County program aims to keep scientists here
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
March 10, 2010
St. Louis County officials are working on a program costing up to $15.5 million to try to keep laid-off life science scientists in the St. Louis area.
The county is buying a two-story, 46,755-square-foot building at 1100 Corporate Square in Creve Coeur, near the Danforth Plant Science Center.
It would provide low-cost office and laboratory space to fledging companies.
The county might help the Plant Science Center build additional greenhouses.
Last year, companies laid off more than 1,500 local life science scientists and the Pfizer pharmaceutical company is letting go of 600 more this year, a County Council committee was told Tuesday.
The county hopes to use "Build America" economic stimulus bonds and $4.4 million in federal grants to pay for the program, Dennis Coleman, president and chief executive officer of the St. Louis County Economic Council, told County Council members.
