The St. Louis region offers a remarkable blend. It features the big-city assets of a skilled work force, great cultural and educational institutions, and superb recreational opportunities. Yet St. Louis also provides the convenience, intimacy, and affordability of a smaller community.

Any city that can pioneer genetic engineering while also boasting one of the world’s greatest symphony orchestras and earning the title of "Best Sports City" in America must have something special going for it. What makes the region such an attractive home for business?

• Its size and structure foster interconnections that don't exist in many other major cities.
• A broadly talented and productive work force reflects the character of the community.
• Its central location offers fast access to domestic and international markets.
• Businesses there – from startups to Fortune 500 companies – are players in the global economy.

Many major companies have made Greater St. Louis their choice for continued investment and business growth. Within the last three years, companies such as Edward Jones, Johnson Controls, Graybar Electric, GKN Aerospace Services, Magellan Health Services, IBM, Aesculap, DST Systems, Reuters, and others have invested over $600 million dollars and created/retained more than 6,000 jobs. A Selection of Major Private Employers in St. Louis County

• Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
• Boeing Integrated Defense Systems
• Pfizer
• Chrysler Group
• Monsanto
• Emerson Electric

• Primary Metal Manufacturing
• Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing
• Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
• Electrical Equipment Manufacturing
• Motor Vehicle Manufacturing
• Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing
• Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing

The owners, investors and employees of these businesses appreciate and understand that the pro-business climate of St. Louis County is an excellent generator of wealth for both companies and individuals. Business that set up shop in St. Louis find: a large, productive work force with the talents and skills to do just about anything; a lower-than-average cost of doing business (Forbes, 2005); fair tax administration and a friendly legislative environment; and easy access to the rest of the United States. In short, Greater St. Louis is a region that's perfectly centered and remarkably connected – a place where both businesses and people thrive.

Sources: SLEC Business Development Division (www.slcec.com/BEDD/BEDD.htm); St. Louis Economic Development (www.stlrcga.org/x70.xml); City of St. Louis Community Information Network (stlouis.missouri.org/citygov/planning/research/data/about/economy/statecn.htm)