Compiled by Lauri Johnson
MISSOURI’S JOB GROWTH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SUCCESSES IN NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT
At a time when the State of Missouri continues to add jobs,
its economic development effort is being recognized nationally.
The Summer 2007 issue of Southern Business and Development
magazine gives Missouri and Gov. Matt Blunt high marks for job
growth and economic development in its ranking the Top 100 corporate
and industrial job and investment announcements in the South
in 2006.
Responding to the ranking, Gov. Blunt noted, “We appreciate
that opinion leaders around the country are recognizing that
Missouri is a great place to do business. Our pro-jobs, pro-growth
initiatives have helped Missourians create tens of thousands
of jobs since January 2005, driven unemployment rates down and
grown the incomes of hard-working Missouri families. We have
enacted job-creating legislation including tax relief, lawsuit
reform, workers compensation reform, the Quality Jobs Act and
other important initiatives to help create family-supporting
jobs and enhance opportunities for all Missourians.”
Missourians have created nearly 90,000 jobs since January 2005.
In what the magazine called “Missouri’s best year yet,” the
state received an honorable mention and a 2nd place finish among
17 southern states it follows. Adding that “change is in the
wind,” the magazine also said it was “very impressed with what
Gov. Matt Blunt has done.”
Southern Business and Development based the rankings
on the number of corporate and industrial job and investment
announcements they successfully attract that feature 200 or
more jobs and/or $30 million or more in investment. Rankings
are broken down into mega markets, major markets, mid-markets,
small markets and micro markets. The magazine named St. Louis
mega market of the year, tied with Houston.
There is a significant amount of forward momentum in Missouri
today, and much of its success is due to strengthening the state’s
well proven economic development tax credit programs, such as
the Historic Preservation Tax Credits, Brownfield Credits, Venture
Capital Credits, and Missouri Quality Jobs. The Quality Jobs
program, which was originally established two years ago by Gov.
Blunt, has been so successful in attracting new investment and
added jobs to the state that its funding is now virtually exhausted.
The Quality Jobs program has enabled the Missouri Department
of Economic Development and its regional partners to out-compete
other states in economic development competitions, portending
the potential for thousands of net new jobs and billions of
dollars in new investment. The Governor and the Missouri General
Assembly contemplate a special session of the Legislature to
reauthorize and expand the Quality Jobs program.
The state’s return on investment has been most impressive; the
Quality Jobs program alone has returned $10.49 in new general
revenue for every state dollar committed, and the state funds
are only expended after a new job is created and the incentive
is paid from a portion of the income taxes generated by the
new jobs.
NATIONAL CITY SPONSORS SAINT LOUIS ZOO’S
SEA LION SHOW AND ARENA
The most popular paid attraction at the Saint Louis Zoo has
been reinvigorated, thanks to a commitment from National City.
The Saint Louis Zoo has received a five-year, $500,000 commitment
from National City to sponsor the Zoo’s popular sea lion show.
As part of the sponsorship, the show will officially be named
the National City Sea Lion Show, and the show’s venue will be
renamed the National City Sea Lion Arena.
“National City is pleased and honored to be a part of what promises
to be an even more popular attraction at the St. Louis Zoo,”
stated Shaun Hayes, president and CEO of Missouri banking for
National City. “I find this to be a great opportunity to work
with the world-renowned Zoo in a fun, creative way.”
The sea lion arena has been renovated to resemble a San Francisco
Bay fishing village with a clapboard backdrop and a wharf of
rope-bound piers. In addition to the new stage setting, the
renovation work also includes a new building entrance and pathway,
gift kiosk, shade arbor, landscaping, banners and signage.
TRICORBRAUN WINS BEST OF SHOW IN NATIONAL
PACKAGING AWARDS COMPETITION
TricorBraun, one of the nation’s largest suppliers of rigid
packaging, has been awarded the Best of Show award in the 2007
Annual Packaging Awards competition, sponsored by the National
Association of Container Distributors. The award-winning design
features two cleaning solutions contained in separate, stacked
1.25-gallon containers, both of which include pocket areas for
sprayers and filling spigots.
