Today's Headlines

INTRODUCTION

The deadline to enter the 2010 St. Louis Regional Business Plan Competition is March 9? Compete for $50,000, $30,000 or $20,000 in cash prizes, plus in-kind professional services. Click here to learn more and apply online.

In mid-February, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce John Fernandez and Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers Dr. Ed Montgomery visited St. Louis County to announce the awarding of a $1.575 million Department of Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant. The funding will be used to help identify new uses and redeployment strategies for the former Fenton Chrysler plant.

The closure of the plant has undoubtedly impacted the community and thousands of families, striking a significant blow to Fenton, St. Louis County and the entire region. Not only were there massive job losses at the Chrysler plant, but automotive suppliers and other manufacturers have shut their doors, leaving even more people without jobs.

With the devastating impact and inherent opportunity, we are taking a far-reaching approach for the site redevelopment to ensure significant economic development and job creation. We will work with our partners and neighbors to determine the best types of industries for this 290-acre property and identify supplier networks that will reinvigorate the city, county and region.

The grant is just the beginning, a launch pad to finding new business that provides good jobs for the citizens we serve, and a conviction I share with Fenton and the State of Missouri. While our work to redevelop the Chrysler site is far from complete, we are on the right track and will continue to move forward until we find a successful result.

I want to personally thank Assistant Secretary Fernandez and Director Montgomery for understanding our plight and recognizing the partnership we have forged to develop a strategy to positively serve our region.

Charlie A. Dooley

St. Louis County Executive

return to top

 

COUNTY EXECUTIVE DOOLEY TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley recently appeared before the House Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management providing his support for Congress to reauthorize the Economic Development Administration's (EDA) $500 million for economic development and recovery.

In the hearing titled "EDA: Lessons Learned from the Recovery Act and New Plans to Strengthen Economic Development," Dooley defended the value of EDA grants amid possible budget cuts. He detailed the resources' local use, recounting projects where the funding had a strong impact including the World Trade Center Saint Louis, Metropolitan Education and Training (MET) Center, World Wide Technologies, and the potential for a Midwest-China hub.

"I know firsthand how these funds have been used to benefit communities," Dooley said. "We have worked closely with the Economic Development Administration to provide assistance for a variety of substantive projects."

You can view the full hearing here and access the testimony here.

return to top

 

REGION RECEIVES $1.5 MILLION FOR CHRYSLER PLAN

Assistant Secretary of Commerce John Fernandez (left) and 'car czar' Dr. Ed Montgomery (right) announce the awarding of a $1.575 million EDA grant.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development John Fernandez and Director of Recovery for Auto Communities and Workers Dr. Edward Montgomery, visited St. Louis in mid-February to announce the awarding of a $1,575,000 grant to develop a strategic plan for the closed Chrysler Fenton plant.

The funds will help St. Louis County, the State of Missouri and City of Fenton develop an assessment of the current plant and identify a strategic plan to redeploy the site and supplier networks that were lost due to the closure.

Noting the site had a "tremendous potential for redevelopment," Fernandez commended St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, Missouri Department of Economic Development Director David Kerr and Fenton Mayor Dennis Hancock for coming together to address the issue.

At a press conference held in the plant, Montgomery stated: "The funding will be used to help the region create a coherent plan to return this site to productive use."

Dooley praised the announcement as a new beginning for the region. "This is not just about redeveloping the Chrysler site," Dooley said, "It is about creating a 21st century strategy for an entire region that was devastated by this closing."

return to top

 

ENTERPRISE CENTERS ADD SIX NEW CLIENTS

St. Louis Enterprise Centers have welcomed six new small businesses since November 2009, adding to its list of nearly 50 companies. Each startup moved in to one of the four Enterprise Centers' locations -- West County, South County, Wellston, or Midtown -- where they not only occupy office and working space specific to their business needs, but also receive mentoring services and other programs to help enhance their business growth.

The companies, representing a variety of industries, include:

  • Culination Gourmet Catering -- full-service caterer
  • Local Backhaul Networks, LLC -- telecommunications, engineering and network monitoring
  • ShadowOp -- GPS tracking services
  • K Bakes, LLC -- specialty dessert distributor
  • Ves Solutions, Inc. -- voice and data networking
  • Cross Rhodes Reprographics, LLC -- advertiser, printer and distributor of construction documents

"St. Louis County is committed to the success of our small business owners," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. "We celebrate their creativity and drive to transform an idea into a thriving business, and we provide a supportive environment at St. Louis Enterprise Centers where they can grow their company."

return to top

 

BETTER FAMILY LIFE RECEIVES GRANT, HONORS DOOLEY

Gene Gorden (right) and Congressman Lacy Clay (middle) present County Executive Dooley (left) with an award.

Better Family Life, Incorporated recently announced plans for its $3.3 million Pathways Out of Poverty federal grant, which will offer comprehensive workforce development services to 900 qualifying low income individuals from the St. Louis area. Seven hundred program participants will receive employment placement in green industry jobs such as weatherization and solar photovoltaic installers, LEED green associates and biofuel collection technicians.

"Putting people back to work is the core essence of what we want to happen," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley.

The event took place at the Metropolitan Education and Training (MET) Center, the anchor of a major redevelopment project in the heart of Wellston. The building, which once served as the Wagner Electric manufacturing plant, now is utilized to train people for 21st century jobs.

"The MET Center is a prime example of how success can flourish if you bring the public sector and private sector together to improve workforce capabilities," Dooley added.

During the event, Gene Gorden, division director for Workforce Development for St. Louis County ,and Congressman Lacy Clay presented Dooley with an award for his commitment to creating jobs and investment in the region.

return to top

 

SLCEC ADDS NEW ONLINE TOOLS -- FOLLOW US!

St. Louis County Economic Council's Business Development Division has introduced an online, commercial site selection tool to address the specific needs of site location consultants and project decision makers.

"In today's world, successful economic development organizations offer services that are immediate, customized and adaptable," Vice President of Business Development Doug Rasmussen said. "We have achieved that through the capabilities of Xceligent."

This new online tool is just one of many technologies the Economic Council has adopted to make information gathering and sharing easier. You can find us on Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, and YouTube, and have the option of including the Economic Council's latest news in your RSS Reader, making it easier for you to stay connected to what is happening in St. Louis County. LinkedIn and other social networking tools will be incorporated in the near future.

Professionals interested in utilizing the new site selection tool can visit the Economic Council's Web site or contact Nick Agrawal at 314.615.1629 for more details.

Stay connected! Click on the icons to follow us.

return to top

 

ST. LOUIS COUNTY HEADLINES

return to top

 

 

Bookmark and Share
Forward email
Email Marketing by