Mayor Slay, Governor Nixon, US Commerce Secretary Locke Announce Major Economic Recovery Grant

 

Contact: Kara Bowlin                                                               December 17, 2009

314-622-3479                                                             314-622-3479                                                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               BowlinK@StLouisCity.com     

 

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BowlinK@StLouisCity.

Mayor Slay, U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke

Announce Major Economic Recovery Grant

 

St. Louis - Mayor Francis Slay and other officials and business executives joined U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke to announce a $15.6 million grant from the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration (EDA). The grant will allow the City of St. Louis to replace the South Dock at the City's Municipal River Terminal. The South Dock has deteriorated because of age and damage from years of flooding, most recently the Flood of 2008.

 

“St. Louis was founded, grew, and prospered because the Mississippi River is such a great transportation corridor,” said Mayor Slay. “This grant will allow us to improve our port, which will preserve jobs. It is also part of an overall strategy to expand international trade to and from St.   Louis, which has the potential to create many more jobs.”

 

The City of St. Louis has been working diligently to build stronger ties for international trade, and believes that a rebuilt dock is an important first step to do so. The Mississippi River Terminal is the northernmost shipping point on the Mississippi River that doesn’t freeze during the winter, which makes it strategic for moving bulk products throughout the Midwest. It is also the northernmost terminal on the Mississippi River in which shipping vessels do not need to pass through any locks. It is served by rail and is convenient to four interstate highways. 1/3 of the country’s population is located within 500 miles of the Mississippi River Terminal.

 

The Municipal River Terminal on the Mississippi River is a unique asset providing shipping and intermodal distribution opportunities to existing and expanding businesses in the St.   Louis metropolitan area. The river terminal is owned by the City of St. Louis and is located in the north riverfront industrial corridor. This north riverfront area is a primary target for redevelopment and job creation in the City.

 

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