The Artists Advisory Council, a volunteer organization within the Figge Art Museum, will host an exhibition at The Arts Café at the Figge, a new gallery opening in the dining area of the museum. The exhibition Mississippi Flyway will complement the Audubon show coming to the Figge in February. Artists who live within 150 miles of the Quad Cities are invited to submit up to five works for consideration. Artwork will be selected by judges representing MidCoast Fine Arts, Quad City Arts, and the Figge Art Museum. The submission deadline is January 9. For details about submission formats and the exhibition, contact Arts Café Chair Heidi M. Sallows at at (309) 781-2891 or (hmms33@yahoo.com).

In an effort to create a regional approach to talent attraction and retention, the Young Professionals Network of the Quad Cities (YPN), an initiative of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce, and DavenportOne's neXt Professionals will be merging into one organization. All area young professionals are invited to join in the first combined YPN/neXt event Thursday, January 17, at Centre Station in downtown Moline at 5:30 p.m. A celebratory event for the unveiling of the new young professionals organization is tentatively scheduled for April 3.

Last week, the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation broke ground on the long-anticipated McKesson Lofts at 110 19th Street. The $6.6-million mixed-use redevelopment project is in the heart of downtown Rock Island. Built in 1914, this 60,000-square-foot former warehouse has sat vacant for eight years. Redevelopment of the building has been on the drawing board for four years. The vision for McKesson Lofts is a mixed-use facility that incorporates environmentally friendly concepts suitable for residential living and high-tech commercial use. Completion of the first and second floors is anticipated in October 2008, with the entire project complete by September 2009.

Illinois Governor Rob Blagojevich recently announced $1.5 million in bicycle-path grants for communities in northern Illinois. The City of Rock Island received $200,000 to construct 1.2 miles of trail starting at Ben Williamson Park and ending at 31st Avenue.