STL Partnership helps economic growth

St. Louis Economic Development Partnership is the regional economic development organization. Its mission is to attract, retain, and facilitate growth of businesses in St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis. The STL Partnership works with economic development partners to help companies of all sizes thrive in the St. Louis region.

STL Partnership loans and bonds funded in St. Louis County and City for 2022 totaled $19.56 million and included $12.2 million in bonds, $4.2 million in SBA loans, and $3.14 million in specialty revolving loan funds.

The STL Partnership, in collaboration with Greater St. Louis Inc., Boeing, and other key stakeholders, worked together to establish the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center to create a more diversified and resilient workforce in regional aerospace and automotive manufacturing sectors.

In August, Boeing gave a $5 million grant to support this innovation center. Then in September, the STL Partnership, in conjunction with Greater St. Louis, Inc., won a federal $25 million Build Back Better Regional grant to further support these efforts. Out of 529 applicants, the St. Louis region was among 21 applicants to receive funding.

The Major Projects/39 North division of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership was established to manage the 39 North Master Plan, which was funded by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. The plan created a vision for an innovation district in St. Louis County that is uniquely positioned to advance the region’s global leadership in plant and life sciences. The district is geared toward preferences often sought by highly skilled employees, including mixed retail, residential, and office space connected by walking and biking trails and green space.

The 600‐acre innovation district is anchored by the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Bio Research & Development Growth Park, the Helix Center Business Incubator, Bayer Crop Science, and the Yield Lab.

The 39 North Master Plan has five transformative goals:

1. Strengthen corridors and establish new traffic patterns

2. Connect assets and opportunity sites

3. Establish a cohesive development framework

4. Create a mixed‐use center of activity

5. Market the district

To date, $10.4 million consisting of federal, state, and local transportation dollars have been secured to plan and build the priority infrastructure projects and for marketing efforts to promote the district.

As recommended in the 39 North Master Plan, the Olive/Lindbergh interchange was completed in July. STL Partnership continues to partner with the City of Creve Coeur, Great Rivers Greenways, the Danforth Plant Science Center, and other partners on the Old Olive Great Streets Project and the 39N Greenway.