Issue 18 | August 13, 2019
(Brookings Institute, 8/5/19)
“You have to create a welcoming tonality of your local community at the same time that you have to be attracting international people,” said Betsy Cohen, the project’s executive director and a former Nestle Purina executive, “The soil has to be receptive to the seed. If you bring the seed and the soil isn’t receptive, it won’t thrive.”
(KMOX, 8/6/19)
'STL Works' is a new civic effort bringing big employers and big educators together. It's centered around a web portal that's a one-stop-shop for what jobs are available and how to get trained for them.
( Directions Magazine , 8/7/19)
If you haven’t noticed, the words “geospatial” and “St. Louis” have been linked together a lot these days. Any current aerial view of the city itself will reveal a primary cause: the expansive construction site of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, taking up an area of several city blocks about three miles northwest of the city’s iconic Gateway Arch.
(Advantage News, 7/30/19)
The new development company was created to spearhead the revitalization of downtown Alton in the hopes of building a foundation for new business, including retail shops, park space and local merchants. "At AltonWorks, we believe we have a choice to self-determine our fate and develop innovative and actionable strategies with defined measures that can model approaches to 'reinvesting in community' across the region," John Simmons said. 
(Brookings Institute, 8/5/19)
From 2010 to 2018, the region built more developments and infrastructure that better support walkability — or how easy it is to get around on foot, bike and public transportation — making St. Louis the ninth fastest growing market, according to the 2019 Foot Traffic Ahead report.
(Forbes, 8/8/19)
Since 2011, World Wide Technology has plowed roughly $1 billion into equipment and staffing. Companies come in because they’re looking to update wireless networks, put data on the cloud, improve cybersecurity practices or beef up data analytics. They are greeted by this Geek Squad on steroids. “Customers want us to be their independent, trusted advisor and to tell them which products work—and which ones don’t,” says Kavanaugh, 56, the company’s CEO.
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 8/9/19)
Harvey L Collins (left) listens as his son Harvey O Collins, 21, of St. Louis, talks with an employee at the Republic Services booth at the 5th Annual Ferguson Unity Weekend Career Fair on Friday, Aug. 2, 2019, at the Ferguson Community Center (photo credit: Laurie Skrivan, St. Louis Post-Dispatch).
Unemployment in the region is low, about 3.6%. But there are many St. Louisans on the sidelines. African Americans, though, are nearly three times as likely to be unemployed here, and reducing those disparities could be “where St. Louis could see the greatest gains in workers and productivity,” Davis said.
(The St. Louis American, 8/9/19)
The St. Louis Business Diversity Connect’s focus is to stimulate economic growth and inclusion for diverse businesses in the region. Minorities, Women, Veteran and other underrepresented small businesses are invited to participate.
( St. Louis Post-Dispatch , 8/2/19)
The new development, called the WestFlo District, is designed to reshape a section of the battered commercial corridor that was the scene of much of the civil unrest after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown five years ago.
( MetroSTL , 7/29/19)
“We have since 1999 helped about 500 refugee- and immigrant-owned businesses get a start in the community,” Crosslin said. “And the St. Louis Regional Chamber has estimated that value at about 180 million dollars of positive economic impact in the community.”
( St. Louis Public Radio , 8/7/19)
St. Louis has the smallest Latino community of the nation's 25 largest metro areas — the only one that's less than 5% Latino. So how do local Latinos deal with being not just a minority, but one that’s dwarfed in size by other communities? And how do they straddle the Spanish-speaking worlds of their parents and grandparents in addition to life in the Midwest?
( St. Louis Public Radio , 8/7/19)
St. Louis has the smallest Latino community of the nation's 25 largest metro areas — the only one that's less than 5% Latino. So how do local Latinos deal with being not just a minority, but one that’s dwarfed in size by other communities? And how do they straddle the Spanish-speaking worlds of their parents and grandparents in addition to life in the Midwest?
(Ladue News, 8/1/19)
Students on UMSL's campus (photo credit: August Jennewein/UMSL ).
“The Finish Your Degree scholarship began as a vehicle to help deserving students who need just a little help to cross the finish line and attain a college degree,” explains attorney and alum Patrick Gadell, who helped found the scholarship program.
( St. Louis Business Journal , 7/31/19)
"Making it a thriving tech district not only enhances the process (Downtown STL is) undertaking now, but it's a major bonus, frankly," said Missy Kelley, CEO of the downtown-focused economic development group Downtown STL. "That northern edge of downtown hasn't gotten a lot of attention .... (so) it's a win-win for downtown that they are investing in that area and investing in a vision beyond the Post-Dispatch building."
( MultiHousing News , 8/8/19)
Construction of WildHorse, an $80 million mixed-use development in Chesterfield, Mo., with 188 luxury residential units, a 128-key hotel, restaurant and retail space, is set to begin this month. NorthMarq arranged $54.5 million in debt and joint venture equity financing for the project’s developers, Pearl Cos. and Great Lakes Capital.
( Real Simple , 7/29/19)
Craving an easy-to-pull-off getaway? America’s small and midsize cities offer great fun and excellent value. Here, trip inspiration for five types of travelers.
(National Geographic, 7/31/19)
Welcoming guests to the City Museum of St. Louis—a must-see for families visiting the city—MonstroCity is a mash-up between a playground and a massive interactive sculpture. Kids and adults can explore the secret passageways and slinky tunnels to discover two antique airplanes and a giant ball pit.