St. Louis, long known as the Gateway to the West, is rapidly becoming the gateway to the region’s future. Diverse communities have begun working together to make the city a major hub for cutting-edge innovations in aerospace, agriculture, finance, transportation, biosciences, entertainment, and much more. The St. Louis Economic Development Partnership is dedicated to finding economic development partners who can help companies thrive in greater St. Louis, regardless of their size, and at the same time help those companies to deliver new opportunities into under resourced neighborhoods.
Behind the development is the reasonable expectation of strong job growth over the next decade. The National Association of Manufacturers projects more than 4.6 million new manufacturing jobs will be created in the U.S. within five years. To help fill this need, a state-of-the-art, advanced manufacturing innovation center (AMICSTL) is well on its way to becoming reality. Its mission will be to attract visionary manufacturers and to develop the necessary skilled workforce.
To realize its full potential in both Missouri and Illinois, AMICSTL is collaborating with a myriad of companies across eight key verticals, including aerospace and defense. Once completed, AMICSTL will be part of a “tech triangle” that will spur innovation within three primary sectors: advanced manufacturing, biosciences, and geospatial technology.
In economic development, some projects take years in the making. One key to success is to maintain a clear vision and to remember that progress does not always come in giant leaps. Sometimes the smallest initiatives can evolve into significant advancements—or even spark entirely new industries.
Below are some of the emerging projects that showcase the region’s long-term commitment to leading edge industries, and to improving the quality of life in places where small changes can make big differences.
Aerospace
From the world’s first parachute jump from an airplane in 1912 to Charles Lindbergh’s historic trans-Atlantic flight in 1927, St. Louis has a long history in aviation. Three companies—Curtiss-Wright, Robertson, and McDonnell Aircraft Company—built planes to support the war effort during World War II, and the area has not forgotten its roots.
McDonnell Douglas, an aerospace giant that has been a staple of the St. Louis economy for decades, merged with Boeing in 1997, and its defense department is now headquartered in St. Louis. Boeing has made a $5 million investment to help expand AMICSTL. The investment will help fund the advanced manufacturing facility, accelerate workforce development programs, and grow the region’s talent pipeline and abilities.
AgTech
Due to its rich soil from the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, St. Louis has been an agricultural hub for centuries. Farming continues to be an important part of its economy, and 39 North was created to promote innovation in the industry. The campus is a 600-acre (242.8 ha) district anchored by Bayer Crop Science, BRDG Park, the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, and the Helix Center Biotech Incubator. The newly formed nonprofit will be a key factor in the economic growth of the district and the surrounding community. It recognizes that St. Louis has an opportunity to leverage its proximity to farms, food producers, and research institutions to create, attract, and retain new agricultural technologies for the future.
Underserved areas
As with any urban city, parts of St. Louis remain distressed and underserved. The economic disparity became all too clear in Ferguson, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis, when the tragic death of Michael Brown in 2014 led to civil unrest. While much work remains to be done around racial inequity and historic barriers to economic growth and generational wealth, the community has come together to find ways to move forward. Improvements include new community spaces, workforce initiatives with wraparound-services, a Great Streets project, and other economic initiatives to create jobs and attract new commerce.
Dellwood, Mo., which is adjacent to Ferguson, was also adversely impacted in the aftermath of Brown’s killing. Dellwood is within a highly distressed census tract where the poverty rate is close to 18 percent and unemployment is about 22 percent. One of the new community-driven developments is R&R Marketplace, located in a former retail center that had been vacant for nearly 20 years. The 90,000-square-foot (8361.2 sq m) mixed-use community facility will provide new opportunities for innovation, jobs, childcare, health care, and more.
Early estimates show R&R Marketplace will create 100 jobs within one year and 2,000 jobs within five years. The redevelopment was made possible by a $13 million New Markets Tax Credit allocation.
Brickline Greenway is another project focused on equitable development. It aims to connect many of the city’s attractions and businesses from Forest Park to the Gateway Arch, and from Fairground Park to Tower Grove Park. This pathway, along with 39 North and Centennial Greenways, will make the St. Louis region a more vibrant and accessible place to live and increase economic development. In addition, Brickline will provide a vital bike and pedestrian link for workers and residents to move around the area more freely.
Entertainment
In homage to the city’s rich musical heritage, St. Louis is witnessing the development of Gateway Studios, a state-of-the-art entertainment, touring, and rehearsal facility. Located close to the Spirit of St. Louis Airport in suburban Chesterfield Valley, the 32-acre (12.9 ha) campus will be the largest rehearsal facility of its kind in the U.S. when completed.
The $150 million investment will include a 330,000 square-foot (30,658 sq m) complex and employ more than 100 music and entertainment professionals. It will offer offices, conference rooms, dressing rooms, on-site catering, sound stages, green screen studios, live streaming, and a full range of audio, lighting, and video manufacturing and production services.
Combined with a new Major League Soccer stadium and improvements to the Enterprise Center, Gateway Studios marks another major investment in the city’s sports and entertainment sectors.
Further reading: Advisory Services Report: St. Louis, Missouri
