What’s Happening In The Region

What’s Happening In The Region

April 19, 2011

RCGA Business After Hours Next Monday, April 25th: The April RCGA Business After Hours will be held next Monday, April 25th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, 6th Floor Ballroom Lobby, 999 N. Second St., downtown.

The Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis opened in March 2008. Highlights include an open, modernist sky lobby, perched eight stories above the St. Louis skyline and featuring a 26,000-square-foot outdoor terrace that offers al fresco dining as well as a heated infinity pool.

Join us for an evening of networking, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a hotel tour.

RCGA Business After Hours are business networking events, informal gatherings held at member companies. RCGA members also have the opportunity to purchase exhibit tables for a nominal fee to present their products and services firsthand to other members and guests.

For more information and exhibit table reservations, please contact Lori Meier at the RCGA at 314.444.1147 or bah@stlrcga.org.

April 18, 2011

Substantial Jobs And New Investment Spawned In Other Cargo Hubs Underscore Potential Of SB 390/HB 840 And “St. Louis Aerotropolis”: The Big Idea was never about two or three inbound cargo flights each week from China. International air cargo is, however, where The Big Idea begins, and the catalyst for St. Louis’ reemergence as a global center for commerce and transportation. Senate Bill 390, sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-Glendale) has passed the Senate Committee on Jobs, Economic Development & Local Government 9-0. The companion bill, HB 840, sponsored by Rep. Caleb Jones (R-California) passed the full House 142-14 last week, and is being taken up in the next several weeks by the full Senate. At its heart, SB 390 (called Aerotropolis) is designed to stimulate the State’s and region’s Multi-Modal Supply Chain and Logistics Cluster and stimulate air cargo in the region.

St. Louis-based air cargo is the missing piece of a multi-modal infrastructure system that today boasts enviable assets in highway, rail, and river transportation. Only air cargo can deliver the speed-to-market essential for today’s supply chains, which knit together from around the world components arriving by varying modes of transport—all arriving at a preordained time and place to be assembled into something more valuable than the sum of their parts. Introducing and sustaining international air cargo service in St. Louis will actually serve to stimulate and grow all other modes of transport as well, taking full advantage of the region’s multi-modal network.


	Shanghai Pudong International Airport cargo terminal is spread over 135,000m², which includes cargo terminal buildings, parking areas, delivery and pick-up zones and a dangerous goods warehouse.

The true vision of The Big Idea is about “re-internationalizing” St. Louis as a vigorous cargo gateway; strengthening Lambert Airport through new landing fee revenues; building a more robust logistics cluster that invests hundreds of millions of dollars in facilities and equipment, and employs thousands of area residents over the next 20 years. But, it doesn’t work without air cargo as a catalyst.

China has determined to grow their market share in air freight from 15 - 20% to 50% for Chinese-made goods that fly between their country and the U.S. They have the resources and political will to make this happen. They will also establish an air cargo “bridge” to link China to Brazil and the rest of South America by air. It’s not a question of whether China will do these things; only whether they will do them in St. Louis.

Three airports in particular, none too distant from St. Louis, show the power of introducing international air cargo to a passenger airport. All have the added advantage of being home to one of the two largest expeditors, UPS or FedEx, but remain great comparisons for illustrative purposes. While two of these have the unique benefits of mega anchors in UPS and FedEx , and many years of development ---- each of these provide strong anecdotal evidence of the opportunity before us today here in Aerotropolis.

Louisville – “The expansion of Louisville International Airport has created more than twice as many local jobs as experts projected when the city embarked on the project in the late 1980s, according to the latest version of a long-term economic impact study. The airport now generates more than 55,000 jobs, according to the University of Louisville study, which is updated every three years. It also generates nearly $2 billion in payroll and $277 million in State and local taxes – more than four times the original projection in those categories, according to the study. Almost all the impact can be attributed to the UPS Worldport global air hub …”
Memphis – “A new study released this week confirmed the airport’s muscle, estimating that Memphis International pumps $28.6 billion into the region’s economy and provides, directly or indirectly, 34.2 percent – or one in three – local jobs. The economic impact study was commissioned by the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority and conducted by the Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Memphis. Cargo accounted for $27.1 billion of the total economic impact and 208,319 of the 220,000 jobs related to the airport, according to the study.”

