Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay: Plant Life Center grant will give an economic boost to region

By Scanews staff

   ST. LOUIS -  A $2 million grant to help develop a wet-lab for the emerging local life sciences industry in St. Louis has been greeted with enthusiasm from U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo.

  "We think this is great. Excellent!" Mr. Clay said. "The Plant Life Center grant will give an economic boost to the region. I commend the EDA for approving this grant, which I supported."

  Mr. Clay was among legislators requesting funds for the project from the federal Economic Development Administration. The incubator portion will be located on the eight-acre Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise, located near the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center campus in Creve Coeur.

  The money was not expected to be approved until next year, however, it is a welcomed surprise to learn that money for the development phase has been approved this year because it is badly needed now to help St. Louis remain on a competitive timetable.

  Now, to complete funding for the project, the EDA must approve another $2 million to train a workforce that will one day fill the jobs needed in the emerging industry the incubator grant will develop, Mr. Clay said. The training center will be located at the Metropolitan Education Training Center in suburban Wellston, Mo.

  "I urge them (EDA) to give additional funds for the job training element at the MET Center, so that we invest in the workforce and the development at the same time. It is a very, very promising industry. The jobs aren't there right now, but we're creating a new niche, an emerging industry. We have to provide the emerging industry with a trained workforce or lose the jobs to other cities."

  Local biotech employment is expected to grow from 15,000 in 2001 to 24,000 by 2007.

  The $2 million grant is part of a $19,855,000 million budget that would one day translate into some 700 jobs paying between $8-$14 per hour.

  Project partners include: DESCO Group; Donald Danforth Plant Science Center; Nidus Center for Scientific Enterprise; Metropolitan Education Training Center; Special School District; St. Louis County Economic Council; St. Louis County Public Works Department; St. Louis Community College and University of Missouri-St. Louis.