Businesses praise North County; NCI hands out awards at annual breakfast
Suburban Journals
May 25, 2010
by Scott Bandle
North County is a good place to live and conduct business.
That was the theme heard over and over again by award recipients during Friday's North County Incorporated (NCI) 33rd Annual Breakfast at the St. Louis Airport Marriott.
Jerry Eickel, general manager and partner of Bommarito Nissan, said the business was thriving at its location in Hazelwood.
"We love North County," Eickel said. "At our location, we're drawing customers from Illinois and St. Louis."
Bommarito was one of the recipients of the NCI's Business Development Award. NCI is a regional development organization, which works to define and advocate economic and community development for North St. Louis County.
Another Business Development Award recipient was the Express Scripts Pharmacy Technology & Information Center Project Partnership located near the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus. The backers of the Express Scripts center, which dispenses, packages and ships thousands of drug prescriptions throughout the United States, said they received a lot of help from North County municipalities.
"We've done a lot up here," said Larry Chapman of Clayco, a real estate firm involved in the center project. "All of the municipalities have been professional and responsive. This center is Express Scripts' showcase."
The third recipient of the Business Development Award was the National Archives and Administration Project Partnership.
The NARA, currently under construction in Spanish Lake, will be the largest federal records center outside of Washington, D.C. It is moving from its current site in Overland. The project will have a $430 million economic impact on the area, said Rebecca Zoll, NCI president and CEO.
The late Johnny Londoff Sr., longtime St. Louis car dealer, was praised by St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley for helping keep the record center in North County.
"This was a difficult undertaking," Dooley said. "Johnny donated part of the land. He did yoeman's work with the project."
The announcement of the Memorial Award received a standing ovation.
The late Lowell E. Girardier, 81, died in March after spending much of his life volunteering to help North County. He worked with several community organizations, including North County Inc., the Rotary Club of Florissant, Valley Industries, Child Center-Marygrove, several area chambers of commerce, the Emerson Family YMCA, and several local schools.
His wife, Beverly, accepted the award in his honor. "This would have meant so much to him," she said after the breakfast. "He loved North County. I don't know how he found the time for all of his work, but he did. I can't remember a time when he said no to helping somebody."
North County Incorporated
Regional Development Association
33rd Annual Breakfast
2010 Awards
Past Chairperson of the Board Recognition - Lillie Dumas
Elmer Belsha Leadership Award - Mark Tranel
Business Development Awards - Bommarito of Hazelwood; Express Scripts Pharmacy Technology & Information Center Project Partnership; NARA Project Partnership
Community Development Awards - Lottie Holland Wade; Overland Business Association
Public Service Awards - Hazelwood City Manager Ed Carlstrom; Florissant City Council President Keith English
Memorial Award - Lowell E. Girardier