Memphis International Airport is home to the FedEx Express Super Hub, which handles about 3.3 million packages a day.
Indianapolis – Although Indianapolis International Airport is only the 45th largest U.S. airport in terms of passenger traffic, it is the nation’s 8th largest cargo facility and 21st in the world due to a major presence by FedEx. Because of this added revenue from air cargo, and in spite of just completing a new $1.1 billion midfield passenger terminal, the following is true. “In most U.S. cities, the rates airlines pay are forecasted to increase. In Indianapolis, however, those costs will actually decrease steadily over the next five years, which will make Indianapolis International more attractive for additional or expanded air service.”

Major air cargo facilities are handling more and more goods every year.

Several additional examples of U.S. inland ports offer a glimpse of what an international freight hub can become over a 15 to 20-year period. What is very clear from the examples to follow, though each is unique, is that the investment and job-creating power of effectively combining air transport with a robust rail and highway infrastructure is incredible. Add to that the advantage of St. Louis’ location at the confluence of the nation’s two largest rivers and the potential multiplies exponentially.

Rickenbacker / Columbus Inland Ports - Columbus, Ohio. Rickenbacker is a 5,000-acre all-cargo airport, which anchors the southern end of a 15,000 acre industrial zone. It contains over 22 million sf of class “A” distribution and logistics space that employs over 15,000 workers. The Rickenbacker Port Authority has developed 10 million sf over the last 10 years in the FTZ industrial park. An additional 12 million sf have been developed in 12 other industrial parks in the Rickenbacker area over the last five years.
Port of Huntsville – Huntsville, Alabama. The Port of Huntsville is an inland port complex located in Northern Alabama comprised of three facilities: Huntsville International Airport, the International Intermodal Center, and Jetplex Industrial Park. A 2008 economic impact study for the Port of Huntsville summarized its findings as follows, “These employment and payroll figures are larger than those reported in similar impact studies for the airports in Birmingham, Nashville and the passenger-only part of the Memphis Airport.” Note that Huntsville’s metro population is approximately 450,000 – compared to Birmingham at 1.2 million, Nashville at 1.6 million, and Memphis at 1.3 million.
San Bernardino International Airport (SBD) – San Bernardino, California. Located 60 miles east of the Los Angeles International Airport, SBD is surrounded by major interstate freeways and is within two miles of the BNSF intermodal facility. Alliance California is a 2,000-acre “trade and logistics” center adjacent to SBD and operated by the Hillwood Group, who is also the developer of the Alliance Global Logistics Hub in Ft. Worth, Texas. There are multiple buildings in existence or under development at Alliance California totaling roughly 64 million square feet. Hillwood estimates that over 29,000 jobs have been created at Alliance California since 2000.
Alliance Global Logistics Hub – Ft. Worth, Texas. A 17,000-acre, master-planned development built around Ft. Worth Alliance Airport, the world’s first 100% industrial airport, with two Class I rail lines, and multiple interstate highways. Launched in 1989, this development is estimated to have more than 170 companies and 28,000 employees.
Port of San Antonio – San Antonio, Texas. The Port of San Antonio was created out of the closing of Kelly Air Force Base in the 1995 round of Base Realignment and Closures. An economic impact study performed in 2010 summarized its annual impact as follows. “The business operations at Port San Antonio generated an (annual) economic impact of about $4.14 billion. This activity supported employment of about 24,216 full-time equivalent positions and paid incomes to these workers of $1.68 billion. The value added is estimated at over $2.65.

