Menu Close

NGA Tops Honorable Mentions List For 2016 Deal of the Year

  • February 27, 2017

The 2016 Economic Development Deal of the Year honorable mentions are in and the state of Missouri’s deal with the National Geospatial‐Intelligence Agency (NGA) topped the list this year.

Last March, 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 project will have an estimated economic impact of $4.6 billion for the St. Louis metro area over the next 10 years.

NGA received over 200 respondents to its 2012 RFP and ultimately selected four Missouri sites to proceed through an Environmental Impact phase, including sites in the City of Fenton, the City of Mehlville, St. Clair County, and the City of St. Louis. In the end, the site in St. Louis was judged superior on three key factors:

  • Mission Efficiency and Flexibility, which includes issues such as finding nearby industry partners, attracting quality staff members and the site’s proximity to the NGA sister installation in Arnold. The North St. Louis site location will also help NGA adapt and continue to meet its mission because of proximity to critical data facilities, Lambert St. Louis International Airport, and numerous centers of business, education, and technology;
  • Environmental Impact, which takes into account substantial improvements that will be made to the site and noted minor issues in St. Clair County involving wetlands and wildlife habitat; and
  • Federal Government Priorities, which includes a list of regulations and orders, intended to improve and redevelop urban areas.

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.

NGA plans to move into its new home after construction is completed in 2021.

For more information on the deal and to see the full list of honorable mentions click here. And then contact Steve Johnson, CEO of Missouri Partnership, at 314.725.2688 or via our contact form, with any questions you might have, and learn how Missouri Partnership can help with your business expansion and investment needs.

What Next?