New Report, Crime Summit, Call For Regional Strategy To Reduce Homicides, GSL Names Maggie Kost Chief Business Attraction Officer, And More
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NEW REPORT, CRIME SUMMIT, CALL FOR REGIONAL STRATEGY TO REDUCE HOMICDES
Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the Regional Business Council released last week a white paper that details the homicide crisis in the 15-county bi-state St. Louis metro and called on regional officials to come together to develop a regional strategy to address it.
The report, “The Need for a Regional Strategy to Reduce Homicides,” was developed in partnership with Dr. Richard Rosenfeld of GSL Chair's Council Member University of Missouri-St. Louis, a nationally renowned expert on criminology and criminal justice.
The report was released in advance of a regional crime summit, hosted by the East-West Gateway Regional Council of Governments, that brought together leaders from across the St. Louis metro to address violent crime in the region.
METRO LEADERS, CRIMINOLOGY EXPERTS UNITE FOR REGIONAL CRIME SUMMIT TO DEVELOP STRATEGY TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME
Informed by the Greater St. Louis, Inc./Regional Business Council white paper on reducing homicide, leaders from government, law enforcement, social services, and community groups from across the bi-state metro came together in the spirit of collaboration to begin developing a regional strategy for reducing violent crime across the metro. Organized by the East-West Gateway Regional Council of Governments with support from GSL, the summit included presentations from Prof. Richard Rosenfeld of UMSL, Thomas Abt, a criminologist and author who leads the Violence Reduction Center at the University of Maryland, and Rich Liekweg, President and CEO of GSL executive-level investor BJC Healthcare, who addressed the toll violent crime is taking on the healthcare system.
Highlighting the urgency with which the region needs to come together to address violent crime, Abt said: "We need to treat this issue of community violence as a country with the same urgency that it's treated in the emergency room. We need to stop the bleeding.” Abt also noted the need to stop the “either/or” conversation on public safety: “No city has programmed away violence,” Abt said, “and no city has arrested and incarcerated its way out. The research says you must have both.”
Greater St. Louis, Inc. announced this week that it has named Maggie Kost, who currently leads the Missouri Department of Economic Development, its new Chief Business Attraction Officer. With more than a decade of experience in economic development, Kost will lead the organization’s efforts to attract national and international businesses to St. Louis — the first woman to do so for the metro. CEO Jason Hall called Kost “a perfect fit.”
MISSOURI LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS WITH PRO-GROWTH POLICY WINS
The Missouri General Assembly closed its 2023 Regular Session late last week, having passed several pro-growth policies advocated for by GSL in collaboration with legislators, investors, and community partners. GSL helped secure big wins in the state budget, including funding for the Missouri Technology Corporation, the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis, public transit, and more.
SAINT LOUIS ZOO UNVEILS PLANS FOR $40M DESTINATION DISCOVERY
Plans for the Saint Louis Zoo’s new $40 million Destination Discovery — on the site of the current Emerson Dinoroarus, formerly Emerson Children’s Zoo — include augmented reality, a treehouse network, river otter flumes, and more. Thanks to a $15 million lead gift from the Henry A. Jubel Foundation, construction on the new experience will begin in 2024, with a target public opening slated for 2026. The Saint Louis Zoo is a member of the GSL Investor Council.
OPERA THEATRE’S NEW SEASON PUTS ST. LOUIS ON THE MAP
Opera Theatre of St. Louis opens its 2023 season in just a few days, marking the first since 2020 that won’t be affected by COVID. This year, it will offer a total of four productions, including the world premiere of Scott Joplin’s never-before produced “Treemonisha,” and its first ever production of Carlisle Floyd’s “Susannah,” as well as a new artist showcase and a free concert.
The St. Louis Symphony has always been a trailblazer, said St. Louis Symphony President and CEO Marie-Hélène Bernard during a conversation with Publisher Ian Caso during the latest edition of WinningSTL, the video interview series from GSL Chair’s Council member the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We have an incredible legacy,” Bernard said.
FOCUS ST. LOUIS CELEBRATES WHAT’S RIGHT WITH THE REGION
Presented by FOCUS St. Louis, a GSL Member, the 26th annual What’s Right with the Region Awards last week honored individuals, organizations, and initiatives — including a number of investors and STLMade names — making a positive difference in the St. Louis community. GSL CEO Jason Hall and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership CEO and President Rodney Crim accepted the Enhancing Regional Prosperity Award for the Build Back Better Regional Collaboration on Advanced Manufacturing, a model of collaboration and a priority of the STL 2030 Jobs Plan.
Colleges and universities around the metro are celebrating graduating classes of 2023 all month long. Washington University in St. Louis, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, profiled 12 graduates who are launching their careers in St. Louis, illustrating the ability our region offers young talent to start up, stand out, and stay.
Next week, St. Louis will host USGIF GEOINT Symposium 2023, the largest annual gathering of the geospatial industry, welcoming back thousands of geospatial experts and leaders and showcasing the future of geospatial as STLMade. A wide array of events Downtown will introduce visitors to St. Louis’ rapidly growing geospatial ecosystem, called out in The STL 2030 Jobs Plan as critical to the metro’s growth.
Get from place to place. Track a package. Find your phone. What is geospatial and why is it important — to you and to the St. Louis metro? TheSTL.com has the answers.
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