April 13, 2011

RCGA Partners With Webster University On April 22nd Business Recognition Luncheon And April 27th RCGA Breakfast With The Gazelles: The RCGA is partnering with the Missouri Career Centers of St. Louis County on their annual Business Recognition Luncheon at the Marriott-St. Louis Airport Hotel on Friday, April 22nd, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande, Dean of the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology at Webster University, is the keynote speaker.

Dr. Benjamin Ola. Akande, Dean, George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology, Webster University; and Webster University President Dr. Elizabeth Stroble.

The annual Business Recognition Luncheon salutes outstanding businesses and individuals who are positively impacting the economic development of St. Louis County. For reservations and more information, please contact Elishia Spann at (314) 615-4674 or espann@stlouisco.com, or Joel Reinert at (314) 615-4661 or jmreinert@stlouisco.com.

Speaking of Webster University, Webster University President and RCGA Board member Dr. Elizabeth Stroble is the featured speaker at the RCGA Breakfast with the Gazelles program on Wednesday, April 27th, beginning at 7:15 a.m., in the Regional Collaboration Center at the RCGA, One Metropolitan Square, downtown.

Beth will speak on the topic, “Transforming Lives and Enriching Communities: Webster's Entrepreneurial Approach.” We invite you to join us on Wednesday, April 27th for this program with Dr. Beth Stroble. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is media sponsor of the RCGA Breakfast with the Gazelles series.

For reservations, please contact Lori Meier at the RCGA, at 314.444.1147, or e-mail her at lmeier@stlrcga.org.

April 12, 2011

RCGA & St. Louis Commerce Magazine Once Again Sponsoring U.S. Chess Championship & Women’s Championship: The opening ceremony for the 2011 U.S. Chess Championship & U.S. Women's Championship will be held this Thursday, April 14th, at the Missouri History Museum, beginning at 6 p.m. The RCGA and St. Louis Commerce magazine are pleased to once again – for the 3rd year – to sponsor these events in St. Louis.

The U.S. and Women’s Championships will be held at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis (CCSCSL), 4657 Maryland Ave., in the Central West End, April 14th through 28th. These two prestigious events will feature the largest per capita prize funds in history. A prize fund of at least $170,000 is guaranteed for the 2011 U.S. Championship, and $60,000 for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Championship.

Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis founder and President Rex Sinquefield will be among the featured speakers this Thursday evening. Rex founded the Chess Club in 2007 as a not-for-profit organization to promote the game of chess, with emphasis on promotion of scholastic chess across the entire bi-state region.

The full tournament schedule is available at www.saintlouischessclub.org.

April 11, 2011

St. Louis Ranked #8 Among “Large Cities Of The Future” By Foreign Direct Investment Magazine: In its first ever ranking of cities across the American continents, Foreign Direct Investment magazine in London announced today that St. Louis has been ranked #8 in its “Large American City of the Future 2011-12” competition.

Foreign Direct Investment is the bi-monthly news and foreign direct investment publication published by The Financial Times of London. Foreign Direct Investment defines “large city” as one with a population of more than 250,000 but less than 750,000.

What is planned as an annual ranking, the Foreign Direct Investment Cities of the Future shortlists are created by an independent collection of data by the Foreign Direct Investment Intelligence division across 405 cities throughout North and South America. This information was set under 6 categories: Economic Potential; Human Resources; Cost Effectiveness; Quality of Life; Infrastructure; and Business Friendliness.

Please click here for the full story.

April 8, 2011

“Everything You Wanted To Know About Business In Germany... But Were Afraid To Ask,” Program To Be Held On Tuesday, April 19th: The RCGA is co-sponsoring the “Everything You Wanted To Know About Business In Germany... But Were Afraid To Ask,” breakfast program on Tuesday, April 19th, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at the World Trade Center Saint Louis in Clayton, 121 S. Meramec.