Prepared for Ecolabs ProForce, the product targets the building
service contractor market and is sold at Sam’s Clubs. The container’s
uninterrupted rectangular shape makes it efficient for shipping,
in-store display and user storage. Wal-Mart’s sustainability
packaging initiative was a factor in the design process.
DENNIS AND JUDY JONES RECEIVE DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE AWARD FROM ST. LOUIS COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Dennis M. and Judith A. Jones have received the Distinguished
Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Mortar and
Pestle Society of St. Louis College of Pharmacy. President Thomas
F. Patton presented the Joneses with the award at the society’s
annual dinner.
“On October 5, 2003, the main academic building on campus was
dedicated in recognition of Dennis and Judy Jones, the most
significant benefactors in the history of the College,” Patton
told the more than 150 attendees at the Sheldon Hall. “The Joneses
are about as real, unassuming, genuine, and generous people
as you’ll ever meet.”
The Joneses worked side by side for nearly two decades, establishing
Jones Pharma as the nation's top specialty pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Now civic leaders and philanthropists, they support projects
throughout the metropolitan area. Dennis Jones joined the St.
Louis College of Pharmacy board of trustees in 1991 and served
for nine years, guiding the college into an ambitious campus
building and renovation project.
CORO HONORS COMMUNITY LEADERS AT ANNUAL
AWARDS CELEBRATION
The Coro Leadership Center-St. Louis honored four area leaders
with 2007 community awards at the 19th annual Coro Leadership
Awards Celebration.
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley received the Region
as One award for demonstrating exemplary and innovative leadership
in the area of regional collaboration and for directing initiatives
that lower the natural barriers in a diverse community.
Will Winter, research analyst at the Public Policy Research
Center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, received the
Community Leadership award for demonstrating innovative leadership
in helping the less fortunate.
Serena Muhammad, founding executive director of St. Louis SCORES,
received the Emerging Leader award. This award is presented
to an individual between the ages of 25 and 40 who has contributed
significantly to strengthening the St. Louis region and whose
leadership is characterized by vitality and an entrepreneurial
spirit.
The Coro Outstanding Alumni Award was awarded posthumously to
Claudia Daugherty, principal and co-founder of The Rome Group,
who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49 on Nov. 29, 2006.
Coro Leadership Center-St. Louis is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization that is one of five national centers dedicated
to preparing individuals for effective and ethical leadership
to strengthen communities.
NAM AWARD FOR KIT BOND
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation Chairman and CEO Patrick
J. Moore presented Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond (R-MO) with the
National Association of Manufacturers’ Award for Manufacturing
Legislative Excellence.
The award, presented on behalf of the NAM, recognizes members
of Congress who vote in the best interest of the manufacturing
economy on 70 percent or more of key manufacturing votes as
determined by a committee of NAM member companies. Sen. Bond’s
voting record during the 109th Congress was a remarkable 100
percent.
NAM President and former Michigan Gov. John Engler said Bond’s
voting record demonstrated both his understanding of the critical
role manufacturing plays in the overall strength of the economy
and a commitment to boost competitiveness, job creation and
prosperity for the working people of Missouri.
OSBORN & BARR WINS MULTIPLE AWARDS AT
NATIONAL AGRI-MARKETING CONFERENCE
Osborn & Barr received three first-place awards from the National
Agri-Marketing Association in the annual Best of NAMA ceremony.
Awards were handed out at the Agri-Marketing Conference and
Trade Show in Dallas. The national competition recognizes the
best in marketing communications that directly target the agricultural
industry and audience.
Osborn & Barr received two of the first-place awards for its
collaborative work with Monsanto and earned a third first-place
award for its work with John Deere Worldwide Commercial & Consumer
Equipment Division. The firm earned two merit awards for its
work with the United Soybean Board in the categories of radio
series and single-page ad series.
