EDWARDSVILLE, Ill., June 15 -- Southern Illinois University- Edwardsville issued the following news release:
Entrepreneurs and new business startups are invited to compete in the 2026 Metro East Start-Up Challenge (MESC), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville's 13th annual regional business plan competition.
The MESC is organized by the Illinois Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for the Metro East at SIUE. The purpose of the Challenge is to identify, encourage, and support entrepreneurs and business startups across SBDC's service area. Counties served include Jersey, Calhoun, Madison, Bond, Clinton, St. Clair, Washington, Monroe, and Randolph Counties, as well as Fayette, Montgomery, and Macoupin Counties.
The 2026 MESC encour...