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COMMERCE COMMENTS
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In 2001, the
RCGA made major strides toward achieving its seven initiative’s,
which were launched in 2000 to encourage sustained economic growth,
and shape the region’s direction, community agenda and civic attitude.
Here are the highlights:
• Regional Economic Growth and Vitality—efforts to attract
and retain businesses to the St. Louis region resulted in the relocation
of national headquarters to St. Louis, such as: the Junior Chamber
International and Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc. Other companies expanded,
such as Edward Jones, Magellan Behavioral Sciences and Wyeth bioPharma.
The recruitment of Bob Coy as the RCGA’s senior vice president for
economic development brings to the region a seasoned economic development
professional with broad experience.
• Distinctive Industry Clusters—Five industry clusters have
been identified: plant and life sciences, information technologies,
advanced manufacturing, banking and financial services, and transportation
and distribution.
In 2000, the Battelle Memorial Institute was commissioned to objectively
assess and catalogue the plant and life sciences cluster and in
December 2001, Battelle also completed an assessment and strategy
for the information technologies cluster (implementation will begin
early this year).
The Coalition for Plant & Life Sciences and the RCGA are currently
implementing recommendations from the study for Plant and Life Sciences,
which has since been branded as the BioBelt. The BioBelt has gained
considerable attention garnering coverage for example in Fortune
Magazine, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal,
The Boston Herald, the San Diego Union-Tribune, the
Des Moines Register and on National Public Radio.
• Community Capitalism—This initiative aims to stimulate
for-profit, business-driven expansion, job creation and investment
in St. Louis’ urban core. In 2001, significant progress was made
on supporting and developing the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative.
In addition we’ve made great headway on the 14 Inner City competitive
Alliance recommendations designed to capitalize on existing St.
Louis inner-city strengths.
• Revitalizing the Region’s Central City—To create a robust
regional economy, it is vitally important to have a strong center
that attracts residents, workers and businesses, reinvigorates its
infrastructure and supports healthy surrounding neighborhoods. Several
significant developments have taken place this year, including the
opening in March of the 257-room Westin Hotel in three converted
Cupples Station warehouses, major streetscape improvements and the
completion of more lofts on Washington Avenue, and opening in July
of the Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites in the former
Edison Brothers Warehouse building. Soon to be completed is the
165-suite Renaissance St. Louis Suites Hotel and the new convention
center headquarters hotel is scheduled to open in February 2003—the
916-room Renaissance Grand Hotel St. Louis. In addition, plans to
revitalize the nine-block Old Post Office District are building
momentum. • Regionwide Infrastructure—In July 2001, a world-class
design was unveiled for the new Mississippi River Bridge. The announcement
for a new design was a pivotal step forward in the process toward
constructing this urgently needed new bridge. If funding is approved
this year, work on the widest cable-stayed structure in the world
will start in 2004 and be completed by 2010.
• Forward Metro St. Louis—regional business leaders from
the RCGA, Civic Progress and Regional Business Council have partnered
with the metro area’s elected officials and other civic leaders
to establish consensus on public policy issues that advance the
region’s interests. One of their priorities, “Home Rule” for the
City of St. Louis, passed an important first step toward becoming
law, when the Missouri General Assembly passed legislation to allow
the issue of “Home Rule” to be placed on the November 2002 statewide
ballot as a Constitutional amendment.
• Forward Metro St. Louis also raised awareness of our region’s
transportation needs. Last year’s determined efforts laid the groundwork
for the 2002 session by identifying solutions to increase statewide
funding for highways, bridges and transit. Recruitment of Tom Irwin
as RCGA senior vice president for Public Policy brings to the RCGA
and the Forward Metro St. Louis effort a substantial dimension of
public policy capacity at the local, regional and statewide level.
• Workforce Development—In 2001, we developed the Workforce
Enhancement Strategic Plan, mapping out a strategy for the active
engagement of the regional employer community in the workforce development
effort. Initial steps in that direction include the RCGA’s active
participation in the Regional Workforce Policy Group, partnered
with East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, that has brought together
representatives from the employer, education and workforce agency
communities to discuss and recommend course of action to improve
the current system.
In 2002, the RCGA will continue to work with our civic partners
in the region to sustain this momentum, and work to create, build
and enjoy an emerging world-class region.
Richard C.D. Fleming
President and Chief Executive Officer
St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association |
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