January's Headlines
OFF TO A GREAT START
I’m excited to kick off the year with a major announcement at Boeing, a $60 billion order for 84 new F-15 fighter jets. After an entire career at Boeing, I can tell you those are the type of high-quality jobs that are essential to our local economy.
But good news like this does not diminish the tough work ahead. As you know, this has been a challenging three years for the United States economy and we have not been immune. There are no quick fixes, but instead tough choices. Let me tell you why I think that is a good thing.
What do you do when you have a shrinking pool of resources? You put everything on the table and you decide what is important. You look to see what’s working and eliminate those things that are holding you back. The result is a tougher, leaner, smarter organization—that is my priority in St. Louis County.
I hope this new year finds you well, and I look forward to a 2012 filled with more big announcements that will move our economy in the right direction.
Charlie A. Dooley
St. Louis County Executive
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ST. LOUIS WELCOMES THE REAGAN ERA!
A big hello to the new leader at St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA)! After a nine-month search and over 200 candidates, the RCGA appointed a new CEO. Joe Reagan will take the helm February 1, and we are excited for him to move to St. Louis. Reagan served as President and CEO of the Greater Louisville Inc.-Metro Chamber of Commerce since 2005 and in a variety of other roles since 1998.
"I believe Reagan will bring some great, fresh ideas to how we market ourselves around the country," said Denny Coleman, president & CEO, St. Louis County Economic Council. "Louisville has a lot of similarities to St. Louis. It is a river town that sits on the border of two states. Leaders there have dealt with the shifts in the auto industry, just like us. Joe and I have talked, and I know he is excited to get here and get working. I think he is going to help bring this region together."We also want to take this opportunity to say thank you to Dick Fleming for his years of service to the citizens of St. Louis. We wish him all the best in this new phase of his life.
Click here to watch the KMOV story.
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GOODWILL TO ALL
Each year, St. Louis County Economic Council "adopts" families through St. Louis County’s Adopt-A-Family project, purchasing home goods, food, clothing, toys, and other items needed by area families.
This year, we tried something new. We invited our generous friends in the business community to join in the spirit of holiday giving. You helped make a big difference in our holiday drive!
Together, your donation and our matching contribution helped the Adopt-A-Family Project assist a record number of families. Collectively, we raised $4,025 to help five local families have a joyous holiday season.
If you would still like to donate, the Economic Council will continue its commitment to match your contribution. Please click here for more details and to donate online. And if you didn’t get a chance to see our animated holiday greeting (hey, there’s a lot of stuff out there in December) click here to send the redbird into flight and see our wish for everyone in 2012.
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MERCURY TRIPLES REVENUES TO $15 MILLION
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Mercury’s sister/brother owners: Julie Steis and Jeff Fischer. |
Mercury Communication and Construction is one of St. Louis’ biggest small business successes. The general contractor and wireless firm more than tripled its revenues in the past four years, climbing from $4 million in 2007 to $15 million today.
But the company has overcome adversity on its path to remarkable results. Just one year after launching Mercury Communication and Construction, Julie Steis, president, and her brother Jeff Fischer, vice president, were presented with their greatest challenge as small business owners—September 11th.
"St. Louis Enterprise Center was a huge help," Steis said. "After 9/11, we were almost going to have to close the doors, and the Enterprise Centers helped us in a number of ways."
Steis and Fischer diversified the family-owned business, getting it back on its feet and prevailing even while the wireless industry was weak. By 2006, they turned the business around, and, now, Mercury and its 45 employees have outgrown the St. Louis Enterprise Center’s incubator.
With the help of St. Louis County Economic Council, Mercury Communications secured an SBA 504 loan and purchased a facility in Fenton, MO, which will become its new headquarters. The recently finished LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building is made up of over 5,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of warehousing space.
Don’t miss Mercury Communications this week on KPLR’s All About Business Program on Sunday, January 15 at 9 am. You can see it here first.
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HIRING ON THE UPSWING
St. Louis County ushered in the New Year with a beacon of hope for economic and employment growth. A recent report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows unemployment is on the decline.
In October the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported St. Louis County saw 15,000 more people employed than the same time last year. According to the report, the county also saw a 1.7 percent decrease in unemployment.
In addition to a decreasing unemployment rate, now 7.5 percent, St. Louis County has consistently remained below the national average, currently 8.2 percent. Although relatively modest gains, the economy is carrying greater momentum entering 2012 compared to this time last year.
The surge of new jobs in St. Louis County was in manufacturing, biosciences, technology/IT, and financial/business services, areas County Executive Charlie A. Dooley would like to see grow: "I believe we’ll see growth in the biosciences and pharmaceutical sectors. I also see tremendous opportunity within insurance and financial services as well as health care and information technology."
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ST. LOUIS COUNTY HEADLINES
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