City of Red Bud, IL

10/14/2026

🎉 Exciting news! The Material Works has announced a $35 million expansion, bringing new technology, continued investment, and 22 anticipated new jobs to our community. 👏🏭

The Material Works Announces $35 Million Expansion in Red Bud

New Plant 3 will expand TMW’s Red Bud operations, add local jobs, and bring first-of-its-kind steel processing technology to the world.

The Material Works, Ltd. (TMW) has begun investing approximately $35 million in a new Plant 3 processing operation at the Kaskaskia River Port District (KRPD) #2 industrial park, just south of its current Plant 1.

TMW has operated in Red Bud, IL, since 1992. This new 104,000-square-foot Plant 3 will bring
TMW’s total plant space to 515,000 sq ft - nearly 12 acres under roof - and represents a major
investment in the company’s continued growth in the Red Bud area.

Plant 3 will be the home of the world’s first integrated stretcher-leveler cut-to-length + pickling line. In simpler terms, the new operation will allow TMW to unroll steel coils up to 1” thick x 84” wide, weighing up to 90,000 lb—two tractor-trailer loads in one coil—remove surface scale, flatten them to very tight tolerances, and cut them to custom lengths in one highly integrated process. The line will serve companies such as John Deere and Caterpillar.

The “pickling” portion will use TMW’s Eco Pickled Surface (EPS) technology, an environmentally friendly, acid-free pickling process developed and globally patented by TMW right here in southern Illinois.
The new processing line will be the largest of TMW’s eight lines and will be manufactured by our friends at Red Bud Industries (RBI). This will be TMW’s second EPS operation in Red Bud, joining more than 55 EPS units installed at steel processors worldwide.

As part of its continued investment in local infrastructure, TMW has also already invested
approximately $2 million in solar-energy equipment and plans to invest an additional $2 million in conjunction with the Plant 3 project.

TMW currently has 55,000 tons of steel in inventory—roughly the weight of 22,000 SUVs—and processes 75 tractor-trailer loads of steel per day through two existing plants. Steel arrives via barge, rail, and truck. This Plant 3 operation could increase that level by 50%. TMW projects the plant to begin operations in early 2029 and expects to add 22 new teammates as the operation ramps up.

“We were asked to build this new operation in other areas of the country, but we chose the Red
Bud area because of the talented and hard-working people who make up Team TMW”, said
TMW President Kevin Voges. “I am truly honored to be a part of this team. We thank God for His
amazing grace.”

09/28/2026

The Low Income Home Assistance Program will open October 1, 2026 through Western Egyptian. Contact the Randolph County Office at 618-443-5231 for more information.

09/25/2026

NOTICE
The parking lot at City Hall is blocked off for Hops and Hogs set up. Please park along the street. Due to construction, the front door is locked. Please use the side door (between City Hall and the Fire Department) or the Police door entrance (at the back of the building). We apologize for the inconvenience.

09/24/2026

Are you a start-up, existing for-profit small businesses, or a pre-venture entrepreneurs? Sign up TODAY for the 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤. There is no cost to participate, but you must register by Friday, September 25th. Past competitions have awarded over $20,000 in cash and in-kind services to help businesses thrive! Workshop location is at Red Bud City Hall.

Don't miss your opportunity to enter your business idea, new concept, or expansion plan in the 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤.

𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝟐𝟓. Visit the event website for competition information and registration.
https://sbdc.siu.edu/workshops/business-plan-competition.php

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬
Participants must attend three workshops at their chosen competition location. The workshops will help participants prepare a business plan, business financials, and a pitch. Competitors then submit a full business plan and deliver a compelling 90-second pitch for a chance to win.

Competition locations include Benton, Carbondale, Harrisburg, Metropolis, and Red Bud.

The competition is open to start-ups, existing for-profit small businesses, and pre-venture entrepreneurs. There is no cost to participate, but you must register.

Read about the winner of the 2025 Business Plan Competition Powered by Regions Bank, Florine Swim. https://sbdc.siu.edu/sbdc-success-stories/florine-swim-co.php

09/16/2026

Ribs, brisket tacos, maple scones, cornbread, and more! Additional BBQ and brews available for purchase. Live music by Ian Ferguson Music and The Cut!

Now is the time to sample delicious eats from SL.AM. Catering, No-Jacks South, Sally Cakes - Red Bud IL , 1860 Public House, Red Bud IGA, and Adeline's. Sample drink options from Lieferbräu Brewery, Shoehorn Brewing, Millpond Brewing, and St. Nicholas Brewing Company.

Thank you to our sponsors Buena Vista National Bank, Ed Morse Chevrolet GMC Red Bud, Red Bud Industries, Roeslein & Associates, Inc., Country Financial - Tyler M. Hess, and The Material Works!

To purchase your ticket today, scan the QR code or visit: https://square.link/u/OJN54GAg

09/15/2026

🧻 A MESSAGE TO PARENTS & YOUTH — LET’S TALK ABOUT TOILET PAPERING

We understand that toilet papering a friend’s house has sometimes been viewed as a harmless prank, especially around homecoming, Halloween, and other school activities. Kids want to have fun, make memories, and sometimes carry on traditions that have been around for generations.

However, there is an important line between having fun and damaging or entering someone else’s property without permission.

Throwing toilet paper onto a home, trees, vehicles, landscaping, or other property can create a significant mess and may cause damage. More importantly, not every homeowner considers it a joke. What seems funny to one person may feel disrespectful, intimidating, or destructive to another.

Just as important is how you respond when confronted. If a homeowner asks you to leave or stop, do so respectfully. If a police officer speaks with you about your actions, remain calm, respectful, and cooperative. Becoming argumentative, disrespectful, threatening, or confrontational can quickly turn a situation that might have been resolved with a conversation and cleanup into something much more serious.

Possible consequences can include:
• Being required to clean up the property
• Parents being contacted
• Responsibility for the cost of damaged property or landscaping
• School or extracurricular consequences when applicable
• Police involvement when a property owner makes a complaint
• Citations or criminal charges when the circumstances meet the requirements of applicable law
• Additional consequences if your behavior becomes threatening, destructive, or otherwise unlawful when confronted

Parents, please talk with your children about respecting other people’s homes and property—and about how they conduct themselves when an adult or police officer addresses their behavior.

Youth, enjoy yourselves and have fun with your friends, but understand that “we were just joking” does not erase damage, excuse unlawful behavior, or justify disrespect toward a homeowner or police officer.

We would much rather see our young people making good memories than dealing with consequences over a prank that went too far.

Have fun. Make good choices. Be respectful. Respect your neighbors and their property. And keep the toilet paper where it belongs! 🧻🚽

— Red Bud Police Department

09/11/2026

Thank you to Red Bud High School IL for presenting a meaningful program for our students and community. The message portrayed from speakers encouraged students to honor September 11, 2001 by engaging and serving their community, in whatever capacity they choose, and to be united despite differences. What a great message and reminder to us all.

09/11/2026

09/09/2026

In 1819, Preston Brickey filed for homestead land and built a log cabin near the north end of present-day Red Bud. During the August 29 Red Bud America 250 Community Festival, we were thrilled to honor two descendants of Preston - Tom Brickey and Stephanie Fitzgerald - with keys to the city. The full presentation text can be found below in the comments.