Following opening remarks by World Trade Center Saint Louis Executive Director Tim Nowak, Cory Simek of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Bob Donnelly of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the half-day program will feature Kenneth Bremer of Germany Trade & Invest, and Mark Tomkins of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest. They will speak on “Seizing Opportunities In Europe’s Biggest Economy.”

The second and concluding topic, “Developing Productive Business Relations With German Companies,” will feature: North Rhine Westphalia: Dr. John Gatto, President & CEO, NRW Invest; and Frankfurt Rhine Main: Linhard Stepf, President of Frankfurt Rhine Main Corp. Participants will have the opportunity for one-on-one meetings with the speakers.

For reservations and more information, please visit: www.worldtradecenter-stl.com, or call the World Trade Center at 314.615.8141.

April 7, 2011

Join Us For RCGA Business After Hours At The Four Seasons On Monday, April 25th: The April RCGA Business After Hours will be held on Monday, April 25th, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, 6th Floor Ballroom Lobby, 999 N. Second St., downtown.

Join us for an evening of networking, cocktails, hors d'oeuvres, and a hotel tour.

RCGA Business After Hours are business networking events, informal gatherings held at member companies. RCGA members also have the opportunity to purchase exhibit tables for a nominal fee to present their products and services firsthand to other members and guests.

For more information and exhibit table reservations, please contact Lori Meier at the RCGA at 314.444.1147 or bah@stlrcga.org.

April 6, 2011

St. Louis Green Business Challenge Underway: The RCGA’s 2nd annual St. Louis Green Business Challenge is now underway, assisting more than 75 member companies and organizations, together including over 20,000 employees, with improving their sustainable business practices. The Challenge is an initiative of the St. Louis Climate Prosperity Project, whose mission is to advance regional economic prosperity through the cultivation of green savings, green opportunities and green talent. By demonstrating that sustainable business practices can save businesses money, the Challenge participants experience green savings to their business and our region.

Please click here for a list of the participating companies in the 2011 Green Business Challenge.

Green teams from these participants meet throughout the year to share best practices and learn how to become more sustainable in their business operations. The Missouri Botanical Garden’s EarthWays Center serves as Resource Advisors to the Challenge, providing site consulting services and site visits to the Challenge teams. In addition, seminars on sustainable business practices, demonstrations of green business products and services and tours of green businesses occur throughout the year.

Last year, participating Challenge teams:

Installed solar arrays
Upgraded to energy efficient lighting
Expanded office-based recycling programs
Reduced paper consumption
Built bioswales and rain gardens
Provided clean transportation workplace options

Please click on http://www.stlouisgreenchallenge.com/images/Case_study_Book_for_Web
.pdf for case studies and the accomplishments of the St. Louis Green Business Challenge Class of 2010.

This past Wednesday evening, RCGA Senior Director of Energy and Environment Eric Schneider accepted the “Growing Green Award” for the RCGA and our accomplishments on the St. Louis Green Business Challenge. This award is presented by the U.S. Green Business Council – Missouri Gateway Chapter. The awards are presented annually by the chapter to honor individuals and organizations who are transforming the built environment. RCGA was saluted in the Corporate category and the additional nominees in this category were: St. Louis Cardinals; Clayco; Green Street Development Group; Wells Fargo Advisors; and SM Wilson. RCGA was nominated for this award by Jean Ponzi of the Missouri Botanical Garden Earthways Center and Richard Reilly of Trumpet Builders.

For more information on the 2011 St. Louis Green Business Challenge, please contact Eric Schneider at eschneider@stlrcga.org or go to www.stlouisgreenbusinesschallenge.com

While on this topic, here’s an opportunity to learn more about green buildings in the St. Louis region. The LEED Green Building Showcase, organized by the U.S. Green Building Council – Missouri Gateway Chapter, will be presented on Tuesday, April 12th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Alberici Headquarters (A LEED Platinum-certified building), 8800 Page Ave. This event is free to participants of the RCGA’s Green Business Challenge.

