Why St. Louis is America’s Next Big Hub for Industry, Tech, and Talent
- January 10, 2025
What city is home to the Best Coffee Chain in the United States, a worldwide hub for agtech and Geospatial Intelligence, has a robust bioscience innovation ecosystem, and is one of the most affordable places to live in the country? If you guessed St. Louis, you are correct.
Ranked third for job growth, 10th for tech talent, and 16th fastest-growing big regional economies in the United States, St. Louis is leading the nation in job creation, talent, and real gross domestic product (GDP) growth. According to Forbes, St. Louis is Still a Nice Little Secret, but as the metro grows in workers and goods and services produced, the City of St. Louis, regional groups, and developers are preparing for new industrial business investment.
Advanced manufacturing and industrial developments are planned in the areas north and south of St. Louis’ iconic Gateway Arch, which boasts large tracts of underutilized industrial land providing ample room for new developments and expansions.
EV Battery manufacturer ICL Group announced a $574 million facility expansion in St. Louis’ North Riverfront neighborhood, which will be the first major lithium iron phosphate plant in the U.S. This investment enhances St. Louis’ role in the EV supply chain, a rapidly growing sector critical to achieving sustainable energy goals. The North Riverfront location was strategically chosen to leverage St. Louis’ skilled workforce, central geographic location, and robust infrastructure, making it a key player in the nation’s push for domestic production of critical EV components.
The $1.2 billion Gateway South development aims to create a new mixed-use, sustainable neighborhood in a long-vacant industrial area south of the Arch. The 100-acre master-planned project has the goal of being an innovation district for the construction and design sectors. The industrial site highlights include rail & river access, a 50-foot high-bay prototyping lab, and a versatile prototyping yard, manufacturing, office/warehouse, production, distribution, R&D, outdoor storage, and is open to prospective tenants.
Strategic infrastructure investments in St. Louis’ rails, bridges, highways, and airport terminal are expected to enhance intermodal services and attract more manufacturing and shipper investment to the St. Louis region, according to the American Journal of Transportation article, St. Louis Intermodal Business Attracts Investment.
“The St. Louis region is connected to East, West, and Gulf Coast ports by six Class I railroads; less than a one-day truck drive to other major manufacturing markets like Kansas City, Memphis, Columbus, Chicago and Nashville; home to two international cargo airports; and located at the most strategic site on the Mississippi River. If gas prices fluctuate, shippers want modal options and they benefit from the flexibility to move freight through multiple modes of transportation—truck, rail or barge,” said Mary C. Lamie, Executive Vice President of Multimodal Enterprises for Bi-State Development, and Head of the St. Louis Regional Freightway.
St. Louis is emerging as America’s next big hub for industry, tech, and talent, with leading advancements in agtech, geospatial intelligence, and bioscience innovation. Strategic investments in infrastructure, industrial developments, and EV manufacturing are driving unprecedented job growth and economic expansion. Affordable living, a skilled workforce, and prime geographic connectivity solidify St. Louis as a powerhouse for innovation and opportunity.