Heartland States Warm to 'New Economy' Industries Illinois Launches VentureTECH Investment Program Indiana Dubbed the Silicon Cornfield Iowa Cultivates Technology Sectors Automotive Interests Still Drive Michigan's Economy Medical, Agricultural Industries Thrive in Minnesota St. Louis Area Leads Missouri's Growth Activity Logistics Advantages Bolster Ohio Industry Rockwell Consolidates in Wisconsin Request Information |
St. Louis Area Leads
The Show-Me State has been showing its competition that business is alive and well in Missouri. For 1999, the Missouri Dept. of Development (MDED) reported that an estimated 372 companies invested in new or expanded facilities. The year 2000 continues the trend. St. Louis, which is already home to more than 3,600 high-tech businesses, recently attracted PeopleSupport.com for its new e-commerce service support center operation. PeopleSupport.com develops and implements e-commerce strategies for a range of customers including CarParts.com, MGM and Time Warner. PeopleSupport.com plans to hire up to 300 high-technology employees for its 25,000-sq.-ft. (2,300-sq.-m.) space in a building in St. Louis' central business district. The location is the result of a collaborative effort between the Missouri Dept. of Economic Development (DED), the Downtown St. Louis Partnership, the St. Louis Development Corp. and the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association (RCGA). MDED offered more than $500,000 through the Community College New Jobs Training Program to help the company train hundreds of new employees. "I am pleased that we could work in partnership with so many St. Louis-area agencies to bring new investment and hundreds of jobs into the downtown area," said Joseph L. Driskill, DED director. Already 15 out of the 500 fastest growing technology-based companies in the U.S. are based in St. Louis, according to a 1999 Deloitte & Touche study. The new $146 million Donald Danforth Plant Science Center that is being constructed is expected to be a major stimulus to the development of the biotechnology industry in the St. Louis region. It will be a major component of the region's efforts to become the "agricultural and biotechnology equivalent of Silicon Valley."
St. Louis is emerging as a national center of life sciences industries, covering biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and health care research. The region is home to Washington University Medical School, the third largest recipient of National Institute of Health research grants. In addition, the $33 billion Agricultural Headquarters of Monsanto and its Life Science Research Center are The Life Science Research Center is one of the world's largest and most sophisticated facilities devoted to using biotechnology and genetic engineering in the search for ways to improve health care and agriculture. Traditional industries are flourishing in Missouri as well. Quebec-based Cascades Plastics is opening its first U.S. operation in Warrenton in September. Cascades, a leader in producing, marketing and converting packaging products, will produce polystyrene foam trays for the food industry in its new 75,000-sq.-ft. (6,900-sq.-m.), $7 million St. Louis area facility. The company chose St. Louis based on its central location and its proximity to a major international airport. Wal-Mart is making major commitments to Missouri for distribution. The retailer is locating a 1.2 million-sq.-ft. (111,500-sq.-m.) facility in St. James, which serves as a regional distribution center for general merchandise to Wal-Mart stores throughout central Missouri and beyond. "The spirit of cooperation by MDED, along with the people of St. James's can-do attitude, made the decision to locate Wal-Mart's newest regional distribution center in the heart of Missouri an easy one," said John Bisio, corporate spokesman for Wal-Mart Stores. Wal-Mart also selected Harrisonville as the site of a food distribution center. This new 860,000-sq.-ft. (79,900-sq.-m.) building will create more than 350 jobs early next year. The center is the largest economic development project in the history of Cass County.
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