Press Release

Science Hub in St Louis, Missouri Receives Over $4 Million from Department of Commerce

July 19, 2010
Contact: John Atwood, (202) 482-4085

WASHINGTON - U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke today announced a $4.6 million U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the Economic Council of St. Louis County, Mo., for the expansion of the Plant & Life Sciences Hub to include a new greenhouse at the Danforth Plant Science Center and a pre-incubation feeder facility. This project is expected to create a minimum of 1,100 new jobs and generate $50 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

"Encouraging innovation and helping new technologies become marketable products is critical to creating jobs and improving our nation's economic competitiveness," Locke said. "This project will support the plant and life sciences industry cluster that is emerging in the St. Louis region and lead to job creation by supporting advances in the plant and life sciences fields, and helping to move those new technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace."

The expansion of the Danforth Center's Plant & Life Sciences Hub will support the training of youth who are in the St. Louis Community College's bio-technician training program. Technology products developed at the Danforth Center include the areas of crop stability, bio-fuels, bio-renewable products and pharmaceuticals.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov):

This year, the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) marks 45 years of public service, with a mission of leading the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing American regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. EDA is an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce that partners with distressed communities throughout the United States to foster job creation, collaboration and innovation.