Today's Headlines

INTRODUCTION

Did you know St. Louis County Economic Council's Annual Meeting is just four months away? We look forward to seeing you September 1, 2010, as we review local recovery efforts and economic development and pay special tribute to U.S. Senator Kit Bond. Learn more and register online at www.slcec.com.

Successful business owners will tell you that in order to grow your business you must make sure your existing customer base is satisfied. Providing value to existing customers ensures you can meet the needs of new ones. The same is true of creating a strong, regional business environment. Looking at our successful track record, one could say St. Louis County understands this important concept.

Recently, one of the nation’s leading restaurants, St. Louis Bread Company (known elsewhere as Panera Bread), announced it will continue growing its St. Louis County headquarters. Similarly, other companies chose the same course of action. Edward Jones committed to expanding its headquarters here, investing $325 million in three buildings and creating 1,000 new jobs by 2016. Express Scripts did the same; rather than relocate to Pennsylvania, it invested $131 million into its north St. Louis County operations and was even recognized by Forbes as one of "The 10 Companies Hiring the Most."

St. Louis County also recognizes the importance of entrepreneurship and the many jobs created by small businesses. Our Enterprise Centers, various financial programs and business plan competition are just a few ways we are reaching out to help entrepreneurs succeed.

St. Louis County offers additional opportunities for all businesses from startups to the Fortune-ranked including first-class assets such as a broadly talented workforce, industry diversification, economically viable communities, strong private/public partnerships, small business support, and valuable financial assistance. Our quality of life and affordability add to the many extraordinary qualities the St. Louis region has to offer.

It is companies of all sizes that continue to invest in St. Louis County, representing it as a great environment in which to grow and prosper. We look forward to helping your company succeed.

Charlie A. Dooley

St. Louis County Executive

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SUTTGART VISITS ST. LOUIS TO CELEBRATE SISTER CITIES

County Executive Charlie A. Dooley (left) and Mayor Francis Slay (right) give a toast honoring Lord Mayor Schuster of Stuttgart, Germany (middle) and members of the Stuttgart City Council.

Dr. Wolfgang Schuster, Lord Mayor of Stuttgart, Germany, recently paid a visit to the St. Louis region to celebrate the 50th anniversary of St. Louis-Stuttgart Sister Cities Committee.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley and World Trade Center Saint Louis Executive Director Tim Nowak joined other local dignitaries in welcoming Dr. Schuster and his delegation at a special luncheon.

"Growth and success at the local level demands we recognize that we are part of a global community," said Dooley. "It is gratifying to know we have shared a common vision with our Stuttgart friends for 50 years."

Stuttgart and St. Louis share one of the United State’s oldest Sister Cities relationships.

"The purpose of Sister Cities is far more than cultural exchanges and visits back and forth," said Nowak. "It’s about development and the sharing of knowledge, technology and economic opportunity."

Sister City activities began in 1956 under President Eisenhower’s People-to-People program. Today, the Sister City program links 1,200 U.S. cities with 1,900 partner cities

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BONDS SOLD TO INVEST IN COUNTY INCUBATORS

St. Louis County Council recently approved the sale of nearly $7.1 million in bonds to purchase a building in Creve Coeur, which will be renovated into an incubator for emerging plant and life science companies. A portion of the funds will be used to renovate St. Louis County Economic Council’s existing St. Louis Enterprise Centers.

The new incubator, located at 1100 Corporate Square, adds to the four other facilities the Economic Council manages throughout the county. The Economic Council also partners with St. Louis City to nurture small businesses.

Slightly more than $5 million in bonds with $2.4 million in federal funds will pay for the new incubator, which will provide low-cost office and wet/dry laboratories for early-stage companies. As these companies grow, they potentially could relocate to Bio-Research & Development (BRDG) Park, which is adjacent to the building and is known for helping emerging life science companies achieve commercial success.

