GSL-Endorsed Candidates Emerge Victorious in MO Primary, Graybar Breaks Record with $3B in Quarterly Net Sales, and Advantage Solutions Invests in Retail Tech Unicorn
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Pro-Growth Leadership: GSL-Endorsed Candidates Emerge Victorious in MO Primary
Missouri voters this week held primary elections to determine candidates for the November 2024 election. Greater St. Louis, Inc. publicly endorsed two candidates this primary election cycle, Mike Kehoe in the Republican primary for Governor of Missouri and Wesley Bell in the Democratic primary for U.S. Representative in the 1st Congressional District. Both candidates were victorious.
“We want to thank the voters in both parties who made clear that they want leaders who will support and advance policies that drive growth and who are willing to build bridges to move our state forward in a way that expands the opportunity to thrive for all our citizens,” said GSL CEO Jason Hall. “Although they come from different political parties and have differing views on many policies, Mike Kehoe and Wesley Bell share a common, urgent priority — growth for Missouri and the St. Louis region.
In a recent article, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Business Reporter David Nicklaus examines the data behind St. Louis’ latest job numbers — the region is now a top 10 metro for job growth for the first time since 1990 — and chats with GSL’s Jason Hall about the momentum he sees taking place.
In its latest investment cycle, Missouri Technology Corporation has approved $2.6 million in equity-based investments in seven Missouri-based startups with high-growth potential, including three in St. Louis: Agregene, FinLocker, Inc., and HabiTerre, Inc. GSL has helped secure millions of dollars in state funding for MTC to boost innovation and entrepreneurial growth in the metro.
Graybar Breaks Record with $3B in Quarterly Net Sales
Graybar, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, continues to break records, announcing this week $3 billion in second quarter net sales — an increase of 7.6% from the same period last year. CEO Kathy Mazzarella attributes the growth to “a strategic and balanced approach” that combines employee dedication with forward-thinking investments.
Advantage Solutions Invests in Retail Tech Unicorn
Newly headquartered in St. Louis, Fortune 1000 Advantage Solutions — an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council — is partnering and investing in Swiftly, a startup “unicorn” valued at over $1 billion. The collaboration with the retail technology provider will bolster Advantage’s omnichannel and retail media offerings for brands and retailers.
A $4 million Apprenticeship Building America grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor will help the Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development launch a new project, putting 625 Missourians on a path to secure long-term employment in skilled, higher-wage jobs through pre-apprenticeship programs. The MO-STAR project will train underrepresented populations in in-demand sectors, like advanced manufacturing and bioscience.
$2M Workforce Training Center to Skill Workers in East St. Louis
A new, $2 million, 10,000-square-foot workforce construction training center in East St. Louis will connect underserved students to good paying jobs — and boost the local economy. “For us, it’s about addressing generational poverty with generational solutions,” said Dave Kuntz, Executive Director of R3 Development, the nonprofit leading the project. “It affects the entire family unit, family line. And this really bolsters the region, the city through jobs and economic development.”
Transform the Airport: Submit Your Support for Consolidated Terminal Program
On behalf of the region's civic-minded business community, GSL strongly supports the consolidated terminal program at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, which could add nearly $5 billion in annual economic impact and 30,000 new jobs to the metro by 2032. Through Friday, Aug. 16, the airport is conducting a public comment period on the FAA’s Draft Environmental Assessment for the new terminal. At the link below, add your own support for this pivotal project.
A new St. Louis-based program, Dads to Doulas, seeks to empower Black men in all aspects of fatherhood — both to enrich their parenting journeys and to advocate for the health of their partners and children.
