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INTRODUCTION

St. Louis County Economic Council's Annual Meeting is September 1, 2010. Become a sponsor or reserve your seats today!

Assessing the economic progress of an area can be measured numerous ways. Factors can include business investment trends, infrastructure improvements and small business growth in addition to various other indicators. Since growth and progress can be measured and affected by a variety of elements, we have established a diversified plan to foster a healthy economic climate.

Recent announcements by Express Scripts, Panera Bread, and Vega Transport demonstrate that businesses of all sizes are choosing St. Louis County as their ideal location to expand.

I regularly meet with business leaders throughout the County to garner their opinions about the assets and obstacles their companies face. I am pleased to report that the business community appreciates the County’s pro-business climate. That is not to say we don’t have obstacles to overcome, but it shows our industries view their local government as an advocate for their growth and success.

We also are pleased to see infrastructure improvements throughout St. Louis County. Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) recently began renovating the Interstate 270/Dorsett Road interchange. Once complete, this interchange will improve traffic flow and benefit residents and businesses along that vital artery and beyond.

In addition, St. Louis County continues its partnership with MoDOT with the expansion of Highway 141, which will link Jefferson, St. Louis and St. Charles counties. The extension will create many jobs and open 3,000 acres of land for development.

There is so much to be excited about, and we will continue to provide support to our businesses and critical infrastructure that bring quality jobs and investment to our region. Creating and maintaining these strong partnerships also will enhance the quality of life for our citizens and build a more competitive environment—adding to the many other reasons businesses and residents call St. Louis County home.

Charlie A. Dooley

St. Louis County Executive

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EXPRESS SCRIPTS UNVEILS TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION CENTER

One of the nation's largest pharmacy benefits managers, Express Scripts, recently unveiled its $74 million, 12-acre expansion in the NorthPark development near its corporate headquarters. St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley joined Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, United States Senator Kit Bond and Congressman Lacy Clay for the Technology & Innovation Center’s grand opening celebration.

This expansion is the company’s third new building since relocating its headquarters to the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus in 2007. The 200,000-square-foot complex is one of the country’s most highly automated mail-order distribution facilities, utilizing both robotics and pharmacists to fill orders. It is capable of filling 500,000 pills per hour and shipping 110,000 prescriptions daily while maintaining an accuracy rate over 99 percent.

"This is a huge win for North County and our region, and we are extremely grateful Express Scripts chose to build this facility in St. Louis County over a location in Pennsylvania," said County Executive Dooley. "In addition to quality jobs, Express Scripts’ presence at NorthPark will help to further attract additional investment to its 550-acre business park."

Recognizing Express Scripts position as one of the largest pharmacy benefit providers, Nixon praised the company for its success and commitment to bringing high-quality jobs to Missouri.

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NARA HOSTS GROUNDBREAKING AND TIME CAPSULE CEREMONY

On National Archives Recognition Day (June 2, 2010), local, state and federal dignitaries celebrated the start of construction on the new National Personnel Records Center in the heart of north St. Louis County. The ceremony included the sealing of a time capsule, which will be opened in 2085 on National Archives and Records Administration’s (NARA) 100th anniversary.

Jason Klumb, United States General Service Administration (GSA), presents the proclamation from Governor Jay Nixon declaring June 2, 2010 National Archives Recognition Day.

"This is an exciting day for north St. Louis County. Not only are we retaining 800 important jobs, but the world-class building will be a national treasure for our country," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. "I am grateful to United States Senators Kit Bond and Claire McCaskill, Governor Jay Nixon and U.S. Congressman Lacy Clay for their unyielding support."

Many of the partners who were influential in keeping the center and many jobs in St. Louis County placed various items in the time capsule, which included construction documents, a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol, special government coins, and Nixon’s proclamation pronouncing the day as National Archives Recognition Day.

"The partnership of the State of Missouri, St. Louis County, The Molasky Group of Companies, and the Johnny Londoff family (the property owners) was critical, and the commitment to making this happen was remarkable," said Denny Coleman, president & CEO of St. Louis County Economic Council. "I especially want to acknowledge the work of the Economic Council’s Business Development Division; Doug Rasmussen, and Monica Conners, deserve a lot of praise for their outstanding efforts."

The National Personnel Records Center maintains more than 110 million military and civilian personnel files with billions of pages of U.S. history. Those files, currently housed in aging federal facilities in St. Louis, will be relocated to the new building.

It is anticipated the new facility, which will be certified in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® program, will be fully occupied by 2012.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY MOVES AHEAD TO FINISH THE JOB

Work on the final piece of roadway linking Maryland Heights Expressway with Highway 141 is under way. On a recent, steamy afternoon, a group braved the heat to celebrate the groundbreaking for the latest stretch of the soon-to-be completed multi-lane extension.

"This is another tremendous asset that will keep St. Louis County on the map for future growth," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. "We are talking about jobs, jobs, jobs, and growing investment because of this new road."

The $64 million extension, which is estimated to take two years, will alleviate traffic pressure on Interstate 270, the busiest stretch of highway in Missouri, and open 3,000 acres of undeveloped land. It will essentially fill in the last gap in a 30-mile outer loop by expanding the road from Page Avenue south to Olive Boulevard. Additionally, the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) will widen and relocate Highway 141 north of St. Luke's Hospital before it ties in with the extended Maryland Heights Expressway at Olive.

Maryland Heights Mayor Michael Moeller discussed the project’s far-reaching benefits: "Highway 141 is a vital artery that connects Jefferson, St. Louis and St. Charles counties. Its impact will stretch from Arnold through Chesterfield into Maryland Heights and beyond into St. Charles."

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ECONOMIC COUNCIL HOSTS EDA OFFICIALS

Economic Council President & CEO Denny Coleman shows EDA TITLE Bob Olson the proposed location for the new Danforth greenhouse expansion.

St. Louis County Economic Council kicked off the month by hosting representatives of the Denver Regional Office for the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to highlight a number of EDA-funded projects.

"We utilize these meetings to showcase our EDA projects and demonstrate the return on investment the federal government is getting from local efforts," said Economic Council President & CEO Denny Coleman.

On their visit:

"We invited several of our partners – BRDG Park, MET Center and many others – to discuss how EDA funds have impacted their projects," said Coleman who added that partnerships are key to the Economic Council’s success with EDA. "Much has been accomplished because of the alliances we have formed in developing and administering these grants."

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SHARE YOUR VISION FOR JAMESTOWN MALL'S FUTURE

Jamestown Mall is located at the intersection of Old Jamestown Road and Highway 67 on an expansive 142-acre site. Though the mall is in many ways still active, with a movie theater and stores, it has not lived up to the expectations of its original builder, current owners or the surrounding community. To help plan a promising, long-term future for the mall site, St. Louis County will host a design open house the week of September 9-14, 2010, welcoming community input and involvement.

The public’s first opportunity to participate is Thursday, July 15 with a kick-off presentation from 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at the Jamestown Mall Theater. Participants will hear a summary of previous planning efforts, an introduction to the upcoming design process in September and an overview of planning principles and successful mall retrofit projects around the country.

The public contact for the project is Edgar Velázquez, project manager of Real Estate and Community Development, St. Louis County Economic Council. He can reached at 314.615.7500 or evelazquez@slcec.com. The website for the project is www.slcec.com/jamestownmall.html.

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ST. LOUIS COUNTY HEADLINES

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