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WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY AND ST. LOUIS REGION FEATURED IN SEMINAR ON "GREAT
UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR CITIES"
DR.
MARK WRIGHTON
chancellor,
Washington University |
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In a move to drive understanding of how relationships between cities
and universities can and must work, Case Western Reserve University
in Cleveland hosted “Great Universities and Their Cities,” the first
ever national colloquium to examine successful partnerships. The
January 30th event attracted more than 600 people for a dialogue
between some of the country’s leading mayors and university presidents
about what has—and hasn’t—worked in their relationships, including
overcoming key barriers, and what best practices can be replicated
as part of a national model.
In addition to hosts Case Western’s President Edward Hundert and
Cleveland Mayor Jane Campbell, the colloquium featured the Mayors
of Rochester, Nashville and Richmond, as well as the presidents
and/or Chancellors of Washington University in St. Louis, Yale,
the University of Illinois at Chicago and Johns Hopkins, to name
just a few.
Highlights of the discussions included how the greater St. Louis
region has developed a consensus that developing life sciences,
both plant science and human biology, repre- sents a major opportunity
to enhance the community. Washington University partners with other
community institutions and regional leaders from business, government
and civic organizations to encourage investments in developing life
sciences. Colloquium participants learned about efforts ranging
from creating stronger local venture capital resources, to real
estate and facilities developments to enhance the environment for
new life sciences-based companies. Washington University plays a
role in these activities through the strength and scope of its life
sciences research, its endowment, and its ability to attract talented
people to the region. Dr. Mark Wrighton, chancellor of Washington
University, discussed these efforts, emphasizing the role and limitations
a major research university has in contributing to the realization
of community aspirations.
U.S. COMMERCE DEPUTY SECRETARY VISITS CENTER
FOR EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
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Sam Bodman, U.S. Commerce Department Deputy Secretary
visits Marcia Mellitz, president and CEO of the Center
for Emerging Technologies; and U.S. Senator Jim Talent
during Bodman’s recent trip to St. Louis. |
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In early March, U.S. Commerce Deputy Secretary Sam Bodman toured
the Center for Emerging Technologies (CET), an Economic Development
Administration (EDA) facility at 4041 Forest Park Ave. in St. Louis.
The CET is a model of EDA’s program, which serves as a venture capital
resource to meet economic development needs of distressed communities
throughout the country.
After touring the center with CET President and CEO Marcia Mellitz,
Deputy Secretary Bodman highlighted the success of the Center for
Emerging Technologies and the role the Commerce Department’s Economic
Development Administration (EDA) played in its success. He also
participated in a roundtable discussion on what President Bush’s
Economic Growth and Jobs Package means to Missouri business, and
heard from company and center staff, as well as local business,
university and government leaders.
387 STUDENTS ENROLLED IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
CAREER ACADEMY; LIFE SCIENCES ACADEMY PLANNED FOR FALL ENROLLMENT
The RCGA-commissioned Battelle IT Cluster Strategy released last
year, noted that while the St. Louis region’s Information Technologies
sector is strong, the region still had work to do to fulfill its
even greater potential in producing a robust information technology
economy and well-paying IT jobs.
Battelle proposed four IT strategies for the region:
- Strengthen
the region’s capacities for the development and application
of information technologies in the region
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Create a supportive entrepreneurial environment for new
IT venture development and emerging information technology
areas
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Ensure a high-quality IT workforce in the future
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Improve the infrastructure and business
climate for IT development.
- With
support from RCGA Senior Vice President for Economic Development
Bob Coy and the RCGA Economic Development staff, and an
IT skills development curriculum developed in conjunction
with the Battelle Strategy, Paul Mackay, executive director
of the Metropolitan Vocational Technical Cooperative,
has successfully established the St. Louis IT Career Academy.
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The IT program
provides high school students with an opportunity to earn IT certification
in four areas: A+ Certification, Network + Certification, I-Net+
Certification, and Server+ Certification. Currently, there are four
high schools participating in the St. Louis IT Career Academy: Mehlville
and Oakville High Schools (combined district, separate high schools);
Lindbergh High School; and Affton High School. A total of 387 students
are currently enrolled in the IT Academy program.
| (Left
to right): Vanja Bajer and Zaki Din are Mehlville
High School students participating in the St. Louis
IT Career Academy. |
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The Metropolitan Vocational Technical Cooperative is responsible
for creation of vocational technical programs for the public schools
in St. Louis City and County.
Paul has met with the superintendents from Webster Groves, Bayless,
Hancock Place, and the Maplewood/Richmond Heights school districts;
each has expressed interest in establishing an IT academy.
On a related note, following the recommendation of the RCGA-commissioned
Battelle Plant and Life Sciences Cluster Strategy, plans are underway
to establish a parallel Life Sciences Academy, with plans to enroll
its first students this Fall. For information on the Academies,
please call Paul Mackay at 636/343-9635 or e-mail him at pmackay@ssd.k12.mo.us.
SACHS PROPERTIES DONATES LAND AT CHESTERFIELD
VILLAGE FOR STAGES ST. LOUIS
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STAGES
ST. LOUIS will build a $15 million theatre and education
complex in Chesterfield. The 59,000-square-foot building
will be built on land donated by Sachs Properties,
the developer of Chesterfield Village. |
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Sachs Properties, the developer of Chesterfield Village, donated
7.5 acres for the construction of a new $15 million theatre performing
arts center for STAGES ST. LOUIS. The announcement follows STAGES’
lengthy search for a new home.
“For our residents, office and retail tenants, STAGES is a tremendous
cultural attraction to add to Chesterfield Village,” says Kathy
Higgins, president of Sachs Properties. “It will enrich our community
and attract new visitors for decades to come.”
The 59,000-square-foot building will be at Chesterfield Parkway
West near the crest of Highway 40 (I-64) before it descends into
Chesterfield Valley. STAGES’ new facility will include an 850-seat
main stage theatre, a 250-seat second theatre, a performing arts
academy and room for a future 299-seat third theatre.
The architectural firm Pellham, Phillips, Hagerman (PPH) of Springfield,
Mo. is designing the building. PPH designed the numerous performing
arts venues in Branson, Mo.; and the 3,000-seat Palace Theatre in
Myrtle Beach, S.C.
STAGES is a professional, not-for-profit musical theatre company
currently based in Kirkwood. Performances are held at the 380-seat
Robert G. Reim Theatre at the Kirkwood Civic Center. With administrative
offices at 104 North Clay in Kirkwood and a production/design center
in Valley Park, the company will consolidate all operations under
one roof in the new facility, which is scheduled to open in late
2006.
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