|
One of the many companies
making their home at OPO Startups in the Historic Old Post Office in Main Street.
|
|
|
|
DID YOU KNOW?
|
2015 Annual Cost of Living Missouri had the 11th lowest cost of living in the US for 2015, according to MERIC Trendsights.
MERIC is the research arm for the MO Department of Economic Development and provides info on economic, industry, workforce and regional issues.
|
|
FAST FACTThe December 2015 Unemployment Rate in
St. Charles was 3.0% |
|
|
CHECK OUT
ST CHARLES |
Mark Stallmann, CEO, St. Charles County Association of REALTORS, visits with Travis Wilson and discusses the real estate market in St. Charles.
|
|
FAST FACT
There are nearly 2,000 new
or planned housing units in
St. Charles City
|
|
|
|
- SAVE THE DATE -
COMING SOON.....
2016 Regional Investors Breakfast
June 17, 2016
More details to come
|
|
|
|
 Greetings!
I have started 2016 with a new saying... "If it's happening, it's happening in St. Charles!"
2015 was a great year for our City and County. Once again, we proved to be the strongest economy in the greater St. Louis region. From Streets of St. Charles and University Commons to Patterson Mold and Old Tyme Produce...we had a lot of growth taking place.
More importantly, 2016 looks to be even better!
We are already talking with a number of businesses looking to expand and invest in the City. Our Fifth Street project will be completed which will result in one of the most scenic entrances you will find in any community. The County and MODOT will begin the major renovation project for Interstate 70 and Fifth Street that will transform and improve traffic patterns in the area.
In short...we are looking forward to a great year.
Are things "happening" for you businesses? If not, then contact our Economic Development Department at 636-949-3231 because "it's happening in St. Charles!"
From everyone at the City of St. Charles...we wish you a prosperous and joyous 2016.
Thank you,
Mayor Sally Faith
|
|
|
Supercuts Opens at Streets of St. Charles
With more than 2,400 no-appointment-required salons across the country, Supercuts offers consistent, quality haircuts at a moment's notice. Supercuts' highly trained stylists take pride in providing the attention-to-detail customers have come to expect from Supercuts. Not only does Supercuts provide a range of hair services including men's haircuts, women's haircuts, kids' haircuts, color services, and waxing, they also offer professional haircare products at affordable prices. Their product lines include Paul Mitchell, Biolage, Redken, American Crew, Nioxin, and more. Kathleen Brill, Vice President of Leasing  for Cullinan Properties, stated, "Supercuts is a complimentary addition to the rapidly expanding lineup of retailers, restaurants, services and entertainment options at the project." Mayor Sally Faith stated the City is excited about the continued growth of Streets. "This recent announcement continues to demonstrate that Cullinan Properties has created one of the most exciting new destinations in the greater St. Louis area. We are proud to have Streets of St. Charles positioned as a significant entry point into St. Charles." Supercuts will hold a ribbon cutting event on February 19th and is located at 1650 Beale Street, next to Leopard Boutique at the Streets of St. Charles.
|
Featured Article - Missouri Works for Growing Business
We are excited to include a story about Missouri Works authored by our friends at the Missouri Department of Economic Development. The Missouri Works Program provides significant benefits for new and existing companies that are creating jobs in Missouri. The Missouri Works program is a comprehensive strategy to support economic growth and create career opportunities for Missourians. Since its launch in 2013, Missouri Works has helped businesses in the City of St. Charles commit to adding more than 350 proposed new jobs. For example, in 2015, DED awarded Missouri Works incentives to St. Charles based Patterson Mold for the expansion of their manufacturing plant which resulted in additional employment. The program is offered to qualified industries that are increasing their workforce, meet a minimum wage threshold and offer health insurance to their employees. The incentives are based on the hiring of new full time employees. The program is responsive to the state's high-growth industries, such as information technology and advanced manufacturing, while also opening the door for small businesses to access incentives when creating as few as ten new jobs. Missouri Works also offers a streamlined  workforce training program that efficiently targets workforce development resources and funding. Through this program, businesses can access next-generation training for their workforce and get the competitive edge necessary in this global economy. Since inception, Missouri Works has been highly successful in encouraging and facilitating investment and job creation in businesses of all sizes across the state. From helping huge multinational corporations like Cerner add 16,000 jobs in Kansas City to small firms like Midwest Metalcraft & Equipment Company grow their workforce in Windsor, Missouri Works has proven in just two years that it is an economic development asset to the state. Today, hundreds of companies from every corner of the state have used the program to leverage assets to hire key personnel or invest in new space and equipment, ultimately growing Missouri's economy.
|
|
The New Normal in Local Single Family Housing Construction is 1,700
For the third consecutive year, new single-family housing permits issued in St. Charles County, Missouri, were in the 1,700 range, according to annual statistics just released by the County's Community Development Department.
Total single-family housing permits were 1,706 for 2015, 1,704 for 2014 and 1,742 for 2013. Prior to the national housing bubble bursting, permits totaled 2,124 in 2007 and fell to their modern low of 939 in 2011.
"We see 1,700 as something of a new normal for the time being in our community," said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, adding, "but we still believe the area can return to the 2,000 annual range in the future."
The top five communities for new home construction in St. Charles County were Wentzville with 596 single family permits issued, O'Fallon with 357, St. Charles City with 171, St. Peters with 143 and Lake Saint Louis with 123.
Ehlmann pointed out approximately 50 percent of all single-family housing construction in eastern Missouri happens in St. Charles County, according to statistics from the Home Builders Association of St. Louis. "For more than 30 years, St. Charles County has established itself as the leader in new home construction in the St. Louis region. That remained true during the recent recession and it is still true today," he said.
Obvious growth areas include Wentzville, parts of O'Fallon, St. Paul, Foristell and unincorporated St. Charles County. However, Ehlmann was especially pleased with the Villages of Provence development in an older neighborhood in St. Charles.
|
|
Economic Development Reports Strong Year
David Leezer, the City's Director of Economic Development, presented the 2015 Annual Report to the Economic Development Commission, as well as result's from 2015 and plans for 2016.
"Overall, it was a great year," Leezer stated. "There is always room to improve but the investment we made is paying dividends."
In the report, Leezer noted some of the achievements the department participated in were:
- OPO Startups Opening
- Participated in $45 million of
projects - USPS Groundbreaking
- Conducted 1,000 business impact visits
- Expanded social media presence
- Started new Technology Summit
- Groundbreaking for Ole Tyme Produce
- Patterson Mold Expansion
- Growth at Streets of St. Charles and University Commons
"We constantly stress the Economic Development Department does not create jobs...that is a result of the work of our industries and brokers. What we do is create the relationships and a business environment that strengthens our position as a great place to invest."
Staff also presented their 2016 goals to the Commission which included the implementation of a CRM program, conducting 850 business impact visits and participate in at least 6 expansion/reinvestment efforts.
|
|
Nominate Your Business for 2016 Employer of the Year Award
|
| |
2015 Employer of the Year Award Winners
|
Awards will be given in the following categories:
- Manufacturing
- Retailer
- Service
- The Jack Heck Award - given to a company that exhibits long-time City employee Jack Heck's devotion to community, faith and family
- Sustainability - A new category added this year to recognize a company which has taken measures to improve energy efficiency
|
|
 Sincerely,
|
|
|
