GSL Joins General Motors In Wentzville To Focus On Advance Manufacturing, $1.7B In Federal Funds To Expand Missouri Broadband Access, And More
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GSL JOINS GENERAL MOTORS IN WENTZVILLE TO FOCUS ON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING
Greater St. Louis, Inc. and General Motors this week brought together businesses and economic and workforce development leaders from St. Charles County and the State of Missouri to discuss the importance of advanced manufacturing and how to grow the sector for the future. The group gathered at GM’s Wentzville Assembly plant, which employs 4,000 employees and is now the third largest General Motors facility in the U.S.
“I appreciate days like this when our plant can partner with community leaders to discuss further improving job opportunities, community safety, and growth in our region. I applaud [Greater St. Louis, Inc.’s] efforts to move these initiatives forward at such a rapid pace,” said Lamar Rucker, Executive Director of the GM Wentzville Assembly plant.
Named in the STL 2030 Jobs Plan, advanced manufacturing is a “priority industry cluster” that is a critical part of the regional effort to grow the metro’s economy. Recent wins for the metro’s advanced manufacturing sector include the $1.5 billion GM has invested in the Wentzville Assembly plant, the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center in North St. Louis, and the successful regional effort to win the highly competitive federal Build Back Better Regional Challenge.
Greater St. Louis, Inc. congratulates GM Wentzville Assembly on their 40th anniversary.
Thank you for four decades of leadership and commitment to the metro.
BUSINESS JOURNAL RECOGNIZES INFLUENTIAL BUSINESS WOMEN
The St. Louis Business Journal’s 2023 list of the region’s 25 Most Influential Business Women includes Tracy Whelpley, GSL’s Senior Vice President of Business Attraction. The list, which celebrates women making strides in their business or industry, also includes GSL investors, like Laura Ellenhorn, Partner at executive-level member of theGSL Chair’s Council Edward Jones, and board members, like Michelle Tucker, CEO of GSL Investor Council Member United Way of Greater St. Louis.
$1.7B IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO EXPAND MISSOURI BROADBAND ACCESS
A new bill signed by the Biden administration dedicates $1.7 billion in funding for high-speed broadband internet throughout Missouri. A key GSL policy priority, expanded broadband will enhance job opportunities and access for all Missourians, and funding "will greatly assist our ongoing investments in Missouri's broadband infrastructure and build upon our recent $400 million investment," said Missouri Governor Mike Parson.
LOCAL BOOKSTORE, NATIONAL PROFILE: ST. LOUIS’ NOVEL NEIGHBOR PARTNERS WITH USA TODAY
National media outlet USA Today has announced a new content partnership with the Novel Neighbor, an STLMade independent bookstore located in Webster Groves, Missouri. The partnership launches the return of the USA TODAY Best-selling Booklist and will regularly highlight profiles of independent bookstores across the country, while at the same time sharing book recommendations and trends.
“When you buy from your local indie bookshop, you're giving your community more opportunities to do amazing things,” said a Novel Neighbor representative. “When book lovers shop with us, they’re helping us bring more of their favorite authors to St. Louis and host more events in town.”
In its feature on the Novel Neighbor, USA Today also highlighted the bookstore’s nonprofit, the Noble Neighbor, which brings free books and author visits to systemically underserved schools and students across the St. Louis region.
Two executive-level members of the GSL Chair’s Council will chair the 2023 United Way of Greater St. Louis annual community campaign. Marty Lyons, President and CEO of Ameren Corporation, and Scott Hartwig, Regions Bank Commercial Banking Leader and Market Executive will serve as chair and co-chair. United Way’s annual campaign equips over 160 local nonprofits with funding and resources to keep the region’s safety net healthy.
St. Louis has approved planned improvements for two prominent city green spaces: Forest Park and Citygarden. The city will construct a new garden in Downtown’s Citygarden, while Forest Park Forever, a GSL Investor Council member, will invest $10.5 million to beautify the park’s lakes and connect the park’s river system — which will be renamed the Taylor Kindle River in honor of Jack C. Taylor, founder of Enterprise Holdings Inc., an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council.
STLMADE FLIPSTIK MAKES HISTORY IN SMITHSONIAN EXHIBITION
On June 23, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. opened a new exhibition called “Cellphone: Unseen Connections,” and with it, an STLMade startup became part of history. Akeem Shannon, founder and CEO of Flipstik, is featured in the three-year, first-of-its-kind exhibition exploring the technological, environmental, and cultural impact of cellphones. His creation, the Flipstik — and his STLMade photo — are on display in the musem now.
“Few will believe in your idea in the beginning, but you have to trust your own intuition and never give up,” Shannon’s quote reads in the exhibition.
Ranken Technical College is actively building its ranks of women students and instructors, a move made in response to the increased diversity needs of employers. “Our goal is to bring in more female faculty because we want students to see themselves in that field,” said Shannon Brueggemann, Ranken’s vice president for education.
This fall, the University of Missouri-St. Louis — a GSL Chair’s Council member — will launch a new e-sports program focused on four games with a roster of around 20 players. The university is building a state-of-the-art facility for the new program, adding to the region’s already strong e-sports scene.
Over at theSTL.com, we publish stories that shine a light on the innovative, tenacious, big-hearted people living throughout the St. Louis region. Weekly featured stories showcase the STLMade movement — people, businesses, and ideas moving the region forward. Are you proud to be STLMade? Join us.
