Business View Civil and Municipal | April/May 2022

24 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 ights, Illinois S t. Clair County, Illinois is home to the ‘retail powerhouse’ of Fairview Heights. Located only 15 miles east of downtown St. Louis, this growing city has all the advantages of a large metropolitan area while maintaining a small-town charm. Residents and visitors alike are treated to over three million square feet of shopping space from the St. Clair Square super- regional mall to half a dozen regional shopping centers and many other, smaller, centers . The community also offers an impressive array of 75 restaurants. Along with its convenient proximity to Scott Air Force Base, Fairview Heights has positioned itself as the popular go-to for retail and tourism for all of Southern Illinois. “We’re a young and exciting city, only incorporated since 1969,” reports Mayor Mark Kupsky. “Since we have an overabundance of restaurants and shopping, visitors often think we’re just a retail community, but that’s far from the truth. Our 17,000 residents raise their families, work, and enjoy amazing amenities. We truly are a melting pot with only a few of P I V O T I N G T H R O U G H T H E P A N D E M I C