Elevate Gateway Mall as St. Louis Metro’s “Central Social District,” Says New Report from Urban Land Institute, Transform the Airport: GSL Champions Support for Vital Regional Growth Project, and More
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New Urban Land Institute Report: Elevate Gateway Mall as St. Louis Metro's "Central Social District"
To strengthen the work underway to make Downtown St. Louis safe, vibrant, and beautiful, the Gateway Mall — the continuous stretch of green space anchored by the Gateway Arch on the east and CITYPARK Stadium on the west, bound by Market Street on the south and Chestnut on the north — should be elevated as the metro’s “central social district” and a spine for Downtown’s cultural economy, according to a new report from leading national land use organization the Urban Land Institute.
“As we continue our work to make Downtown the safe, vibrant, and beautiful neighborhood at the heart of our metro, revitalizing Gateway Mall must be a priority,” said Kurt Weigle, Chief Downtown Officer for Greater St. Louis, Inc., which partnered with the St. Louis Development Corporation to fund the ULI report. "Activating the Gateway Mall will help bring Downtown together and establish the Mall’s parks and surrounding properties as the region’s central social district."
Schnuck Markets Named a 2024 "Best Managed Company"
For the third consecutive year, Schnuck Markets, Inc., an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, has been named a 2024 U.S. Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal. Drugstore News calls the ranking, which evaluates companies on strategy, execution, culture, and governance/financials, a “mark of excellence for private companies.”
List of St. Louis' Fortune 1000 Companies Grows to 17
With Advantage Solutions moving its headquarters to the metro from California and Spire rising to number 965, the list of St. Louis' Fortune 1000 companies has grown to 17, with six ranking in the Fortune 500. These companies — many of which are Greater St. Louis, Inc. investors — are among some of the largest in the nation and represent the world-class talent and innovation coming out of the St. Louis metro.
Transform the Airport: GSL Champions Support for Vital Regional Growth Project
More than 130 Greater St. Louis, Inc. investors joined civic leaders and elected officials this week in the Andrew C. Taylor Center for Civic Collaboration to welcome FAA Central Region Administrator Joseph N. Miniace to St. Louis in a show of support for the transformation of St. Louis Lambert International Airport. To bolster the effort, GSL is launching a coalition to unify support.
“We know that the airport itself is a huge driver of economic impact, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and serving as the regional center of our aerospace industry, which is helping to power our metro’s resurgence,” said Sam Murphey, GSL’s Chief Strategy Officer.
New MTC Funding Program Supports Early-Stage Companies
A new program from Missouri Technology Corporation will support the growth of early-stage companies as they develop their products and technologies. The Proof of Concept program will provide $25,000 - $50,000 equity investments, bridging the funding gap entrepreneurs face when developing a minimum viable product — leading to more and stronger successful businesses and greater economic growth.
A Canadian company that manufactures innovative, ready-to-assemble buildings has made its home in St. Louis, where the CEO said, “everything just kind of clicked.” Already, Module Building Systems and CEO Mark Turnball are invested in the metro, planning a manufacturing facility and committed to collaborating on a major development project.
Loop Mural Festival Fills Delmar with Vibrant Public Art
The inaugural Loop Mural Festival brought artists from all over the world — and all over St. Louis — to University City this past weekend. Over the course of three days, the event aimed to showcase public art while supporting local businesses and bringing people to the neighborhood. The resulting murals highlight music, culture, and art in vibrant color on one of the region’s most well-known streets.
Nonprofit Realty Group Helps Tackle Immigrant Housing
A new nonprofit real estate group — Mission Realty Advisors, launched by GSL Chair’s Council member Summit Real Estate Group — is using its expertise to help the International Institute meet housing needs for immigrants and refugees new to the St. Louis area. Readily available transitional housing will help these populations settle more easily in St. Louis, which will in turn, enhance economic growth for all.
In Botanical Heights, immigrants can connect to their homelands and their new home, thanks to an international garden managed by SEED St. Louis. The farm “creates a supportive community where immigrants from around the world can connect, share experiences and support each other in their new home,” said Matt Schindler, CEO.
At Homegrown Hair Co. in Tower Grove South, Caitlin Tyczka creates an inclusive, welcoming environment for all by offering gender-neutral hair services.
