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Compiled by Lauri Johnson
REVIVAL OF DOWNTOWN GROWTH FEATURED IN
THE NEW YORK TIMES
The revitalization of downtown St. Louis has received national exposure as the focus of a New York Times article called “In the Arch’s Shadow, Signs of Revival.” Writer Linda Tucci tracks the resurgence of growth in downtown St. Louis and traces the area’s turnaround back to tremendous community efforts that include organizations such as St. Louis 2004 and Downtown Now.
“In the last six years, a comprehensive plan to reinvigorate downtown has been set in motion, and more than $2.5 billion has been committed to 125 projects,” writes Tucci. “While many initiatives are still in their infancy, a few are far enough along that national developers are said to be taking notice, investing hundreds of millions of dollars in the future of downtown St. Louis.”
A major key to the revitalization is the conversion of downtown St. Louis’ vacuous historic buildings into modern retail and residential spaces that have attracted many young people. Tucci notes that renovating old buildings became much more enticing once the legislature enacted a state historic tax credit that could be combined with the federal historic tax credit.
“A report issued last year states that since 2000, 36 historic buildings have reopened or are under reconstruction, adding 1,863 residential units to the downtown market,” writes Tucci. “For a city that lost 12 percent of its population from 1990 to 2000, the influx has been hailed as a turnaround. Another 1,050 units are coming on the market in 2005 alone, and 1,359 more are planned.”
RCGA’S BEZOLD APPEARS
IN CHICAGO SUN-TIMES ARTICLE
The 2005 NCAA Men’s Final Four
basketball tournament generated
considerable excitement in St. Louis, and the Chicago Sun-Times ran an
article on March 27, that highlighted the tournament’s impact on St. Louis. In “Hoops Extravaganza Brings Buzz,
Bucks to St. Louis,” reporter Roman Modrowski taps Bryan Bezold, chief economist for the RCGA, for his take on the tournament’s economic impact on the city, which was estimated at approximately $62 million.
“‘It ranks among the top sporting events we’ve ever hosted. The principal reason for that is any other event here would involve local fans,’” Modrowski quotes Bezold as saying. “‘This is importing a lot of money into the region. It might be worth an entire season of
Blues games.
“‘There’s something unique about having 50,000 people coming to
St. Louis—not just because of the economic impact, but people find it neat we’re going to get a chance to show off
St. Louis to a lot of people.’”
The article also mentions Marc Schreiber, vice president of marketing and development for the St. Louis Sports Commission, who notes that the presence of the Edward Jones Dome—with its seating capacity of approximately 46,000 for basketball games—made hosting the Final Four a possibility for
St. Louis.
FORTUNE’S “MOST ADMIRED” INCLUDES TWELVE
LOCAL COMPANIES
Twelve St. Louis companies have been ranked among FORTUNE magazine’s 2005 “America’s Most Admired Companies” in the March 7 issue. Local companies that made the list are A.G. Edwards, Anheuser-Busch, D&K Healthcare Resources, Emerson, Energizer Holdings, Express Scripts, Furniture Brands International, Graybar Electric, Kellwood, The May Department Stores Company, Peabody Energy and Olin Corporation.
Companies are evaluated by a survey of 10,000 executives, board members and financial analysts based on eight criteria: Quality of products and services, employee talent, quality of management, innovation, social responsibility, financial soundness, long-term investment and use of corporate assets.
Anheuser-Busch ranked first among its peers in the beverage industry and first in all eight categories measured. Emerson ranked No. 2 in the electronics industry, and GrayBar Electric ranked No. 2 among wholesalers of electronics and office equipment.
RADIO INK MAGAZINE
HONORS BECK
 JOHN BECK JR.
vice president &
market manager,
Emmis Communications |
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Radio Ink magazine has honored John Beck Jr. with the 2005 Radio Wayne Award for Market Manager of the Year. Beck is vice president and market manager for Emmis Communications Corp. in St. Louis.
The Radio Wayne Award recognizes salespeople, managers and broadcasters who have committed their careers to excellence in radio. Winners are selected by a special panel of radio executives, managers and previous winners.
Beck won the award over nine other market managers from across the country and as far away as Thessaloniki, Greece. He is a 20-year Emmis veteran who joined the company in 1984 as vice president and general manager of KSHE-FM.
KEENUM WINS AWARD FROM
ENTERPRISING WOMEN MAGAZINE
LORRI KEENUM, president & CEO,
Midwest Trenching & Excavating Inc. |
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Lorri Keenum, CEO and president of
St. Louis-based Midwest Trenching & Excavating Inc., has won a 2005 Enterprising Women of the Year Award from Enterprising Women magazine. Keenum and two other female entrepreneurs won in the category of businesses with more than $5 million and up to $10 million in annual revenue. Ten other female entrepreneurs earned awards in categories of businesses that ranged from less than $1 million to more than $10 million in
annual revenue.
Winners were selected from hundreds of entries based on the growth and profitability of the enterprise, the leadership characteristics of the owner, the nominee’s outreach and mentoring of other women-owned firms, and the owner’s vision for the future of her business.
Midwest Trenching & Excavating Inc.
provides excavating services to the industrial and commercial construction market. |
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