County seeking study to re-use Chrysler plant
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
July 27, 2010
By Tim Logan
FENTON - Got ideas for how to re-use the old Chrysler plant? St. Louis County wants to hear them.
The county Economic Council, state economic development officials and the City of Fenton said Tuesday that they're seeking a company to analyze and develop new strategies for the 5 million square foot auto plant, which Chrysler shut down more than a year ago.
It's part of a $2.1 million effort to re-train workers and re-use the facility, which has gotten underway in recent months. The goal is to develop strategies to create a multi-use commercial/industrial research or energy technology park at the site and provide more diverse job opportunities for laid-off workers, according to the County's advertisement.
"St. Louis County has been hard at work researching and identifying emerging industries, resource-based clusters and other economic drivers that compete beyond local, state and national boundaries that may be a good fit for the site, said County Executive Charlie Dooley. "A green alternative technology park may be the answer."
The ad also seeks ideas for marketing the site, for specific incentives and subdivision that might make it more appealing and, more broadly, to study ways to boost entrepreneurship and foreign trade to grow the region's economy.
