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| INTRODUCTION |
The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines “diversity” as the condition of being diverse or composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities. When you examine St. Louis County, it is clear we are the epitome of diversity.
First of all, we have one of the most diverse populations in the Midwest. St. Louis County residents comprise every race, creed and color imaginable. Being the largest population base in Missouri means our heritage touches almost every nation in the world.
Equally as important is the diversity of our economic base. St. Louis County offers a strong employment base in aerospace, financial services, technology, automotive, advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and biotech. Recognized as the region’s “Economic Engineer”, St. Louis County is the home to such leading corporate giants like Boeing, Edward Jones, Express Scripts, Pfizer, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Charter Communications, and much, much more.
Moreover, the St. Louis County Economic Council can also claim a strong resemblance to the notion of diversity. Our multi-faceted organization covers a vast array of fields with the desire to implement a collection of services to increase wealth and investment in the region. SLCEC not only provides business development services and specialized financial capabilities, we are also very proficient in real estate development, community development, incubation services, small business advisory services, and international development assistance through our World Trade Center – Saint Louis.
If you are looking to diversify your operations or discover a wide array of options to help your business improve, contact the St. Louis County Economic Council and experience the diversity of our success stories.
Denny Coleman
President and CEO |
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| EDWARD JONES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION IN ST. LOUIS COUNTY |
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Edward Jones, one of the nation’s leading financial services companies, recently announced they will expand its corporate campus in the City of Des Peres. The expansion will encompass a 225,000-square-foot addition to the company’s headquarters.
The project is part of an overall proposed $260-million investment the firm is making into St. Louis County. Their expansion project also includes three new buildings along Interstate 270 in Maryland Heights.
“Edward Jones is a vital part of the region’s economy,” stated Denny Coleman, president of the St. Louis County Economic Council. “County Executive Dooley felt it was imperative that we make every effort to create a mutually beneficial scenario for all parties.”
The overall project will guarantee at least 500 new jobs in St. Louis County within the next five years which could increase to 1,000 new jobs over the next decade.
“I am excited to see an outstanding company like Edward Jones re-invest in St. Louis County,” stated County Executive Charlie Dooley. “This company is one of many reasons why we are recognized as the region’s Economic Engineer.”
Des Peres-based Edward Jones employs nearly 3,500 people in the St. Louis region and is projecting it will hire another 10,000 financial advisors throughout the next ten years. |
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| SLCEC TO HOST ANNUAL MEETING |
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| PFIZER HOSTS GROUNDBREAKING FOR PLANT EXPANSION |
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| REGIONAL AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERSHIP HOSTS SUMMIT |
The St. Louis Regional Automotive Partnership (SLRAP) recently hosted both national and local automotive experts to discuss the state of the industry.
Sean McAlinden, chief economist for the Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Center for Automotive Research (CAR), informed the gathering of the changing global structure of the industry. McAlinden talked about the obstacles automakers are facing and discussed examples of how some companies are addressing these issues.
McAlinden gave special praise to the new Chrysler mini-van that is being produced in Fenton, MO. He noted a contingent of CAR officials recently test drove the new vehicle and gave it glowing praise for its ride and handling.
CAR’s Director of the Automotive Communities Program, Kim Hill, also spoke about the importance of collaborative groups, like SLRAP, to promote a region’s assets to the industry. He noted that a few areas have followed the example set by the partnership and are working together to strengthen their region’s automotive economy.
Local officials representing the Fenton Chrysler plant and Wentzville General Motors Assembly plant, along with automotive supplier Visteon, were also on hand to provide views from the local perspective. All three officials stressed the importance of maintaining a dialogue at the local level to keep their facilities competitive.
Greg Steinhoff, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, also spoke about the importance of the automotive industry to the state. Steinhoff discussed how Missouri is looking into public-private partnerships to enhance its marketing to prospective automotive industries and become even more aggressive the site selection process.
Denny Coleman, president and CEO of the St. Louis County Economic Council, served as moderator for the program. SLCEC staff serves as the day-to-day operations for the partnership.
