News that Moves St. Louis Forward | August 21, 2025
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Scale AI Expands in Downtown St. Louis
Just four years after Scale AI opened a Downtown St. Louis office, the company announced it will locate a new, state-of-the-art AI center in the city’s historic Post Building, a major center for St. Louis’ geospatial ecosystem. The company, a national leader in artificial intelligence and geospatial technology, supports the critical geospatial data needs of the U.S. Government, and its presence in St. Louis is part of the city’s emergence as a center of gravity for national security.
AJ Segal, Head of the St. Louis AI Center at Scale AI, said the new space will allow the company not only to invest in its 250 employees, but to help make “St. Louis the undisputed best place in the world to cultivate the talent that is so critical to our national security.”
The Bottom Line: A commitment like this from a major tech player gives St. Louis an additional leg up — while boosting Downtown in the process. With the opening of NGA St. Louis on the horizon, Scale AI helps boost the region’s efforts to grow key supporting sectors. “This is not just about jobs, but also about strengthening our geospatial, AI, and defense tech sectors,” said Dustin Allison, Interim CEO of Greater St. Louis, Inc., which leads the GeoFutures initiative to promote the region’s geospatial ecosystem. “This new center and the continued development of Downtown North position St. Louis for growth on all fronts.”
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has named Catherine Hanaway, Partner and former Chair of Husch Blackwell — an executive-level GSL investor — the state's next attorney general. "There's no one better suited to be Missouri Attorney General than Catherine Hanaway," said Dustin Allison, GSL's Interim CEO. "She has been a true leader through her membership with Greater St. Louis, Inc. and throughout her distinguished career in public service. We know she will serve the State of Missouri with the utmost professionalism."
Inc.com, “the voice of the American entrepreneur,” has named nearly 40 companies from across the St. Louis region to its annual Inc. 5000 list for 2025, which tracks the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list includes companies from across industries and counties, including Jefferson and Franklin Counties in Missouri and St. Clair in Illinois. >> Read more.
New Effort to Meet Aviation, Aerospace Talent Demands
The St. Louis Regional Aerospace and Aviation Task Force aims to expand the talent pipeline for the region’s aerospace and aviation sector. With $5 billion in planned investment — including Boeing’s $1.8 billion investment and St. Louis Lambert International Airport’s $3 billion overhaul in the works — the region could have as many as 1,000 jobs available in the coming years.
Hosted by the International Institute of St. Louis, the Festival of Nations returns to Tower Grove Park this weekend, Aug. 23-24, a celebration of the music, flavors, art, and culture represented in the St. Louis region by more than 80 countries around the world. >> Read more
St. Louis Spirit
The May 16 tornado may have damaged Sumner High School in The Ville neighborhood of St. Louis City, but the spirit of the school lives on in a big way. Proud Sumner alumni cheered this year's students into the start of the school year at Stevens Middle School, a temporary location while Sumner is repaired.
The Great Forest Park Balloon Race, one of the country’s longest-running balloon races, last year celebrated 50 years of making St. Louisans smile. The race returns this year on Saturday, Sept. 20.
