Hahn – Hampton, Lenzini and Renwick, Inc.
📧 [email protected]
📞 618-262-8651

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]

Please like, share, and follow us!

07/25/2026

Thinking about becoming IDOT prequalified or applying for DBE certification?
Now is the time to start positioning your business for growth in Illinois’ horizontal construction market.

Join the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU and IDOT DBE Supportive Services for an in-person session designed to help contractors, consultants, suppliers, and firms better understand the opportunities, requirements, and resources available.

📅 Wednesday, July 29, 2026
🕙 10:00 AM – Noon
📍 In Person

https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/42142

Build Your Road to IDOT Contracting - July 29

Join the Illinois APEX Accelerator at Southern Illinois University and IDOT DBE Supportive Services for an in-person IDOT Training and Networking Event on Tuesday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center in Carbondale.

🚧 Navigate IDOT contracting opportunities
🚧 Understand certification programs and new Interim Final Rule (IFR) updates
🚧 Find upcoming contracting opportunities
🚧 Access management and technical assistance resources
🚧 Connect with experienced industry professionals and potential business partners

Whether you're a road or bridge contractor, engineering or architectural firm, consultant, supplier, trucking company, or professional service provider or you're looking to build relationships with prime contractors and subcontractors, this event is designed to help your business compete for transportation infrastructure contracts.

No cost to attend, but registration is requested.

📅 Tuesday, July 29, 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m. – Noon
📍 Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, SIU Carbondale

Register today: https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/42142

Questions? Call the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU at 618-536-2355.

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
Please like, share, and follow us!

07/17/2026

Lunch & Learn with the Navy: IBAS, FOCI & DPA Title III - July 23

Join our Illinois APEX Accelerator peer, Illinois APEX Accelerator at the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Illinois APEX Accelerator team for a free virtual Lunch & Learn featuring Terressa Bebout, Technical Director, Office of Small Business Strategy, U.S. Navy.

Discover how Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS), Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI), and Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA) support critical supply chains, national security, and opportunities for small businesses in the government marketplace.

📅 Thursday, July 23, 2026
🕛 12:00–1:00 p.m. CDT
💻 Virtual

Register: https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/42143

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
Please like, share, and follow us!

07/14/2026

Build Your Road to IDOT Contracting - July 29

Join the Illinois APEX Accelerator at Southern Illinois University and IDOT DBE Supportive Services for an in-person IDOT Training and Networking Event on Tuesday, July 29, from 10 a.m. to Noon at the Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center in Carbondale.

🚧 Navigate IDOT contracting opportunities
🚧 Understand certification programs and new Interim Final Rule (IFR) updates
🚧 Find upcoming contracting opportunities
🚧 Access management and technical assistance resources
🚧 Connect with experienced industry professionals and potential business partners

Whether you're a road or bridge contractor, engineering or architectural firm, consultant, supplier, trucking company, or professional service provider or you're looking to build relationships with prime contractors and subcontractors, this event is designed to help your business compete for transportation infrastructure contracts.

No cost to attend, but registration is requested.

📅 Tuesday, July 29, 2026
🕙 10:00 a.m. – Noon
📍 Dunn-Richmond Economic Development Center, SIU Carbondale

Register today: https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/42142

Questions? Call the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU at 618-536-2355.

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
Please like, share, and follow us!

07/14/2026

📬 The July 2026 Connections to Contracts Newsletter Has Arrived!

Looking for practical resources to help grow your business in the government marketplace? The July issue of the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU's Connections to Contracts newsletter is packed with timely opportunities and updates.

This month's highlights include:
✅ How to Sell to the State of Illinois workshop
✅ Lunch & Learn with the U.S. Navy featuring IBAS, FOCI, and DPA Title III
✅ Scott Air Force Base Contracting Divisions webinar
✅ IDOT Training & Networking Event for transportation contractors
✅ SBIR/STTR program updates and innovation resources
✅ Resources to help your business identify, compete for, and win government contracts

Whether you're new to government contracting or looking to expand into new markets, there's something in this issue for you.

📖 Read the July newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/siu.edu/apex_july-2026

Stay informed. Stay connected. Grow your government contracting opportunities with the Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU.

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
Please like, share, and follow us!

07/14/2026

Doing Business with Scott Air Force Base - Thursday, July 16

Sign up now if you are interested in selling to Scott Air Force Base?

Join our Illinois APEX Accelerator peer, Illinois APEX Accelerator at Western Illinois University (WIU), for a free virtual workshop focused on contracting opportunities at Scott Air Force Base.

Learn about the installation's contracting divisions, what they purchase, the NAICS codes they use, and how to identify opportunities for your technology, products, and services.

📅 Thursday, July 16, 2026
🕚 11:00 a.m. CDT
💻 Virtual

Register: https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/42133

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
Please like, share, and follow us!

07/14/2026

How to Sell to Illinois - Wednesday, July 15
Don't miss this if you want to do business with the State of Illinois!

Join our Illinois APEX Accelerator peer, Women's Business Development Center (WBDC), for a free virtual workshop on how to sell your products and services to the State of Illinois.

Hear from Krysti Rinaldi, Assistant Deputy Director for the Bureau of Strategic Sourcing, as she shares how state procurement works, special programs available to businesses, and tips for positioning your company for contracting opportunities.

📅 Wednesday, July 15, 2026
🕐 1:00–2:00 p.m. CDT
💻 Virtual

Register: https://ilsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/42090

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
Please like, share, and follow us!

07/01/2026

🚧 BID OPPORTUNITY: City of Fairfield, IL

🔧 Project Description:
Construction of water main replacements along multiple street segments in the western portion of the City of Fairfield, including Windsor Lane, Southwest 12th Street, Leininger Road, and connecting loops between Southwest 9th–12th Streets.

📅 Bid Opening Date: August 11, 2026
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM
📍 Location: Fairfield City Hall, 109 NE 2nd Street, Fairfield, IL 62837

👷 Project Contacts:
Grant Administrator
Jeff Vaughan – Greater Wabash Regional Planning Commission
📧 [email protected]
📞 618-445-3612

Project Engineer
John Stone – Stone & Waggoner
📧 [email protected]
📞 618-554-8623

💼 Want to grow your business through government contracting?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses capture more contract dollars.

📞 618-536-2355
📧 [email protected]

🔁 Please like, share, tag, and follow us on Facebook!

06/29/2026

IDOT DBE Clarity Starts Here!

Is your business currently certified as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or are you considering pursuing work with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) or with IDOT prime contractors?

These upcoming workshops are important to your future opportunities.

IDOT’s Bureau of Small Business Enterprises is hosting a series of VIRTUAL workshops covering the latest DBE Interim Final Rule updates and the requirements firms need to meet in order to remain certified.

Upcoming Workshop Dates:
• Wed, Jul 15 • 10:30 AM CDT
• Wed, Aug 19 • 10:30 AM CDT

Workshop Information & Registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/d/online/idot-dbe/?page=1

❗️Also, stay tuned for information on the upcoming IDOT Training and Networking Event on July 29, 2026, hosted by Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU. This will be an in-person event and attendance is encouraged for firms at all levels of contracting. Follow https://www.facebook.com/SIUAPEX to learn more and get full details very soon.

The Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU can also assist businesses with:
✔ Understanding certification requirements
✔ Preparing for government contracting opportunities
✔ Market research and subcontracting strategies
✔ Connecting with IDOT and prime contractor opportunities

Looking to grow your business with government contracts?
Illinois APEX Accelerator at SIU helps Southern Illinois businesses prepare to capture more contract dollars.
618-536-2355
[email protected]
Please like, share, and follow us!