ST. LOUIS, May 18, 2006 - (L. - R.) Mayors of St. Louis County municipalities joined St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley for the roll out of the new Economic Development Collaborative. Back Row: Pat Kelly, Brentwood; Harold Dielman, Creve Coeur; Gerry Welch, Webster Groves; Bert Gates, Shrewsbury; Kyra Watson, Berkeley; Virginia Bira, Vinita Park; Mary Louise Carter, Pagedale; and, Michael Moeller, Maryland Heights. Front Row: Brian Fletcher, Ferguson; David Leezer, STLCO Economic Council; Charlie Dooley; John Nations, Chesterfield; and, Joe Adams, University City.
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St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley Rolls Out New Program to Promote Joint Ecomonic Development
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), May 19, 2006 - St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley has announced the formation of the St. Louis County Economic Development Collaborative.
At a press conference, following the 2006 Annual Meeting of the St. Louis County Economic Council (SLCEC) at the Ritz in Clayton, Dooley outlined how the St. Louis County Economic Development Collaborative will improve communication and cooperation among the county's 91 municipalities and unincorporated areas. Dooley said the new program will lead to enhanced job attraction, retention, creation and expansion.
"We are well ppositioned for the 21st century," stated St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley at the SLCEC Annual Meeting at the Ritz.
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"This collaborative will create a unified strategic vision that respects the individual communities, yet enhances the county as well," said Dooley. "It's a forward-thinking effort dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone who works or lives in the county, and we need input and collaboration from all our municipalities and communities to achieve that goal."
Leezer, formerly with St. Charles County, plans to meet with municipal and chamber leadership in St. Louis County to introduce the Collaborative during the first 90 days of his tenure, which began May 15. He will work to market the major assets of St. Louis County, including those within and created by municipalities, and establish regular communications among the County and the municipalities on economic development opportunities and activities.
Leezer stated, "This collaborative's strategic plan will be based on each leader's input. My goal in meeting with each leader individually is to gain the perspective of each community and help mold that into a winning plan for the entire county."
Earlier at the breakfast meeting in the ballroom, Dooley told a packed house in the ballroom that he was pleased to report that the news is very, very good. "It is fair to say that in St. Louis County, business is booming," he said proudly. "It's a team effort to provide quality service in St. Louis County. We are all about customer satisfaction. There are innumerable facts and figures that support our contention that St. Louis County is as business-friendly as any county in the United States," stated Dooley.
Among the highlights presented in the meeting:
- St. Louis County is fifth among American suburban counties in number of jobs;
- The county is ninth among American suburban counties in annual payroll;
- More than $2 billion was invested in St. Louis County in 2005;
- Over 25,000 jobs were attracted or retained in the county;
- St. Louis County accounts for nearly a quarter of the entire state of Missouri's sales tax revenue and one-third of the state's household income tax revenue; and
- The number of new businesses started in St. Louis County totaled 2,600, more than 1,000 more than the next closest county.
At the meeting, several local businesses were presented with awards for their dedication to St. Louis County economic development including:
- Outstanding Entrepreneur: Suzanne Magee Joyce, CEO of TechGuard Security;
- Dr. William D. Phillips Technology Advancement Award: Robert J. Calcaterra, president and CEO of Nidus Center for Scientific Advancement;
- Business Expansion Award: Express Scripts, with new corporate headquarters on the campus of University of Missouri-St. Louis;
- Buzz Westfall Regional Cooperation Award: NorthPark Partners, consisting of Clayco, McEagle and TRiSTAR, set to create the largest reinvestment project in St. Louis County history; and
- Community Partnership Award: Pinnacle Entertainment, building the $375 million River City casino, hotel and entertainment complex in Lemay.
"The St. Louis County Economic Council is successful because of the entrepreneurial spirit in St. Louis County," said SLCEC President and CEO Denny Coleman. "From the leadership of County Executive Charlie Dooley, through each staff person at the Economic Council, we work every day to enhance the quality of life for everyone who lives and works in St. Louis County, especially through strong leadership and economic development."
Productive Legislative Session will Benefit Missouri Children, Families and Jobs, Says Governor Blunt
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), May 14, 2006 - Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt thanked the Missouri General Assembly Friday for passing his key agenda items that will benefit public schools, protect children and help diversify Missouri's surging economy.
In an announcement, Governor Blunt said, "We have made remarkable progress during the last two sessions to end the tax and spend ways of the past and the mentality that the education of our children is secondary to feeding a bloated bureaucracy."
"I am proud of the work the members of this General Assembly and my administration have accomplished to put Missouri's working families and creation of better opportunities for all our state's citizens at the forefront of their government's agenda," said the Governor.
For the second year in a row, Blunt delivered on a campaign pledge to annually increase funding for public schools with a budget on his desk that allocates $173.4 million for classrooms. Colleges and universities were also winners in Blunt's budget securing the governor's two percent increase in state funds marking the first significant increase in years.
Blunt was also successful in getting the General Assembly to answer his call to enact a "Jessica's Law" in Missouri to ensure sexual predators receive tough mandatory sentences for crimes committed against children.
Another Blunt campaign pledge delivered was passage of a 10 percent ethanol requirement for gasoline sold in Missouri. This legislation is a win-win for Missouri's economy and environment with the potential to generate new jobs and economic resources and a new fuel standard that will improve air quality throughout the state.
On the heels of a terrible U.S. Supreme Court decision that favored tax-grabbing government and corporate interests over the rights of responsible private property owners, Blunt convened an eminent domain task force that recommended changes in state law to protect Missourians from being similarly affected. The General Assembly responded to Blunt's call by strengthening Missouri's eminent domain laws to protect property owners and enable local governments to take action to clean up dangerous areas.
Blunt will sign these priority bills into law. Last week he announced his intention to pursue his landmark Lewis and Clark Discovery Initiative, which will enhance educational and employment opportunities for young Missourians and will benefit their colleges and universities tremendously for generations to come.
Blunt secured a $731 million funding increase for Medicaid, a program that comprises 29 percent of the total state budget. He was also successful in reducing the number of full-time state employees to below 60,000 for the first time in eight years.
Blunt said he was pleased by the passage of a bill that will make health insurance more affordable for small businesses. This legislation will allow small and large employers to pool together through their trade associations to purchase health insurance as a single entity.
St. Louis Police Athletic League will Receive Youth Opportunities Tax Credits
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), May 14, 2006 - The St. Louis Police Athletic League will receive $62,500 in state tax credits for the league's Annual Sport & Citizenship Program project.
The Youth Opportunities Program, which is administered by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, is designed to broaden and strengthen opportunities for positive development in community life for youth, and to discourage such persons from engaging in criminal and violent behavior. Approval of these tax credits is contingent upon completion of contracts set forth by the program.
The St. Louis Police Athletic League is expected to leverage up to $125,000 in local contributions to help fund the projects, which will offer recreational/sport programs for targeted youth in St. Louis. In conjunction with these recreational programs, youth will participate in a positive sportsmanship exercise session and a college preparatory program for high school juniors and seniors. Program requirements include regular school attendance, academic progress and avoidance of any negative interaction with the police.
Private sector donors will receive a tax credit up to 50 percent of their donation for their contribution to an approved project. The credits can then be applied directly to the donor's Missouri tax bill.
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