ST. LOUIS FOR KIDS HONORS MAYOR SLAY,
KAREN FOSS AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
St. Louis for Kids honored Mayor Francis Slay and former KSDK
NewsChannel 5 news anchor Karen Foss at its inaugural Lighting
the Way Celebration on April 19 at the Coronado Ballroom. More
than 180 people attended to honor Slay, Foss and two programs
that have shown outstanding commitment to improving the lives
of children throughout the St. Louis community.
Both Slay and Foss received Beacon Awards. Slay earned the honor
for his sincere concern, leadership and determination to make
the well-being of children a priority. Foss was honored for
her long-standing commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable
children and inspiring others to get involved.
The Jennings Jr. High Stars & Heroes Program was recognized
with a Ray of Light Award for a program that provides creative
after-school opportunities for children in the Jennings community.
The Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation also earned a Ray
of Light Award for strengthening services and expanding opportunities
for youth throughout the region.
GRAND RE-OPENING OF WASHINGTON APARTMENTS
On July 11, local and national dignitaries joined McCormack
Baron Salazar and residents of the historic Washington Apartments
to celebrate the building's grand re-opening and the opening
of AARP's first satellite office located in a residential development
in Missouri.
In 1979, McCormack Baron Salazar’s first development project
was the initial revitalization of Washington Apartments. The
1904-era property formerly served as the George Washington Inn
and had a rich history of celebrity guests including President
Theodore Roosevelt. Initial renovations to the property transformed
it from a hotel to an apartment complex. Designated as a Section
8 property, Washington Apartments encompasses seven floors and
offers 99 single bedroom apartment units for small families
and the elderly.
Recent renovations to Washington Apartments included the transformation
of the entire first floor using universal design and ADA-compliant
apartment units, a new fitness center, an expanded laundry facility,
a community room and management offices. A satellite office
for AARP also was included in the new first floor layout. In
addition, all six upper floors received new finishes and ENERGY
STAR appliances. The building's façade also was given a face-lift.
Additional renovations included code-required enhancements,
more than 400 new historically accurate and energy-efficient
windows, a new roof and replacement of the secured 75-space
parking. The current redevelopment effort maintains rent affordability
by extending the existing Section 8 contract for 20 years.
Brinkmann Constructors was the general contractor and Trivers
Associates was the architect.
Financing for the redevelopment was provided through the use
of both Federal and State Low Income and Historic tax credits
under a “master lease” structure and the issue of $8 million
of private purchased tax exempt bonds by the Missouri Housing
Development Commission.
ST. LOUIS RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING TO
OPEN NEW MINORITY BUSINESS ENTERPRISE CENTER
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development
Agency has awarded a $232,800 grant to the St. Louis Minority
Business Council to open and operate a minority business enterprise
center.
“St. Louis has a tremendous minority-owned business community,”
stated James Webb, the council’s president and CEO. “This grant
recognizes St. Louis’ ongoing commitment to that community.
We will help grow businesses so they can add workforce to compete
for larger, more lucrative projects.”
The enterprise center will open in new office space inside the
St. Louis Minority Business Council, which is designed to help
minority-owned businesses compete in the ever-changing global
marketplace. Consultants will offer one-on-one small business
counseling, help create business plans, and provide assistance
with developing a funding package from local financial institutions.
SIX NONPROFITS WIN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
AND INNOVATION AWARDS
On May 3, the winners of the second annual Social Entrepreneurship
and Innovation Competition were announced at an awards ceremony
on Washington University's Danforth Campus. A total of $125,000
was awarded to the nonprofit teams that successfully proved
that their ventures have social value and that they have the
ability to implement their plans. Selected from a field of 24
entrants, here are this year’s winners:
The Bridge St. Louis received the $30,000 YouthBridge
Award. The Bridge offers a skateboard park and concert venue
to teens in Joplin, Mo., and will use its award to establish
a similar facility in St. Louis.
One World Neighborhood Café received the $30,000 Incarnate
Word Foundation Award. One World enhances the lives of socially
marginalized women and their families by creating meaningful
jobs that pay a living wage and provide benefits.
