PFG is Invested in St. Louis | Toyota Expands in Lincoln County | Elevator Announces STL Location | More
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Performance Food Group is Invested in St. Louis
Performance Food Group, Inc. — a Fortune 500 company and one of North America’s largest food distributors — announced two years ago it would be investing nearly $120 million and adding nearly 100 new jobs in the St. Louis metro. This week, the company cut the ribbon on its new, 338,000-square-foot distribution center, which expands PFG’s presence in St. Louis and allows the company to grow its operations locally as well as across the Midwest region.
The region’s business and civic leadership — led by Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership — collaborated with the State of Missouri and the Missouri Department of Economic Development to facilitate the deal that led to the new facility and the nearly 100 new jobs it brings to the region.
The Bottom Line: Performance Foodservice has more than 60 years of history in the region. Their significant investment in this new distribution facility speaks to their confidence in our strong workforce, reliable infrastructure, and growing distribution sector. And collaborative regional leadership helped bring that investment to fruition.
Toyota is expanding in Lincoln County, Missouri, the company announced this week, with a $57 million investment in a new cylinder head production line for hybrid vehicles at its casting plant in Troy. The investment will add 57 new jobs to the plant’s 1,000 employees. Production is expected to begin in 2027. (St. Louis Public Radio)
Par Health Adds to St. Louis HQs
Par Health, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, is now the largest U.S. manufacturer of active pharmaceutical ingredients by volume after a planned spin-off from Mallinckrodt. Par’s portfolio comprises around 200 products, including independent generic pharmaceuticals and sterile injectables. Mallinckrodt, now known as Keenova Therapeutics, will shift its focus to branded therapeutics. (American Pharmaceutical Review)
Supporting Startups, Elevator Expands to St. Louis
The St. Louis region welcomed a new company this week. Elevator, a co-warehousing community for small businesses and entrepreneurs, is set to launch its second Missouri location at 1230 Macklind Ave in St. Louis City, spanning 67,300 square feet, and targeting an opening date in Q1 2026.
“Elevator’s innovative approach to warehousing offers yet another support to continue the growth of St. Louis’ small business ecosystem. Its expansion here underscores the fact that our region is a vibrant and growing hub attracting entrepreneurs from around the country,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., which joined Missouri Partnership and St. Louis City Alderman Michael Browning in supporting Elevator’s expansion search.
The Bottom Line: St. Louis has a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem, and innovative support from companies like Elevator helps fuel its continued expansion, drawing new and more companies to the region. Elevator's leaders expect the new location to fuel significant job growth in the years ahead through its support of small businesses.
“St. Louis stood out to us because of its entrepreneurial energy and innovative community,” said Emiliano Lerda, CEO & Co-Founder of Elevator.
The St. Louis Federal Reserve is one of 12 regional reserve banks across the country that “bring the voice of Main Street directly into the policymaking process,” write Kathy Mazzarella, President and CEO of Graybar and a member of GSL’s Board of Directors, and Tom Melzer, Managing Partner of RiverVest Venture Partners, both past leaders of the St. Louis Fed. They make the case for maintaining the Fed’s independence and how beneficial the institution is to both the region and the country. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Copeland Files for IPO
St. Louis-based Copeland, the former climate technologies arm of Emerson, has confidentially filed for an initial public offering. Last year, Blackstone finalized its purchase of the company for $3.5 billion. (Reuters)
High-Performance Computing Conference Draws Thousands
America’s Center in Downtown St. Louis was full this week, as 17,000 scientists, engineers, researchers, educators, programmers, and developers packed the convention center for SC25, the international conference for high performance computing, networking, storage, and analysis. (St. Louis Magazine)
Green Growth | Great Rivers Greenway this week at Harris-Stowe State University revealed a look at the Market Street segment extension of the Brickline Greenway, along with a new view of Damon Davis' "Pillars of the Valley" art installation commemorating Mill Creek Valley. This segment will run between Compton Avenue and 22nd Street and will officially open in the spring. (Great Rivers Greenway)
How the Brickline Greenway can drive sustainable development in North St. Louis (St. Louis Magazine)
This Week's Headlines
Flyover Comedy Festival has made St. Louis a comedy destination, says co-headliner Jason Sklar (St. Louis Public Radio)
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard reflects on the debut and future of the institution at its expanded and renovated home at Powell Hall at The Jack C. Taylor Music Center.