The event was sponsored by Ameren Economic Development through their Community Development Corporation grant program. |
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| ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE TO ADDRESS HOUSING ISSUES |
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Recognizing the concern to address housing needs in a broader venue, members of the St. Louis County Economic Development Collaborative are hosting a special program on September 25 entitled Remodeling the Future, One House at a Time: Revitalizing Yesterday’s Homes for Today’s Realities.
“The program is a result of discussion held by our Collaborative Board,” stated David Leezer, vice president for the Economic Development Collaborative. “Many of our communities want to do more than just raze their older housing stock; they want to find ways to improve it.”
The program will consist of representatives from Kansas City’s “First Suburbs” coalition who have come together to address a number of community issues. Administered by the Mid-American Regional Council, the event brings community leaders, contractors, and banks together to modernize older housing structures to better meet the needs of today’s home buyers.
Eric Piper, a noted Kansas City architect, will present the MARC sponsored “Idea Book”. The book is a collection of plans developed by Piper that uses innovated ideas to remodel older homes.
The free event will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, September 25 at the J.C. Penney Conference Center on the University of Missouri – St. Louis campus.
Co-sponsoring the seminar with SLCEC is the Home Builders Association of St. Louis and Eastern Missouri, The Federal Reserve Bank – St. Louis and the University of Missouri Extension/University of Missouri – St. Louis. |
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| COMMUNITY SHOWCASE: UNIVERSITY CITY, HAZELWOOD AND SHREWSBURY |
A new feature for our electronic newsletter is our community showcase. Each edition of “SLCEC Developments” will highlight a few of the communities that make St. Louis County a special place to live and work.
University City - is a vibrant community known for its attractive neighborhoods and business districts. Home to the famous “U. City Loop”, this vibrant six-block area has more than 140 boutiques, specialty shops, eclectic restaurants, galleries, and live entertainment. Some of the more famous hot spots are Blueberry Hill, Fitz’s, The Pageant, and the Tivoli Theatre.
The community, with a population of over 37,000, reflects its proximity to Washington University. Under the leadership of Mayor Joe Adams, the community is a unique mix of distinctive architecture and diverse housing to meet the needs of all types of families.
Serving as the eastern border to Interstate 170, University City is anticipating strong growth along the Olive Boulevard corridor due to the upgrades taking place along the interstate.
Hazelwood – Located in the heart of “North County”, the City of Hazelwood offers a variety of assets for business and residential needs.
Sitting along Interstate 270 and Highway 67 (Lindbergh Boulevard), Hazelwood has more than 27,000 residents and is home to 800 businesses including 12 Fortune 500 companies, six Fortune 1,000 companies and ten corporate headquarters.
Location makes Hazelwood an attractive place for many people. The community is approximately ten minutes from Lambert International Airport. It also offers easy commuting to St. Louis Community College – Florissant Valley, the University of Missouri – St. Louis and Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville.
Mayor T.R. Carr oversees a leadership team committed to making Hazelwood a great place for businesses and families.
Shrewsbury – Strategically placed along the border of Mid-County and South County, the City of Shrewsbury is located at the southwest entrance of the City of St. Louis along Interstate 44.
Transportation has been a recent highlight for the city as Metro Link recently completed a new rail service through St. Louis County into Shrewsbury. The extension has surpassed all estimates for use and to improve commuting patterns in the region.
Mayor Bert Gates exemplifies the community’s vision statement which states: “The City of Shrewsbury will respond in a timely and innovative manner to provide a secure, attractive environment where citizens and businesses of Shrewsbury will share in a rich tradition of community values, resources and outstanding quality of life.” |
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| ST. LOUIS COUNTY HEADLINES |
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The SLCEC newsletter is to provide to promote the advantages and assets of St. Louis County and its communities to site selectors, partners, customers, clients, allies and key contacts. Recipients are permitted to forward, print and/or copy this newsletter to help provide greater awareness of the superior attributes of St. Louis County, its communities and the greater St. Louis region.
The St. Louis County Economic Council newsletter was developed in cooperation with E-Data Solutions Inc. a current tenant in the South County Enterprise Center.
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