Through our public policy work, Greater St. Louis, Inc. advocates for pro-growth public policy outcomes to achieve inclusive prosperity across the bi-state St. Louis metro. We strive to cultivate major coalitions within our community to secure an agenda for metro growth. We do this with a people-first, innovation-driven plan for equitable, abundant job creation and economic growth. We engage in policy discussions across a spectrum of topics that have a direct impact on our region, its competitiveness, business climate, and livability.
2023 Legislative Victories and Priority Legislation
Missouri
Intern & Apprentice Recruitment Act
To help talent recruitment and retention efforts in the St. Louis metro and across Missouri, Greater St. Louis, Inc. led a statewide coalition of supporters to pass the Intern & Apprentice Recruitment Act that incentivizes Missouri businesses to increase the number of internship and apprenticeship opportunities they provide.
Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center
Greater St. Louis, Inc. helped secure $15 million in state funding to develop the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis and establish St. Louis as the advanced manufacturing epicenter of the United States.
AMICSTL was born out of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership Regional Advanced Manufacturing Partnership initiative and serves as the centerpiece of St. Louis’ award-winning Build Back Better proposal to the U.S. Department of Commerce. That proposal highlighted the St. Louis Regional Tech Triangle spanning advanced manufacturing, geospatial, and bioscience sectors. The 140,000-plus square-foot leading-edge advanced manufacturing facility will be built in the St. Louis North Central Corridor and will be a local asset with national impact. AMICSTL is building "vertical" capabilities in aerospace, agtech, automotive, biomedical and life sciences, construction, energy, geospatial, and logistics — uniquely generating manufacturing synergies across these sectors.
In addition to the state’s $15 million investment in AMICSTL, the U.S. Economic Development Administration provided $7 million for AMICSTL through the Build Back Better Regional Challenge and The Boeing Company announced $5 million to support AMICSTL.
Missouri Technology Corporation
Greater St. Louis, Inc. helped secure $16 million in the state budget for the Missouri Technology Corporation, which helps fund startups. MTC operates an investment fund, critical in Midwest states like Missouri that lag the coasts in abundant available private capital. MTC was created to solve this unique challenge with a unique solution: it matches private investment with state dollars. This formula makes Missouri more attractive for entrepreneurs and investors and ensures state money is invested in the most attractive early-stage opportunities. This $16 million state investment adds to the $100+ million in start-up capital secured in last year’s state budget.
Public Transit
Greater St. Louis, Inc. helped secure nearly $12 million for public transit in the state budget. This is the second consecutive year Missouri has increased its transit funding. In 2022, Greater St. Louis, Inc. helped advocate for an $8.7 million state investment in transit, marking the first substantive investment in transit in more than two decades. The 2023 investment represents a 34% increase over 2022, and a more than 580% increase since 2021. Approved funding makes quality jobs, health care, education, and other services more accessible to all of Missouri’s citizens.
Interstate 70 Improvements
Greater St. Louis, Inc. joined a statewide coalition that successfully advocated to secure $2.8 billion in funding for improvements to I-70. The expansion and modernization of I-70 will further improve the St. Louis metro’s standing as a transportation and logistics hub.
Pre-K and Childcare Access
Greater St. Louis, Inc. advocated for an over $100 million investment in expanded childcare and pre-K access for Missouri children, making childcare more accessible and affordable for Missouri families.
Illinois
Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund
Greater St. Louis, Inc. continues voicing strong support for the Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund and the need for broader reach in fund distribution. Prior to the legislative session, we found that the $1 billion+ investment fund is primarily distributed in the Chicagoland area. Greater St. Louis, Inc. is working to foster geographical diversity in the fund’s distribution, specifically to southwest Illinois.
New Markets Developments Program Act
Greater St. Louis, Inc. helped advocate for legislation that will increase and extend Illinois’ New Markets Development Program Act. These tax credits help finance businesses in economically distressed communities.
Biometric Information Privacy Act
Greater St. Louis, Inc. continues to advocate for positive reforms to the Biometric Information Privacy Act that will bring this law into the modern business era and promote a fairer legal climate for businesses.
Supporting Military Families at Scott Air Force Base
Thanks in part to our advocacy, Illinois was named as one of ten states in the country to be assessed as “Most Supportive” of military members and their families by the Department of the Air Force with respect to license portability.
Public Investment in the St. Louis Metro
Build Back Better Regional Challenge Grant
In partnership with the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership and other community partners, Greater St. Louis, Inc. helped the St. Louis metro win this historic $25 million federal grant to create a central network for St. Louis’ advanced manufacturing ecosystem. These funds will be used to identify and deploy next-generation technologies, accelerate innovation and entrepreneurship, and develop a qualified and diverse workforce.
Advocacy/Ways to Engage
Policy Advisory Board
Members of this group offer strategic and tactical counsel to help advocate for and set Greater St. Louis, Inc.’s pro-growth, pro-business public policy agenda.
Government Relations Council
The Council assists in the development of Greater St. Louis, Inc.’s annual legislative agenda and advocacy strategy. Its efforts draw on the experience of government relations professionals to support Greater St. Louis, Inc. staff in issue advocacy and outreach to elected officials.
Public Policy Speaker Series
Periodically throughout the year, we invite relevant business, civic, or political leaders to speak on topics that are at the forefront of national, state, or regional debate.
Past Speakers Include
- U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO)
- U.S. Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (D-IL)
- U.S. Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-IL)
- Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey
- Illinois Senator Christopher Belt (D-57)
- Illinois House Assistant Majority Leader Jay Hoffman (D-113)
- Illinois Representative Amy Elik (R-111)
- Illinois Representative Katie Stuart (D-112)
- Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden (R-19)
- Missouri Speaker of the House Dean Plocher (R-89)
Greater St. Louis, Inc. Day at the Missouri Capitol
Greater St. Louis, Inc. organizes a large delegation of civic and business leaders to go to Jefferson City to advocate for regional prosperity and our policy priorities. The 2023 Missouri Day at the Capitol included meetings with key legislative leaders and policymakers.
Greater St. Louis, Inc. Day at the Illinois Capitol
Greater St. Louis, Inc. organizes a large delegation of civic and business leaders to Springfield to advocate for regional prosperity and our policy priorities. The 2023 Illinois Day at the Capitol included meetings with top legislators, policymakers, and members of the executive branch.
Bi-State Softball Showdown
Greater St. Louis, Inc. invites Illinois and Missouri elected officials to face off — not on the legislative floor but on the ball field! This family-friendly softball game celebrates the bi-state and bipartisan cooperation that makes the St. Louis metro so strong.