ALTON, Ill. — On Thursday Illinois Governor JB Pritzker toured a new innovation center in Alton.
The Wedge Innovation Center is a 55,000-square-foot facility that will be the new home for the Midwest AI Network, some Southern Illinois University of Edwardsville educational programs, tech start-ups and local entrepreneurs.
“We couldn't do this without the help of the state and the federal government. So the legislature, the City of Alton, the state of Illinois, have all been great and we've truly melded these dollars and, and I think maximized it and Emily's going to showcase it,” John Simmons with AltonWorks said.
Alton residents are already very familiar with the innovation center's new home.
“One of our responsibilities in working with historic buildings is to preserve what is important to the community, which we're doing,” the tour guide said.
The new center will be inside what was once Wedge Bank, constructed in 1904 and has a similar shape to New York's Flat Iron building. It's now connected to the Elfgen building constructed in 1868.
“The top two floors will be part of the Wedge Innovation Center. We have attached it to the building next door on the upper level. So the Elfgen building, three levels there, two, three, and four were connected. So that entire sort of upper level will be functioning as the innovation center,” they said during the tour.
Governor JB Pritzker, (D) Illinois, said he's seen centers like this build up communities.
“Having been involved with a lot of entrepreneurs over the course of my business career, the resources that a major university and a very successful one at that, can bring to the table means that there will be economic success,” Pritzker said.
The first floor will have a restaurant and retail space, the second, third and fourth floors will have offices, conference rooms, co-working space, research labs and more.
“Small businesses, startup businesses are the progenitor of most of the growth that exists all across the nation. So the more we can do it in Illinois, and especially here, the better off we all are,” Pritzker said.
The Wedge is scheduled to open this winter.