St. Louis Economic Development News
LATEST STL PARTNERSHIP NEWS
New Non-stop Flight to London Takes Off
St. Louis celebrates new direct flight to London
On April 19, the St. Louis region celebrated the debut of the new non-stop flights from St. Louis to London. British Airways will now operate four flights a week between St. Louis and London. This is the first non-stop flight between the two cities since 2003. This new flight, which was announced at a special new conference on Oct. 1, 2025, will occur four times a week. St. Louis is the 27th U.S. destination for British Airways.
This is the third new international flight to come to St. Louis in the last four years. In 2022, Lufthansa Airlines launched direct flights from St. Louis to Frankfurt, Germany. Air Canada began direct flights from St. Louis to Montreal in 2024.
The news conference was followed by a cake and ribbon cutting at the departure gate as well as greeting the arrival of the plane from London Heathrow Airport, which included passengers from London.
Read More
St. Louis Mosaic Project Highlights Global Talent as a Workforce, Economic Growth Strategy
Second annual International Hiring Challenge offers employers one practical entry point into a broader international talent pipeline
The St. Louis Mosaic Project (Mosaic) is calling greater attention to the role of global talent in strengthening the St. Louis region’s workforce, competitiveness and long-term economic growth, while launching
As employers across the region face ongoing workforce shortages and increased competition for skilled workers, Mosaic is encouraging a broader view of the workforce, one that includes internationally educated professionals, multilingual workers, and international students already living and contributing in the St. Louis region.
The announcement coincides with the launch of the second annual St. Louis International Hiring Challenge, which gives companies a simple, low-barrier way to connect with work-authorized professionals and international students in STEM-related fields for paid internships, project-based roles and limited-term assignments. In its first year, 10 companies participated, hiring 12 interns.
Mosaic says the larger goal is to help employers better understand and access the full spectrum of global talent available to the region. Mosaic’s work is grounded in the belief that St. Louis’ economic future depends on its ability to attract, retain and integrate talent from around the world at all skill levels and career stages. The region’s foreign-born growth hit an all-time high between 2022-2023 with a 23% increase while the region continued to age and lose its native-born population. The latest U.S. Census data shows that the region’s overall modest population gain came from the international population.
Read More the second year of its International Hiring Challenge as one practical way for employers to begin engaging that talent pipeline.
St. Louis Selected Among Best Places to Live in 2026
Second consecutive year St. Louis makes Livability list
For the second straight year, St. Louis has been chosen as one of the Top 100 Best Places to Live in the U.S. from Livability, which explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live.
While developing the list, Livability utilizes a methodology that examines a city’s housing affordability, amenities, safety, health, education, transportation, economy and additional data points.
Jason Archer Chosen for Small Business Monthly’s
Top 100 St. Louisans List
Award ceremony for recipients held on April 7
Jason Archer, vice president of business development at St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership), was among the group chosen in St. Louis Small Business Monthly’s list of the Top 100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business. The 100 recipients of this award were honored at an award ceremony and luncheon held on April 8 at the St. Charles Convention Center in St. Charles, Mo.
Archer leads STL Partnership’s business development division, along with fellow Vice President Michelle Stuckey. The business development division provides a broad range of incentives, resources and customized services to help companies move to, or expand in, St. Louis.
Archer also helps lead the Business Retention and Expansion Committee with Stuckey and Tim Nowak, executive director of World Trade Center St. Louis.
Vanessa Greene Participates in Panel Discussion for Entrepreneurs
Navigating St. Louis event took place April 8 in Kirkwood
Vanessa Greene, lead site administrator for St. Louis Economic Development Partnership’s (STL Partnership’s) four business incubators, was a panelist at an event called, “Navigating St. Louis: Connecting Entrepreneurs to Local Resources.” This was an interactive discussion designed to connect St. Louis entrepreneurs with the people and programs that help small businesses in all stages.
The event took place at Kirkwood Public Library in Kirkwood, Mo., on April 8.
Read More
PARTNER UPDATES
Global food manufacturer Winland Foods is expanding its presence in St. Louis, creating 25 new jobs and investing $38,500,000 into its South St. Louis manufacturing facility. The expansion will increase the capacity and flexibility of the plant, adding additional production lines and rail car access.
Headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, Winland Foods operates 17 production facilities across the U.S. and Canada. The company focuses on food manufacturing in the meal preparation category. Its St. Louis plant, located at 611 E Marceau St., produces egg pasta, manicotti, and jumbo shells. The facility’s expansion will increase its ability to produce and package its jumbo shell products.
The expanded production at Winland’s St. Louis facility will become operational in the fall of 2026.
Winland Foods worked in partnership with Greater St. Louis, Inc., the State of Missouri, the City of St. Louis, and Ameren Missouri, to make possible this expansion.
Read More
Earth Day Community Cleanup in Kinloch
On Saturday, April 25th, community partners including the City of Kinloch, Boeing, Paric, and STL Partnership, gathered together to celebrate Earth Day by cleaning up Kinloch. Over 100 people volunteered their morning and picked up hundreds of trash bags worth of debris from a few block radius in Kinloch. It was a wonderful showing of community and partnership in action. We want to thank Boeing, Paric, and the City of Kinloch for volunteering their time and energy to improve the region, as well as Operation Brightside for lending us their tools.
RESOURCES & EVENTS
May 7
FOCUS St. Louis: Start with Leadership Conference
May 12
Public Relations Basics: Reach Your Audience through Multiple Avenues
June 9
Branding with AI for Small Business
St. Louis Chambers of Commerce Resources Events
RESOURCES & EVENTS
Join Small Business Monthly, Bank of America, and the Missouri History Museum for a special morning event featuring successful St. Louis entrepreneurs who have built thriving businesses right here in our region.
In an engaging and candid panel discussion, these accomplished business leaders will share the real stories behind their success — how they started, the challenges they faced, and the strategies that helped them build winning companies.
You’ll walk away with practical insights, inspiration, and ideas you can apply to your own business journey.
REGISTER
IN THE NEWS
• KSDK-TV: County Port Authority Chair Ambassador Kevin
O’Malley discusses importance of new London flight
• KMOV-TV: Suzanne Sierra explains International Hiring
Challenge, work of Mosaic Project
• St. Louis Small Business Monthly: Jason Archer provides advice for business owners
• Sauce Magazine: STL Partnership provides loan to Gelateria
Coffee Co. after fire