GSL Launches Downtown Public Safety Ambassador Program, HSSU Opens New Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, And More
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Greater St. Louis, Inc. Launches Downtown Public Safety Ambassador Program
To strengthen public safety efforts Downtown, Greater St. Louis, Inc. announced this week the launch of a new Downtown Public Safety Ambassadors program. The Downtown Public Safety Ambassadors are trained, unarmed, uniformed security officials that will provide another layer of visible public safety Downtown, enhancing the overall experience for residents, workers, and visitors to the neighborhood.
“For people who live or work Downtown, are visiting Union Station, or coming to see one of our sports teams or a concert, this increased public safety presence will make everybody feel more comfortable and safer,” said Bob O’Loughlin, Chairman and CEO of Lodging Hospitality Management — which owns Union Station — and a Greater St. Louis, Inc. investor. “This program is long overdue and demonstrates the business community’s commitment to revitalizing Downtown St. Louis.”
Added St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore, “Our office fully supports the mission of Greater St. Louis, Inc. and the important work it is doing in collaboration with SLMPD to reinforce our shared goals of making downtown safer for everyone who lives, works, and visits the neighborhood.”
Proctor & Gamble recently opened a $180 million expansion of its facility in north St. Louis, where the company produces Cascade, Mr. Clean, Swiffer, and Febreze home products. In 2022, St. Louis won a competitive search, led by St. Louis Development Corporation, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and the city of St. Louis, to retain and expand the facility. The expansion has resulted in the creation of 100 new jobs and the retention of 530 existing jobs at the 17-acre campus.
German Med Tech Company Invests $24M in Chesterfield Expansion
A German medical technology company has expanded in St. Louis. ZEISS Medical Technology opened 64,500 square feet of research and production space this week, investing $24 million, creating 40 new jobs, and allowing the company to expand its production capacity. “St. Louis County continues to demonstrate that this is the place for innovative companies to expand their global reach,” said St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.
Harris-Stowe Opens New Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Harris-Stowe State University has officially cut the ribbon on its new Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The CIE is an inclusive space where emerging entrepreneurs are empowered to grow, succeed, and build community through hands-on technical training, cutting-edge programs and services. While its new physical home is located at the corner of Olive and Compton Streets in St. Louis’ Midtown neighborhood, the CIE is more than just a place — it’s a community where innovation, support, and real-world success come together.
Noting that the STL 2030 Jobs Plan calls out the need for a surge in Black and Brown entrepreneurs in the metro, GSL CEO Jason Hall said at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the CIE: “That’s why this Center is so vital. It’s a place to develop the future of our metro… a space for Black and Brown entrepreneurs and business owners to network and access the resources they need to start up, stand out, and stay.”
$90M in Federal Grants to Support Pandemic Response Research through WashU
A total of $90.1 million in federal grants will help a consortium led by Washington University in St. Louis, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, study treatment and response to five understudied viruses. Dollars come from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and will support not just WashU research, but that of 18 other institutions.
Mercy, an executive-level member of the GSL Chair’s Council, will invest $75 million in redesigning and expanding Mercy Hospital South, one of the St. Louis region's busiest emergency departments. Expected to be completed in 2027, the project will expand the hospital's emergency department from 39,000 to 65,000 square feet.
Brickline Greenway Continues Growth, New Section Will Connect Harris-Stowe to CITYPARK
The next phase of the Brickline Greenway is now underway, as construction began recently on a .85-mile stretch connecting Harris-Stowe State University to an already completed segment near CITY SC’s CITYPARK. The Brickline Greenway, on track to be completed in 2030, is a bold vision that will connect 14 city neighborhoods and four anchor parks with 10 miles of greenway.
“A number of people are working with us to make sure that we’re thinking about a vibrant economic area where our residents can stay in place,” said Susan Trautman, CEO of Great Rivers Greenway.
Urban League Partners with Energy Companies to Boost Talent Pipeline
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, a GSL Investor Council member, is partnering with local energy companies — including Ameren and Spire, executive-level members of the GSL Chair’s Council — to launch a new program that will fuel the metro’s energy talent pipeline. The Career Advancement and Readiness in Energy program will offer career readiness education to underrepresented communities.
New Housing Development Helps Make Home Ownership Accessible
A new housing development led by Tabernacle Community Development Corp. in the Jeff-Vender-Lou neighborhood of North St. Louis County is generating affordability, neighborhood stabilization, and opportunity for people of all economic levels. Projects like this make possible home ownership — a key metric in measuring inclusive economic growth in the metro.
CITY SC announced this week that CITYPARK will host two international events in the next year, bringing soccer fans from all over the globe to St. Louis. On Nov. 18, U.S. Soccer’s Men’s National Team will play the 2024-25 Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal home match at the Downtown St. Louis stadium. And this coming June, CITYPARK will host the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup tournament. CITYPARK was recently named one of the world’s most beautiful sports venues.
2027 NCAA D1 Wrestling Championships Awarded to St. Louis
The NCAA has awarded the 2027 NCAA DI Wrestling Championships to St. Louis and Enterprise Center, an event the city has hosted nine times, the St. Louis Sports Commission and University of Missouri announced this week. “It’s a huge win for Downtown St. Louis and for our region to secure one of the NCAA’s highest-profile and most impactful events,” said St. Louis Sports Commission President Marc Schreiber.
