|
 |
COMMERCE COMMENTS
|
The year 2000
was a very productive one for both the St. Louis region and the
RCGA. The RCGA, through its members, generated record job growth
throughout the region; played a major role in the passage of key
economic development legislation in Springfield, Ill., Jefferson
City, Mo., and in Washington, D.C.; moved forward in launching eight
strategic initiatives to move the region into the 21st century economy;
greatly strengthened the region’s physical infrastructure capacity;
and passed a significant economic development milestone by surpassing
the ambitious Campaign for a Greater St. Louis 100,000 job goal
by generating nearly 110,000 net new jobs in the region from 1995
to 2000.
In 2001, we will again rely on the commitment of our members to
continue to build regional strength and to stay competitive. We
will strengthen St. Louis by developing our region’s essential products—such
as an educated, competitive work force, sound regionwide infrastructure,
a vital central city of the region, a forward-looking public policy
agenda, a united and engaged business community, and developing
distinctive industry clusters (with initial focus on the region’s
Plant/Life Sciences and Information Technology clusters).
In the areas of technology and economic development, we will continue
with the successful Technology Gateway Alliance. The Alliance was
formed to address challenges facing capital formation, work force
development, and excellence, entrepreneurship and business development
of the area’s high-tech firms.
In fact, this year has already started with a bang and a blitz—an
advertising blitz enlisting the entire community to promote St.
Louis regionally and beyond. “St. Louis. We Got It Good” reminds
the region’s citizens of the St. Louis area’s many quality of life
and business attributes, enlisting local residents as ambassadors
in marketing St. Louis.
In a remarkable civic commitment, every radio and television station
in the St. Louis market has joined forces to donate hundreds of
thousands of dollars in valuable airtime in January to launch a
regionwide advertising campaign.
This initiative, a pro bono civic gift contributed through the RCGA
by the Missouri Broadcasters Association, every radio and TV station
in the Association region, major creative contributions by St. Louis-based
advertising agency Schupp Company Inc., and including print and
outdoor advertisers, is promoting the strengths of the region to
the citizens of the region.
The St. Louis region has a very positive, compelling story to tell
and as St. Louisans with vested business interests in the sustained
growth and prosperity of the region, it is vitally important to
inform our fellow citizens about the benefits and attributes of
living and working in the St. Louis region. Recognizing that some
two-thirds of the 110,000 net new jobs created here since 1995 came
from companies already here; deciding to expand here in the region—marketing
St. Louis to St. Louisans is good economic development. Moreover,
raising our own community’s civic pride and spirit is contagious.
Finally, to sustain the region’s recent economic momentum, $15 million
has been pledged to a new five-year Campaign for a Greater St. Louis.
Richard C.D. Fleming
President and Chief Executive Officer
St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association |
|
|
|
|
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
|