The featured presentations will include:

Clayton High School Classrooms Additions
St. Louis Science Center Addition
Sheet Metal Workers Union Offices and Training Facility at 2319 Chouteau Ave.

For more information, please go to the USGBC-Missouri Gateway Event Registration page at http://www.usgbc-stl.org/events/. Scroll down and click the “Register” button under the LEED Green Building Showcase event listing. Or, you may contact the USGBC-Missouri Gateway staff by e-mail at usgbc-mogateway@mobot.org, or phone 314.577.0225.

April 5, 2011

Sixth Edition Of “Start-Up Connection” To Be Held On Thursday, April 14th: Speaking of our region’s continuing efforts to attract and retain young professionals and entrepreneurs, and to foster innovative entrepreneurs --- the RCGA is pleased to once again partner in co-sponsoring the next “St. Louis Start-Up Connection,” which focuses on Talent, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and will be held on Thursday, April 14th from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Savvis in Chesterfield, One Savvis Parkway. Start-Up Connection is the St. Louis region’s premier showcase for early-stage technology companies, open houses that bring together entrepreneurs, tech professionals, CEOs, students, transitioning talent, scientists, investors and policy-makers to share ideas and information about science and technology start-ups.

2011 Start-Up Connection sponsors are: the IT Entrepreneur Network (ITEN), BounceBack St. Louis, Innovate St. Louis, the Nidus Center and Biogenerator and the RCGA.

Start-Up Connection evolved from a meeting place for start-ups with non-traditional compensation packages and potential help, to a place where young tech companies can present their ideas, concepts and companies to investors, influencers, decision makers, supply chain members, other interested parties, as well as talented individuals looking to work with start-up companies. Each company sets up a display with a poster that explains the concept or technology, the company’s plans and needs, and how the technology can be commercialized.

Companies that present are often participants in one of the region’s many mentoring and incubation programs, including ITEN, Nidus, Cortex, Innovate Venture Mentoring Service (IVMS), IT Enterprises (another site of past events), as well as other entities. Interested tech companies are invited to check out the criteria at the website: www.startupconnection.org/presentingcompanies.html.

The general public and the entrepreneurial community who would like to attend and network may register at the website www.startupconnection.org.

For more information, please call Susan Sampson at Innovate St. Louis at 314.444.1154 or e-mail her at susan@innovatestl.org.

April 4, 2011

CEOs For Cities: Downtown St. Louis #1 In Attracting Young, College-Educated Adults: Over the last decade, urban centers have increasingly become the residential destination of choice for young college graduates, according to a new analysis by Chicago-based CEOs for Cities. Downtown St. Louis was the big winner in this analysis with the number of college-educated 25- to 34-year-olds with a 4-year degree or higher growing at a faster rate over the past decade than in any other major urban center in the nation.

The study found that this group of young adults living within 3 miles of downtown St. Louis grew 87% (2,700 people) from 2000 to 2009.

The Thursday, March 31st edition of USATODAY featured an in-depth article on the study, as well as an interview with CEOs for Cities President Carol Coletta. The piece, “Urban Centers Draw More Young, Educated Adults,” was written by USA TODAY reporter Haya El Nasser.

Nasser writes, “In more than two-thirds of the nation's 51 largest cities, the young, college-educated population in the past decade grew twice as fast within 3 miles of the urban center as in the rest of the metropolitan area — up an average 26% compared with 13% in other parts. Even in Detroit, where the population shrank by 25% since 2000, downtown added 2,000 young and educated residents during that time, up 59%, according to analysis of Census data by Impresa Inc., an economic consulting firm. CEOs for Cities is a civic lab of today's urban leaders catalyzing a movement to advance the next generation of great American cities.”

"This is a real glimmer of hope," Carol noted. "Clearly, the next generation of Americans is looking for different kinds of lifestyles — walkable, art, culture, entertainment."

Please click here to access the CEOs for Cities 2011 “Young and Restless” study.