A Look Back: The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency A Huge Win For Economic Development In Missouri
- December 01, 2016
All month long Missouri Partnership is taking a look back at 31 of Missouri’s biggest stories in economic development from the past year. We are kicking things off with a look at the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency’s (NGA) selection of Missouri as the home for the new NGA West headquarters.
On March 31, the NGA announced the new home of the U.S. spy agency’s western regional headquarters and their $1.7 billion investment was the City of St. Louis, Missouri. The 100-acre site, just north of downtown, is conveniently located adjacent to a variety of innovative and cultural areas.
The Cortex Innovation Community and Washington Avenue, both vibrant startup and innovation districts, are located to NGA’s south and west, and the site sits in the center of three top universities, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis University and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
“The St. Louis city site provides NGA with the most technological, academic and professional environment,” agency director Robert Cardillo said. Also mentioning the urban base as preferable to “attract, recruit and retain” its more than 3,000 high-tech workers.
NGA plans to move into its new home after construction is completed in 2021.