Defense grant will study Lemay's economic possibilities

Wednesday, December 10, 2008 4:12 PM CST Suburban Journals
By Steve Birmingham

Lemay and St. Louis County leaders are happy to see the county get a grant to study economic and commercial potential near the Jefferson Barracks and Lemay areas.

The St. Louis County Economic Council received a $269,266 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense's Office of Economic Adjustment last week for a planning study related to military, educational, recreational and commercial developments in the two areas.

St. Louis County Economic Council President and CEO Denny Coleman said the council considers the investment in this area critical to the economic growth and prosperity of the region.

"These support measures will be important to assisting the Lemay community and expanding the economic impact of these investments." Coleman said.

Coleman said the study will help identify community enhancements to support expansion at Jefferson Barracks and educational, recreational and entertainment projects in the area.

Barbara Hehmeyer, executive director of the Lemay Chamber of Commerce, said her group was thrilled the grant came through.

"I think it's a win-win," Hehmeyer said. "I think it's great that they got the grant and that they realize that the opportunity is there, since our community is affected by (Base Realignment and Closure). I'm glad that they jumped on it and they got it."

Hehmeyer said proposals from consultants were solicited and a meeting was scheduled for Dec. 9 to whittle proposals from eight to three or four. Another meeting will be scheduled to decide which consultants they want to see proposals from.

Most people in the St. Louis area don't know anything about the historic nature of Jefferson Barracks, its historical buildings and the military base, Hehmeyer said, and they are trying to tie in that historical significance of the area and make it a destination for visitors.

"It's an effort to tie expansion at Jefferson Barracks, the casino development and other possible commercial developments together," she said. "This all came out of the Base Realignment and Closure, so there's going to be a lot of things happening on the base."

Under the Base Realignment and Closure in 2005 the Department of Defense called for realigning the Air National Guard units at Jefferson Barracks and other military operations in the St. Louis area. Under BRAC the Missouri National Guard is expanding by building a new Army Reserve Center, which will host training for the Army Reserves and National Guard at Jefferson Barracks.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie A. Dooley also hailed the grant award.

"Current military and community investments in and around Jefferson Barracks and the surrounding Lemay community have created momentum for economic growth," Dooley, said. "The study will help uncover and plan for increased economic development opportunities for the area."