Long a significant manufacturing hub for a wide variety of goods and services, the St. Louis region has steadily grown the technology, automation, and computerization needed to support the advanced manufacturing sector, from Boeing to Anheuser-Busch. With both national and global manufacturers operating here, advanced manufacturing businesses in the St. Louis region export billions of dollars of goods and services each year, helped in part by our central location and exceptional transportation infrastructure. These companies benefit from a low cost of doing business, access to reliable and cost-effective energy, virtually unlimited water capacity, and exceptional telecommunications resources.
The industry is supported by an intricate infrastructure of public and private higher education institutions and community colleges, state and local workforce development agencies, and the regional business community.
Automotive
The St. Louis region is home to a 4.2 million-square-foot General Motors plant that produces full-size vans and pick-up trucks, including the Chevy Colorado. In 2019, the company invested $1.5 billion in the plant, expanding to 4,000 jobs. The sector also includes precision tools and machine manufacturing, auto parts suppliers, vehicle body and trailer manufacturing.