The Miriam Center won the $30,000 Deaconess Foundation
Award to expand programs offered by the Miriam School. The center
will address the difficulty that families face finding high-quality,
centrally located therapies and services for children with learning
disabilities.
The Nest received the $25,000 Skandalaris Award. The
Nest helps women in developing countries create sustainable
income for their families by providing micro-credit loans for
art-based businesses.
Two student-created ventures received $5,000 awards. The first
recipient, MOAR for Life-South Grand Senior Ministry Social
Venture, was founded by a member of the St. Louis community
and is supported by student Joy Clarke. MOAR for Life helps
senior citizens live safely in their homes while leading physically
and spiritually active lives. The other winner, Cents City,
was founded by student Felix Lloyd. Cents City is an online
virtual environment that develops young peoples’ skills in math,
reading and other subjects while building their capacity to
become financially savvy adults.
GREAT RIVERS GREENWAY DISTRICT COMPLETES
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS TO RIVERFRONT TRAIL
The Great Rivers Greenway District celebrated the completion
of major improvements to the Riverfront Trail with a ribbon-cutting
ceremony and bike ride on May 1 at a newly constructed plaza
near the intersection of Lewis and Biddle Streets.
The 12-mile North Riverfront Trail, which traverses the Mississippi
River from the Arch to the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, has been
extensively renovated by The Great Rivers Greenway District
and the City of St. Louis. Construction and design improvements
include new asphalt along the entire length of the trail, new
rest stops at four park-like plazas, and drinking fountains
and signage placed at strategic locations along the trail.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony also kicked off the season opening
of the Tuesday Night Riverfront Trail Rides. The weekly rides
range from seven to 27 miles and will be held every Tuesday
night from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. through August 21. Rides begin
at the parking garage at Lucas Avenue and Leonor K. Sullivan
Boulevard, north of Washington Avenue.
POWER SURGE: AMEREN’S $1 BILLION “PROJECT
POWER ON” STRENGTHENS REGION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPETITIVENESS
Ameren's commitment to invest $1 billion over the next three
years to improve the performance and environmental impact of
the St. Louis region's power system will not only ensure reliability
for Ameren customers today and well into the future, it is also
a major regional investment that will help in the effort to
retain and expand existing companies and recruit prospective
inbound companies to the St. Louis region.
RCGA President and CEO Dick Fleming joined Mayor Francis Slay,
St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, AmerenUE President
and CEO Tom Voss, AmerenUE Energy Delivery Senior Vice President
Richard Mark, and AmerenUE Vice President of Public Relations
Karen Foss, at a news conference at Ameren Thursday, July 12th
announcing the $1 billion “Project Power On.”
Over the next three years, Ameren's investment will directly
and indirectly support an average of 9,740 jobs in the State
of Missouri, constituting $430 million in new annual personal
income. It will also generate some $3.3 billion in increased
economic activity throughout the region.
Ameren is, quite literally, the power that fuels our region.
Whether it's the automobiles being built at Chrysler and General
Motors, the fighter jets at Boeing, the beer at Anheuser-Busch,
or the information technology coming out of Savvis and Reuters—they
all depend on affordable and reliable electricity.
Businesses throughout the metro area already benefit from electric
rates that are 32 percent below the national average for investor-owned
utilities. To be able, now, to discuss this level of regional
investment will be very attractive to companies considering
expanding and locating here.
Ameren worked with St. Louis-based Development Strategies Inc.,
to conduct an in-depth analysis of the economic impact of this
initiative. To complete the proposed upgrades to its plants
and distribution infrastructure over the next three years, Ameren
could well need up to an additional 470 positions within the
company and support nearly 2,400 additional construction jobs
each year to accomplish and manage these reliability and environmental
projects.
Correction: In the July issue of Commerce Magazine, in
an article titled, “Founded by Entre-preneurs—Fertile for Entrepreneurship,”
Divergence was mentioned as a unit of Orion Genomics. The two
companies share no business relationship, and both are independently-owned
companies. Sorry for any confusion.
