An idea to promote locally made products and services and bring those together with customers face to face in one place, will come to fruition this weekend at the first ever Southern Illinois Made Expo. Several years ago, Illinois 59th State Senator Dale Fowler began brainstorming with southern Illinois Chambers of Commerce for ways to make customers aware of products and services which are based in southern Illinois. Senator Fowler says he is happily surprised at the response from local businesses who have signed up to be at the Marion Pavilion. Fowler says 100 to 150 local businesses will be set up. Jennifer Olson, President and CEO of the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce says southern Illinois towns should realize that they are not competing with each other for jobs and products, but instead with the growing cities that the area is losing talented young people and businesses to.
The Southern Illinois Made Expo runs Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 4PM both days with proceeds benefitting the Veterans Honor Flight of Southern Illinois.
To learn more, and to see the schedule visit: https://www.simade.org/
