New Strategy Hopes to Rearrange Regional Pieces Into a Vibrant Whole

A tectonic shift is underway in how the St. Louis region pursues economic development--a strategy that may be a real "game changer" in how region partners work together to build economic vitality.

Steve Johnson, Senior Vice President for the St. Louis Regional Chamber & Growth Association previewed an ongoing revision of RCGA's Economic Development Strategic Plan today for members of the Greater St. Louis Economic Development Network.  The Network affiliates more than 100 economic development agencies at the state, county and city levels in both Missouri and Illinois--including the City of Columbia.

Johnson began by itemizing the lessons that RCGA has learned while pursuing previous strategic plans over the past decade:

• The region needs to continue to overcome "knockout factors" like a slow growth rate and relatively low levels of educational attainment;
• When regional partners come together as they are designed to do, the region wins deals;
• The region struggles to compete for general manufacturing jobs, so efforts should focus on attracting those manufacturers that already have direct ties;
• Neither Missouri nor Illinois is competitive with other, neighboring states;
• Lack of access to capital remains a major impediment to business growth and--since neither state is likely to address this challenge--it must become a regional initiative;
• The region needs to address its need for talent as an economic driver;
• The region must work together as a region.

How can Greater St. Louis build upon this environment to be consistently ranked among the top ten of the twenty largest metro areas in terms of economic vitality?  The conversation is still continuing, but Johnson suggested four principles and five priorities that may shape the next strategic plan for the region.

Four Principles:

1. Balance recruitment, retention/expansion, and innovation;
2. Recapture the region's relevance as a center for commerce, transportation and distribution;
3. Achieve a purposeful alignment of supply and demand for talent;
4. Be regional in scope and highly collaborative.

Five Priorities:

1. Support growth in key industry sectors (e.g., financial & information services, medical science & services, advance manufacturing for aerospace & defense);
2. Target marketing & recruitment efforts;
3. Increase the rate of start-up ventures;
4. Better leverage all transportation assets;
5. Address talent as a strategic imperative.

Draft Senior Assessment Available for Review Tonight

The Columbia Plan Commission was honored Friday by the Area Agency on Aging of Southwest Illinois for its efforts in undertaking an assessment of senior services--even though the effort hasn't been completed yet. The Commission’s work will be available for review by the public tonight from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at Columbia City Hall.

Members of the Columbia Plan Commission--an advisory body to the Columbia City Council--began a community assessment last year to focus upon the Columbia community and its readiness for the impact of an aging population upon various aspects of community life. Increased life expectancy is resulting in record numbers of people aged 65 and older--while this age group represented only 13% of the U.S. population in 2000, it will grow to comprise about 21% of the population in 2030.

Columbia was one of eight communities honored last week at the luncheon held at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Also recognized were Collinsville, Edwardsville, Granite City, Greenville, New Baden, Red Bud and Waterloo.

Final Credits Rolling for Movie Gallery

Columbia's Movie Gallery location in Columbia Center is closing, limiting rentals and selling remaining stock as its parent company--the nation's second-largest movie rental chain, which also owns the Hollywood Video chain--enters bankruptcy.

Don't expect a replacement anytime soon.  Rival Blockbuster is struggling to survive in a market environment where consumers increasingly get movies through rent-by-mail services like Netflix, kiosks operated by Redbox and their own high-speed Internet connections.  The day of the corner movie rental store--once as commonplace as convenience stores--is surely gone, and consumers will have to pursue entertainment with more technological saavy.