Boeing Begins $1.8B Advanced Manufacturing Project, Powell Hall Renovations Help Expand SLSO’s Reach, and Steve Smith: “There is clearly a consensus that Downtown matters.”
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Boeing Begins $1.8B Advanced Manufacturing Project
Boeing, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council and the largest manufacturer in the state of Missouri, has begun work on a $1.8 billion expansion project in north St. Louis County.
First announced last year, the project kicked off recently with sitework for an aircraft assembly building; it is expected to create 500 jobs for the region.
“Boeing continues to demonstrate their commitment to St. Louis and to the future of advanced manufacturing in our metro,” said Jason Hall, CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc.
During a tour this week of the renovations taking place at Powell Symphony Hall, leaders said the newly renovated and expanded space will make the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra more accessible to St. Louis. “It’s going to be a place where we can welcome everyone,” said Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO of SLSO, a member of the GSL Investor Council.
Renovations, which began in March 2023, will include a 65,000-square-foot expansion, a new education center, and a three-story lobby when the hall opens again in September of 2025. “Powell Symphony Hall is an economic engine for St. Louis, with $100 million in activity every year,” said SLSO Board Chair Steven Finerty. “This will be an architectural gem, something that St. Louisans can really be proud of.”
Preschoolers will get a new outdoor learning and play space, thanks to a $75,000 gift from PNC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PNC Bank, a GSL Chair’s Council member, in partnership with the Missouri Botanical Garden, a GSL Investor Council member. The grant marks the 20th anniversary of PNC Grow UP Great, which prepares children for success in school.
June Opening Completes $120M St. Louis County Library Renovations
The final project in the St. Louis County Library’s “Your Library Renewed” campaign will open in June. The two-story, $31.8 million Clark Family Branch replaces the former headquarters of the Library, a GSL Investor Council member, and completes the $120 million effort to renovate or replace 19 branches in the district.
Steve Smith: “There is clearly a consensus that Downtown matters.”
In a recent opinion piece for the St. Louis Business Journal, Steve Smith, Co-Founder and CEO of New + Found and GSL Chair’s Council Member the Lawrence Group, discusses the importance of a thriving city center. Dynamic cities, he said, have vibrant downtowns, and only when communities resolve to support those cities do they fully realize their growth potential.
“We have proven time and again that when this region has a civic resolve, and when individuals step up, we get ambitious and exciting things done. I look forward to seeing a next generation of leaders rise up and make a difference in our wonderful city of St. Louis.”
$850K Grant Helps Southwestern IL Prepare for Tourists
The Great Rivers & Routes Tourism Bureau has received $850,000 in state grant money to complete six projects along the last 100 miles of Route 66 in preparation for the historic route’s 100th anniversary. The dollars will help small communities prepare for an influx of national and international tourists.
Great Rivers Greenway Opens $1M Chain of Rocks Bridge Park
A newly opened, $1 million park will help visitors better explore and enjoy the Chain of Rocks Bridge. Managed by Great Rivers Greenway, a GSL Investor Council member, the 16-acre park is located on the western end of the bridge and features a pavilion, lawn space, restrooms, and safety features.
GSL, in partnership with the City of St. Louis, is proud to bring back City Social on Friday, May 17, for the third year. City Social is a free event designed for St. Louisans to celebrate Downtown and enjoy local food and music with friends, neighbors, and colleagues. “We invite everyone to experience — and become a part of — the momentum building Downtown," said Kurt Weigle, GSL’s Chief Downtown Officer.
On May 9, Give STL Day — powered by GSL Chair’s Council Member the St. Louis Community Foundation — celebrates and supports the nonprofits that make our region a wonderful place to call home. Over the past decade, Give STL Day has raised more than $30 million for over 1,000 local nonprofits.
St. Louis Meetings and Events Outperform Top U.S. Markets
St. Louis last month led the nation with 24.3% year-over-year growth in meetings and events, Explore St. Louis reported. “Our downtown is transitioning from a traditional central business district to an entertainment, convention, and residential hub,” said Brian Hall, chief marketing officer of Explore St. Louis.
At True Success Basketball & Fitness Academy in St. Charles, Thurlester Robinson, Jr. uses basketball as a vehicle to teach kids lessons in teamwork, self-esteem, and leadership.
