Festival of Nations Welcomes the World to St. Louis, Bringing WashU to the World: Rebrand Increases Global Awareness of a World-Class Institution, and Full Speed Ahead: $14M in Funding Moves Intramotev Forward
Not rendering correctly? View this email as a web page here
Festival of Nations Welcomes the World to St. Louis
This weekend, thousands of visitors will celebrate the 80+ nations comprising the St. Louis metro at the Festival of Nations, powered by the International Institute of St. Louis. Greater St. Louis, Inc. and its STLMade initiative are proud to support the annual two-day event in Tower Grove Park, which will feature more than 100 vendors, dozens of stage performances, and interactive experiences.
Immigrants drive economic growth for our metro, starting businesses at higher rates than people born in the U.S. In 2023 alone, the St. Louis region’s immigrant population earned $5.9 billion in income, paid $1.6 billion in taxes, and held $4.3 billion in spending power — not to mention its overwhelming contributions to our culture.
“St. Louis has a pressing need to grow our population, which means that we must stand together to welcome immigrants to our community,” said GSL CEO Jason Hall. “Due in large part to the work of the International Institute and partnering organizations, St. Louis is seeing a large influx of new immigrants. St. Louis’ civic and business community has supported and will continue to support the Institute and its work. We are asking everyone in our metro to support the Festival of Nations and make it the largest multicultural festival in America."
Millions in Grant Funding to Train Bioscience Talent
Six million dollars in grant funding will help BioSTL — a GSL Investor Council member — prepare regional workers for high-demand bioscience jobs. The James S. McDonnell Foundation awarded the organization $4 million to build bioscience career pathways for young people. And $2 million from the U.S. Department of Labor Apprenticeship Building America will help support pre-apprenticeship programs, growing talent for high-wage jobs in the high-demand sector, identified in the STL 2030 Jobs Plan as key to driving economic growth.
Founded in St. Louis in 1957, Altor Solutions — which has called Scottsdale, Arizona, home for more than 30 years — is returning to its roots. The packaging manufacturer will move its headquarters to the St. Louis metro later this year, employing around 20 financial, HR, and administrative employees, with plans for additional growth. Already based in St. Louis, CEO Terry Moody noted, “It’s the right space, right location, and it just works for what we were wanting to achieve. We’re really happy about it, and we’re excited to come back.”
Bringing WashU to the World: Rebrand Increases Global Awareness of a World-Class Institution
With a new look and logo, Washington University in St. Louis hopes to eliminate any confusion — there’s only one WashU in the world. The institution, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, unveiled the rebrand this week, aiming to “raise awareness about WashU and to share the story of the people and programs that make the university world-class and distinctive.”
“Members of the WashU community — students, faculty, staff and alumni — are impacting the world daily, often in ways that are imperceptible to the public,” said Chancellor Andrew Martin. “We have an opportunity and an obligation to tell these stories in new ways and to the right audiences, to share with the world what WashU is and what we can do.”
New SSM Health Initiatives Innovate Local Healthcare
SSM Health, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, is taking innovative approaches to critical healthcare issues. A partnership with Gateway YMCA — a GSL Investor Council member — will result in a new, 5,000-square-foot medical facility within the Chesterfield YMCA next year. And the healthcare system will open the first behavioral health urgent care clinic in the city of St. Louis next week at SSM Health St. Louis University Hospital — no appointment needed.
Rebrand Reflects State-Wide Reach for Regional Health Commission
The St. Louis Regional Health Commission will expand its reach under a new name. Now the Community Health Commission of Missouri, the organization is now more broadly committed to health equity throughout the state of Missouri and beyond, acting as “a catalyst for change, driving collaborative efforts that enhance access to quality healthcare and bridge community and systems priorities.”
Full Speed Ahead: $14M in Funding Moves Intramotev Forward
St. Louis-based Intramotev is going global. A new funding round has secured $14 million for the startup, which among other things, has developed an autonomous, zero-emissions railcar that can operate without a locomotive. “This funding positions us to continue deploying our technology to customers across the U.S. and abroad to unlock a new era of growth for the rail industry,” said Intramotev CEO Tim Luchini.
IL Treasurer Visits Alton to Promote Innovation, Start-Ups
GSL, AltonWorks, and The Wedge Innovation Center brought together nearly two dozen regional leaders and business professionals last week to meet with Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs. The group discussed economic prosperity, innovation, and job growth in the southern Illinois region, as well as the Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund, the expansion of which GSL strongly supports to advance inclusive economic growth in the Metro East.
GSL’s Sam Murphey Appointed to St. Louis’ Revenue Advisory Council
St. Louis Mayor Tishaura O. Jones announced the members of the city’s first Long-Term Revenue Advisory Council, a 12-member group charged with exploring and recommending strategies for long-term diversification, stability, growth, and sustainability of the revenue of the City of St. Louis. Jones appointed Sam Murphey, GSL’s Chief Strategy Officer, to represent the city’s business community.
GSL this week was proud to host the Gateway to Innovation Giveback Awards ceremony. G2I is an annual one-day conference for St. Louis area technology professionals that returns conference proceeds to the community. This year, G2I awarded nearly $270,000 to 28 community organizations, an investment "to help people pursue IT careers, to help community organizations support their technology needs, and to help schools and educational organizations to advance their missions. That is critical work for our metro and truly helps the work in which we are all engaged to move St. Louis forward,” said GSL CEO Jason Hall.
Thompson Coburn LLP — an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council — officially welcomed a new leader last week, as Chris Hohn stepped into the role of Chair for the largest law firm in the St. Louis metro. He succeeds Roman Wuller and will focus not only on company growth, but civic leadership within St. Louis.
Unlimited Play founder Natalie Mackay designs and builds inclusive playgrounds for children across the St. Louis metro — and in cities across the country.
