Cancelled session days hurting business in downtown Springfield

Posted on January 27, 2022
Covid knocked out eleven of twelve House session days and eight of nine Senate session days in January. (WJBC file photo)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – When the lawmakers cancel session days, business in the capital city suffers.

“We were really looking forward to these ten to twelve weeks,” said Scott Dahl, director of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. “It’s front-loaded, which really kicks off our year in January, February, and March, when we typically are slow anyway. But we understand. We are still moving through the pandemic, and we’d like to get the legislators and the special interests back into town as soon as possible.”

Covid knocked out eleven of twelve House session days and eight of nine Senate session days in January.

Dahl said it’s not just the lawmakers; it’s staff, lobbyists, tourists, and more, generating millions of dollars in business for hotels, restaurants, and more. Some lawmakers rent apartments or own houses in Springfield, which also mean local business.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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