Call to Action: Business Leaders Join IISTL to Help Influx of Immigrants, Forbes: “Why St. Louis City SC’s Gateway to Growth Puts Community First”, and More
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Call to Action: Business Leaders Join IISTL to Help Influx of Immigrants
The International Institute of St. Louis is currently welcoming the largest influx of immigrants and refugees to the St. Louis region in nearly 30 years — a fact that presents an incredible growth opportunity to the St. Louis metro. The number of immigrants moving into the metro increased by 165% year-over-year in 2023 — a real bright spot — and are driving significant economic growth.
While the increasing number of immigrants moving to St. Louis is great news, IISTL is in urgent need of support to adequately welcome these new arrivals. Greater St. Louis, Inc. CEO Jason Hall this week joined Arrey Obenson, President and CEO of IISTL, and others to express support for the work of IISTL in welcoming and supporting incoming immigrants and to call for the St. Louis community to help the organization fill gaps in funding, donations, and volunteers.
“These are job creators in our economy,” Hall said. “When you think of our largest employers like Emerson and Bayer, they were all started by immigrants and have employed families for generations. We need that in our economy again.”
A new documentary from HEC highlights the Afghan Support Program, an initiative of the International Institute of St. Louis that supports Afghan refugees while growing St. Louis. The film features GSL investors and business leaders. Watch the documentary.
Boeing’s $1.8B Expansion Progresses with Advanced Manufacturing Facility
Boeing, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, is moving forward with a 1.1 million-square-foot advanced combat aircraft building that will double its manufacturing footprint in the region. The site is part of the $1.8 billion expansion project the company announced last year estimated to add 500 advanced manufacturing jobs — continued growth for a next-generation industry identified in the STL 2030 Jobs Plan.
World Wide Technology at Top of List for International Sales Growth
World Wide Technology, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, has grown international revenue 200% from 2019 – 2023, ranking as a top leader in international sales during a record year of worldwide growth for St. Louis-based international companies.
GSL Investors, Partners on List of Most Influential Business Women
Women in St. Louis are making an impact. The St. Louis Business Journal this week announced a list of the year’s 25 Most Influential Business Women, a list that includes a number of GSL investors, partners, and friends, including Nadine Alameh, Executive Director of the Taylor Geospatial Institute, Martha Garcia Kampen, President and CEO of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro St. Louis, Dena McCaffrey, President of Jefferson College — a GSL Investor Council member — and more.
Forbes: “Why St. Louis City SC’s Gateway to Growth Puts Community First”
Forbes put St. Louis in the spotlight this week, featuring St. Louis CITY SC and its commitment to community. “Going through the third and into the fourth generation of our family, my grandfather always taught us to ‘take care of your communities,’” said Carolyn Kindle, CITY SC CEO and GSL Board Member, referring to Jack C. Taylor, Founder of what is now Enterprise Mobility, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council. “Since he expanded his business outside of St. Louis, he wanted to make sure that he would continue to support people in the local community and people in the local community would continue to support him.”
July 1: Intern and Apprentice Recruitment Act Opens Applications
Last year, Missouri Governor Mike Parson came to GSL to sign the Intern and Apprentice Recruitment Act, a major GSL policy priority designed to help attract top talent to St. Louis and Missouri. The bill, which was passed overwhelmingly by both houses of the Missouri General Assembly, opens to qualifying employers July 1, 2024. Watch an informational webinar to learn more.
At Global Conference, GSL Markets STLMade Investment
GSL this week represented the 15-county St. Louis metro at the 2024 SelectUSA Investment Summit, an annual event that promotes foreign direct investment in the United States to 5,000 attendees representing 87 international markets. Alongside Missouri Partnership and Intersect Illinois, the GSL team showcased all the region has to offer, speaking to government officials, business executives, and industry leaders.
Only two years old, the Delmar Divine is growing again, with a $30 million expansion expected to add 80 new apartments, offices, and community space to help bridge the Delmar divide. Construction will begin late this year and be completed in 2026. Maxine Clark, who envisioned the former St. Luke’s Hospital location as a high-impact community rehabilitation project, is “excited to add more availability and therefore more people to this part of the city.”
New First Bank Program Encourages Young Entrepreneurship
A new five-year partnership between First Bank — an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council — and nonprofit Girls Inc. of St. Louis will help prepare young women for a career in business and entrepreneurship. Hosted at UMSL, a GSL Chair’s Council member, the program will support participants from 8th grade through high school, inspiring them to “become future leaders in business.”
New WashU, BJC, Schnucks Study Prescribes Healthy Food
A collaborative study between Washington University in St. Louis, BJC HealthCare, and Schnucks — all executive-level members of the GSL Chair’s Council — prescribes healthy, nutrient-dense food to encourage positive health outcomes and reverse chronic diseases. Results are positive individual lives — and enhance the community’s health and well-being.
Elected Leaders to Take Regional Approach to Homelessness
In a recent meeting of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the St. Louis metro’s elected leaders have agreed to approach homelessness from a regional perspective, planning to host a summit on the topic later this year. The council is guided by elected and civic leaders from around the metro, including GSL’s Chief Strategy Officer, Sam Murphy.
