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Greater St. Louis, Inc. partnered with St. Louis area regional chambers of commerce to host the Economic Outlook Breakfast, bringing together local chambers from across the 15-county bi-state St. Louis metro to discuss the importance of working together as one unified metro to drive inclusive economic growth.
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Neil Bradley of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce talks to a crowd of 450 St. Louis chamber leaders and members.
Keynoting the event was a presentation by Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer and Head of Strategic Advocacy for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Bradley talked with the audience of over 450 attendees about current trends in the national economy and how the St. Louis metro is building economic momentum.
“I would suggest the work you’re doing in St. Louis, the work we’re doing at the U.S. Chamber, really is about delivering the American Dream,” Bradley said.
Bradley joined GSL CEO Jason Hall and Michelle Li, host of Today in St. Louis on KSDK-5 who also served as the emcee of the event, for a panel discussion on economic growth, the power of regional collaboration, and how local chambers of commerce and the small businesses they represent are critical to the future of the St. Louis metro. The group also highlighted the economic momentum building in St. Louis, including how, for the first time since the 1990s, the St. Louis metro ranks in the top five nationally for our rate of job growth.
Said Hall: “The key is not missing this moment. We have got to stay the course. There is a collaborative spirit that has taken hold in this community that is very real. I truly believe that is our super power: our collaborative spirit.”
Jason Hall, Neil Bradley, and Michelle Li discuss the local economy's opportunities and challenges.
Love Local
Another focus of the breakfast was the Love Local campaign, which encourages people to shop at local small businesses in their communities. As the holiday shopping season approaches, the Love Local campaign encourages everyone in the metro to seek out and shop at local businesses.
Chamber leaders and members gather at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel for the 2024 Economic Outlook Breakfast.
Participating Local Chambers of Commerce
Over 450 leaders from across the St. Louis metro attended Tuesday’s breakfast. Local chambers of commerce that partnered with Greater St. Louis, Inc. to host the event included:
- Affton - Lemay Chamber of Commerce
- African Chamber of Commerce
- Asian American Chamber of Commerce St. Louis
- Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce
- Clayton Chamber of Commerce
- Creve Coeur- Olivette Chamber of Commerce
- Fenton Area Chamber of Commerce
- Greater North County Chamber of Commerce
- Greenville Chamber of Commerce
- Heartland St. Louis Black Chamber of Commerce
- Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Metro St. Louis
- St. Charles Regional Chamber
- St. Louis Arts Chamber of Commerce
- LGBTQ STL Chamber of Commerce
- Maryland Heights Chamber of Commerce
- U.S. Afghan Chamber of Commerce, St. Louis
- Waterloo Chamber of Commerce
- West St. Louis County Chamber of Commerce