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FOUR CHINESE AIRLINES AGREE TO AIR FREIGHT STUDIES

In late March, members of the Midwest-China Hub Commission traveled to China to further discuss the development of a Chinese transportation and commercial hub at St. Louis-Lambert International Airport. During the meeting, Civilian Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), Air China, China Eastern, Jade, and Hainan airlines each announced their respective decisions to enter into joint feasibility studies with Lambert and the China Hub Commission.

The agreements mark an important step and commitment sought by Lambert and the Commission. The studies will assess the potential for opening St. Louis/China freight routes.

Xia Xinghua, Vice Minister of the CAAC said, "We support this route and hope that it can be successful. The time is right – as our Vice Premier said in St Louis – to open up the central U.S. to Chinese companies and airlines."

"The economic climate has been a cause for concern, but we now are in a position to get shippers and forwarders to back China's play," said Mike Jones, chairman of the China Hub Commission. "We believe they will."

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COUNTY EXECUTIVE & PORT AUTHORITY ANNOUNCE NEW FUND

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley announces the new Port Authority Community Reinvestment Fund.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley, along with members of the St. Louis County Port Authority, announced the creation the St. Louis County Port Authority Community Reinvestment Fund to generate new growth, job creation and investment in Lemay and St. Louis County.

Funds for the program will be generated from lease payments from Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in agreement with the new River City Casino and Entertainment Complex in Lemay. The Port Authority will reinvest a portion of the revenue in St. Louis County economic development projects aimed at creating new jobs and redevelopment opportunities.

"This is just another example of how our economic development efforts are providing a strong return for our county residents," said Dooley. "The growth and success from River City will fuel more growth and investment in Lemay and the entire county."

Project funding priorities will include: Redevelopment projects and activities that implement approved plans and on a more limited basis, programmatic activities that support redevelopment and revitalization projects.

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ECONOMIC COUNCIL HOSTS SCIENCE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Science of Entrepreneurship panelists (left to right): John Sagartz, Michael Pruett, Russell Odegard, Patrick Leinert, and Vicki Gonzalez.

April 14, 2010, St. Louis County Economic Council hosted a special workshop called The Science of Entrepreneurship designed to introduce St. Louis scientists from a biotech, pharmacological or plant and life science background to entrepreneurship. The event was held at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and included a resource fair hosted by a myriad of service providers.

A special presentation was given by Eric Gulve, followed by a panel of experts who offered advice to budding entrepreneurs. Panelists included Vicki Gonzalez of Nidus, John Sagartz of Seventh Wave Laboratories, Patrick Leinert of Leinco Technologies, and Michael Pruett and Russell Odegard of Dynalabs.

"This was real scientists with real businesses providing practical advice on how to start a successful business," said Economic Council President & CEO Denny Coleman." It is a very competitive industry and the keen insight from leaders like this was invaluable to all attendees."

"The St. Louis region is recognized as a leader in the plant and life science industry, and this workshop allowed us to cultivate our growing asset base to improve the economic base of the region," said Coleman.

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ECONOMIC COUNCIL WELCOMES RUBEN, NEVINS

St. Louis County Economic Council recently hired two new staff members.

Andrew Ruben has been named general counsel. Previously, Ruben spent 10 years in private practice at Bryan Cave LLP and Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP where he worked for many of the region's largest companies in the areas of general corporate law, corporate finance and securities, real estate development and acquisitions, commercial litigation and arbitration, project finance, and complex commercial construction.

"While we had a number of high caliber candidates, Andrew’s experience, credentials and depth of knowledge make him an excellent choice for this crucial position," said Denny Coleman, president & CEO of the Economic Council.

In addition, Dennis Breite, vice president of St. Louis Enterprise Centers appointed Carol Nevins as the department’s new administrative assistant. Carol replaces Melba Snow who accepted a promotion within the organization’s Business Development Division.

Nevins brings a wealth of professional experience from her years with Brown Shoe and most recently Carlson Wagonlit Travel (formerly Maritz Corporate Travel). In her free time, Carol enjoys spending quality time with family and is a long-time Blues fan.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY HEADLINES

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