"We have a great story to tell." | Downtown’s City Social Returns Friday | AB’s Manufacturing Investment
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In May, Business Attraction Takes Top Priority for GSL, Regional Partners
Over the next month, Greater St. Louis, Inc. and its regional partners will meet with industry leaders in the bioscience, aerospace, and geospatial sectors, making the case that these businesses should bring jobs and investment to the St. Louis region.
“Alongside our regional partners, we are working hard to realize our mission to drive growth across the metro,” said Maggie Kost, Chief Business Attraction Officer for GSL. “Our region’s skilled workforce, development-ready sites, and transportation access to global markets are just a few of the reasons businesses thrive in St. Louis. We have a great story to tell, and we look forward to sharing that story with businesses nationally and internationally.”
In addition to traveling to events to secure potential business expansion opportunities, in mid-May, St. Louis will host thousands of geospatial industry leaders from around the globe at GEOINT Symposium 2025. Additionally, GSL will bring key site selection consultants to St. Louis to show them the region's assets in Illinois and Missouri that are ready for investment.
The Bottom Line: Collaborative efforts by regional partners are critical to attracting and retaining new companies, organizations, and talent to the St. Louis region.
Greater St. Louis, Inc. in 2021 hosted the inaugural St. Louis City Social, a block party on Washington Avenue intended to increase Downtown vibrancy, engage residents, and attract visitors. This year, City Social returns for its fourth consecutive year, a successful, established event that supports local businesses and increases foot traffic.
“This is an excuse to bring people Downtown, to give them a reason to be delighted and surprised…” said Sarah Arnosky Ko, GSL Vice President. “It’s an opportunity to bring everyone together.”
The Bottom Line: Cultivating a safe, vibrant, and beautiful Downtown St. Louis is critical to the growth of the entire, 15-county region and is a key goal of the STL 2030 Jobs Plan, which reminds us that “metros are only as strong as their urban cores.”
Anheuser-Busch, a GSL executive-level investor, is making a big commitment to American manufacturing. The St. Louis-born company has pledged to invest $300 million in its manufacturing operations across the U.S., including in St. Louis. And at its Technical Excellence Center in St. Louis, the company is investing even more in upskilling not only its own workforce, but trade school students and educators as well.
The Bottom Line: Companies in St. Louis and beyond are dedicating dollars and setting strategy to enhance their manufacturing operations. According to the STL 2030 Jobs Plan, advanced manufacturing is a key cluster with the potential to drive growth in the St. Louis metro; AB is setting a standard by investing not only in their own facilities, but in the growth of manufacturing innovation and talent.
An STLMade company is scaling up the American production of their packable drones. New federal policies have created a growth opportunity for WingXpand, a local startup that got its start with funding from Arch Grants, an executive-level GSL investor.
This year, Opera Theatre Saint Louis is celebrating 50 years, throughout which it has staged 45 world premieres, launched the careers of prominent artists, and made opera accessible to all. "It is a uniquely St. Louis thing that's gotten so much acclaim nationally and internationally.” More: Opera for All (theSTL.com)
Arch to Park Equity Fund LLC announced this week that it seeks proposals for the redevelopment of the historic Wainwright building, “one of the most iconic and important buildings not just in Downtown St. Louis, but also the world.”
GSL announced this week two new senior leadership hires: Kate Loar returns to GSL as Senior Vice President and Chief Engagement Officer, and Kylee Garretson joins the team as Senior Vice President for Business Attraction.
Based out of Maryland Heights, the St. Louis Blues’ Girls Development Program offers an accessible and affordable entry point into hockey for young girls.
