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September's Headlines
READY FOR LANDINGIn a little over two weeks, a Chinese plane loaded with cargo will touch down at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. This flight is the first of the Midwest-China Hub project, and it will be a landmark day for this region. This is the result of years of hard work by the Midwest-China Hub Commission. We envision St. Louis as a new international cargo hub with businesses, jobs and opportunities sprouting up around this cargo operation. Just as important as it is for Chinese companies to ship goods to America, it will be vital to expand what we as a city and nation export overseas. I believe the cargo hub project is a game-changer, pumping life into our airport and bringing jobs and new opportunities to this region.
But really, the hard work is just beginning; securing a route is merely the first step. What we do next will prove our strength as a region. I look forward to September 23 being a day of celebration. After that, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and prove to the world we can be a gateway city once again. Charlie A. Dooley
ENTERPRISE CENTERS GRADUATE SIX
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Pictured: County Executive Charlie A. Dooley; Dennis Breite, vice president, Enterprise Centers; Wellston Enterprise Center graduates Toni and Tommy Davis, Jr. (TD4, Inc.); and Denny Coleman, president & CEO, St. Louis County Economic Council. |
St. Louis Enterprise Centers graduated six small businesses, making room for other emerging entrepreneurs to join the small business incubator program. Incubators create a business climate that nurtures business development, expansion and investment, and, in turn, its graduates have one of the greatest impacts on local job growth and economic stimulus.
The six graduating businesses are:
"St. Louis Enterprise Centers provide support so emerging companies can grow and eventually occupy their own corporate headquarters," said St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley. "When businesses graduate, it is good for everyone and shows the incubators are doing their jobs."
St. Louis Enterprise Centers are composed of four incubators managed by St. Louis County Economic Council - Midtown, South County, Wellston, and West County. The centers provide affordable office and warehouse space, shared support services, access to expert advice and mentors, and valuable networking opportunities. Construction is under way for a fifth incubator for plant and life science startups called the Helix Center. It will be complete early 2012.
Have a science-based technology or idea that could be the basis of a startup business in St. Louis? If so, do you need initial funding and expert advice to prove your innovation and help secure private funding? Two new regional programs could help turn your a-ha! moment into the next great St. Louis business:
i6 Grant -
The St. Louis region was awarded one of six i6 Awards from the Economic Development Administration. The awards identify and support the nation's best ideas for technology commercialization and entrepreneurship. Information and applications are available online at www.biogenerator.org/i6. Applications are due September 15, 2011.
Bio Entrepreneur Development Program -
The Bio Entrepreneur Development Program targets first-time bioscience entrepreneurs and individuals laid off from a bioscience company who want to start their own company. The program consists of a training course, individualized coaching, consulting services, and fostering minority-owned bioscience companies. Information and applications are available online at www.emergingtech.org. Application deadline is September 16, 2011.
It’s almost hard to believe how much progress is happening in Lemay all at one time! This community is the epitome of momentum, and it continues to see new and exciting changes every day.
Just a few short weeks ago, we made a number of announcements that will change the landscape and look of Lemay. The Lemay Chamber of Commerce revealed a new branding and streetscape plan that will begin to take shape this fall. St. Louis County Port Authority laid out a roadmap for a much-anticipated community center and announced that the expansion of Lemay Park will kick off in spring 2012.
Of the many Lemay announcements, none was as exciting to six community groups as receiving a total of $1.7 million dollars to reinvest in their community. This brings the total dollars allocated in Lemay through the Port Authority’s Community Reinvestment Fund to an incredible $4.2 million!
Be sure to check out Lemay’s new website – www.LemayNow.com – for a complete list of grantees and more information about the exciting things coming together right now in Lemay.
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A SyMyCo researcher shows Governor Jay Nixon and County Executive Charlie A. Dooley the growth chambers where the company will harvest its plant-enhancing fungi. |
St. Louis County is the new home to 80 jobs and a life-saving strand of fungus. SyMyco, an international bioscience company is the latest tenant at the Bio-Research & Development Growth (BRDG) Park at the Danforth Plant Science Center. Their products increase crop yield and resistance to disease while reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.
So why does a company based in India decide to pick up its research lab and move to St. Louis? Because this region is becoming known worldwide as the premier place to grow a scientific company. With its claim to the world’s largest independent plant science institute and access to intellectual capital of world-renowned plant scientists, it is quickly becoming the center of plant and life science.
"We believe that establishing our U.S. base at BRDG Park is an ideal platform to help us grow our business and to deliver technologies to farmers that will not only enhance their profitability, but will also help them do so in a more sustainable manner," said SyMyco President Aditya Malhotra.
Ever wonder what happens in Suite 900 of the World Trade Center building? The short story – a lot! Being a turnkey organization encourages business growth because it makes it easy. Simply put, St. Louis County Economic Council makes progress happen.
Want to expand globally? Our World Trade Center St. Louis can get you there. Thought you’d never afford your own headquarters? We can help with that too! Businesses and local leaders laud our ability to cut red tape and assemble packages that just make sense.
One of our exciting additions is a program geared toward municipalities. These communities, like businesses, want to see growth and progress for the benefit of their residents. If you lead a municipality and are looking to start an economic development commission, Carol Waggoner is your go-to expert. She is a dedicated urban planner who can help you leverage your assets and avoid common pitfalls.
Click here for a complete listing of programs and services.
