County Economic Council Wins Award

Friday, December 5, 2008 1:15 PM CST

The St. Louis County Economic Council received the Outstanding Local Government Achievement Award for its involvement in the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center's Bio-Research and Development Growth Park (BRDG Park).

The award is given by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.

The Economic Council along with the Danforth Center, city of Creve Coeur and St. Louis Community College, were awarded for their contributions to the successful launch of BRDG Park.

The award honors the partnership effort on behalf of the expansion of the Danforth Center's 40-acre site, which includes a state-of-the-art laboratory and office park. The BRDG Park will house wet laboratory and office space specifically designed to support the needs of emerging life science companies.

The NIDUS Center and additional space for Monsanto also will locate in the new building. The 110,000-square-foot lab and office facility is scheduled for completion next fall.

The Danforth Center also is partnering with St. Louis Community College to develop a plant science and biotechnology education and training program to be located within BRDG Park. Regional companies and research institutions will provide the laboratory, classroom and office space for a vocational training program.