St. Louis Region's China Initiative Takes Major Step Forward
St. Louis Chinese American News
November 19, 2009
In the latest chapter of the "St. Louis Big Idea with China," Governor Jay Nixon committed $1.1 million in federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant funding this past week to capitalize the next critical stage of the project. The "Big Idea" has as its focus making St. Louis the Heart of America hub for Chinese trade and cargo, and for the location of Chinese investment and the location of the U.S. HQ for growing Chinese firms. These efforts are proceeding under the auspices of the Midwest-China Hub Commission, for which the RCGA is a founding member.
As St. Louis Post- Dispatch business reporter Tim Logan noted in his piece published yesterday, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond also inserted a $500,000 line item commitment for the project in the Senate version of the budget bill, which was passed on Thursday, in conjunction with the Governor's announcement about the State's commitment of federal economic development funds. Senator Bond's action in the Senate this past week continues the strong joint support of the China Project by both Kit and Senator Claire McCaskill since the very beginning of the project.
With regard to the Governor's commitment, the RCGA had joined our Hub Commission member colleagues Mike Jones, Commission Chairman and Senior Policy Advisor to the St. Louis County Executive; Hub Commission Executive Director Jason Van Eaton; St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann; UniGroup Inc. President Rich McClure; Missouri Chamber President Dan Mehan; along with Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, and leaders from the labor community --- RCGA Board member Pat Kellet and Scott Ramshaw of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562, and Hugh McVey, Missouri AFL-CIO President --- in active and ongoing discussions with the Governor and his staff over the past several months regarding this next important phase of the project. The objective of this next phase of the China Project is to formalize commitments among freight forwarders, air carriers and the airport to enable this new air trade route to begin operations by next fall.
On a related note, the China Project moved forward this past week in Beijing as well, where RCGA Senior Vice President for Economic Development Steve Johnson joined the China Hub Commission and several other economic development colleagues from Missouri at the inaugural Chinese Overseas Investment Fair in Beijing on November 3rd and 4th. The expo, which is aimed at helping Chinese companies invest in overseas markets, was attended by some 1,100 representatives from 122 countries, including 60 ambassadors. While in Beijing, Steve also followed up on several contacts made during the last two years of this initiative and also made a side- trip to Nanjing in recognition of the 30-year Sister City relationship between St. Louis and Nanjing.
The prospect of direct cargo service between a Midwestern Hub in St. Louis and China is generating substantial early stage interest from Chinese companies and investors. Back in May, a delegation of 40 Chinese investors spent several days in St. Louis in meetings hosted by the RCGA, the World Trade Center, and the Hub Commission. Investment seminars on the following regional opportunities were presented: Manufacturing & Food Processing, Plant & Life Sciences, Real Estate and Construction, and High Tech/High Growth.
