Southwestern Illinois Where MultiModal opportunities abound Special Advertising Section = Page 1 = Leadership Council Southwestern Illinois Gateway to the World Just a river’s width from St. Louis’ Much of the growth there and in other expansion, based on their size, access to majestic Gateway Arch, Southwestern parts of Madison County has occurred rail services, proximity to highways, Illinois is a burgeoning multimodal hub adjacent to the expanding IL-255/I-255 workforce availability and more. that is positioned for growth. Its central and along Illinois Route 3, and a similar For Krohne, it’s no surprise that location, exceptional transportation story has unfolded in St. Clair County , examples of recent success and upcoming infrastructure and abundance of Ill. One example is the successful opportunities abound. available, affordable land combine Sauget Business Park , home to the “With the abundance of multimodal to create tremendous value for those 500,000-square-foot 255 Logistics Center, advantages here in Southwestern Illinois, seeking efficient, low-cost access a mix of office buildings, light it absolutely should be on the radar to the Midwest, all points of the United manufacturing operations and more. screen as a prime logistics location.” States and beyond. Just minutes from downtown St. Louis “Southwestern Illinois provides and adjacent to a General Dynamic’s access to the nation’s third-largest rail operation employing more than 1,300, center and one of the nation’s largest the park is served by both Union Pacific inland ports via America’s Central Port; Railroad and K.C. Southern Railway, as it’s home to three airports with well as the St. Louis Downtown Airport, complimentary business models recently ranked fifth in the state for supporting both domestic corporate economic output. travel and a proven trade route linking The eighth largest county in Illinois Latin America and Asia, and it’s served and largest outside the Chicagoland area, by four interstates. All the ingredients St. Clair County also has the state’s No. 3 in place are establishing Southwestern airport, the joint-use facility operated Illinois as a gateway to the world,” notes by Scott Air Force Base and MidAmerica Ellen Krohne, executive director of the Airport. The combined operation Leadership Council Southwestern accounts for 41,938 direct and indirect Illinois , which has worked for three jobs, and MidAmerica tenants Boeing decades to unite business, industry, and North Bay Produce are in government, education and labor for expansion mode. economic growth. “They are augmented Further south, the neighboring by our productive labor force, positive communities of Dupo, still in St. Clair labor-management relations and County, and Columbia in Monroe exceptional quality of life, all of which County, boast two more complimentary contribute to our success.” 2,000-acre development tracts on IL-255. Among those who discovered the The Columbia site is served by rail and region’s locational advantages early are features a small airport and access to the household names such as Dial, Unilever, Mississippi. Monroe County is P&G and Hershey, the first tenants at the second-fastest Gateway Commerce Center in growing county per Edwardsville. That mega development capita in the St. and others nearby have positioned Louis Metro area, Madison County , Ill. – long considered offering an the region’s industrial core – as a prime affordable, laid location for consumer products back quality of distribution. The sprawling distribution life and proximity centers coexist with oil refineries and to St. Louis. steel mills that attracted billions in A laid-back investment in recent years, keeping our lifestyle also awaits in laborers at work. Greenville , Ill., a While manufacturing remains strong, community of 7,000, just 45 minutes east one just has to look to the Riverbend of St. Louis in Bond County. But the town area to see that the economy has is today making history as one of the first diversified with a full spectrum of new five certified CSX Select Sites and the and expanding businesses. Today, its top only one in Illinois. CSX Select Sites are 10 employers list also includes businesses the first, premium certified rail-served in health care, education and gaming. sites for industrial development and www.leadershipcouncilswil.com = Page 2 = Special Advertising Section Spotlight on the Riverbend Just a short drive from St. Louis, Southwestern Illinois’ Riverbend region offers a diverse place to live, work and play. In fact, more than 80,000 come home to the communities of Alton, Bethalto, East Alton, Elsah, Foster Township, Godfrey, Grafton, Hartford, Roxana, South Roxana, Wood River and Wood River Township. Working in the riverbend Manufacturing is a pivotal industry in Southwestern Illinois and accounts for the region’s top employers: Olin Corporation, a manufacturer of chlor- alkali products and ammunition, and Global Brass and Copper Inc. In Roxana, Ill., Philips 66 Wood River Refinery employs more than 800. Together the businesses account for more than 4,500 employees. leWis and clark leading the Way Monica Bristow, president of the Riverbend Growth Association, credits coMMunity college Since the Riverbend Growth the industry’s foothold to affordability, Association serves as both the Chamber From health care to manufacturing, accessibility, and a quality and of Commerce and the Economic employers discover a welcome productive workforce. Development Organization for local educational partner in Lewis and “Employers like being so close to communities, the group is instrumental Clark Community College. The Godfrey, St. Louis but not having to deal with in teaming with prospective residents Ill., college provides corporate and traffic,” Bristow says. “They also are and employers to make the transition to community programs including safety pleased to find plenty of affordable, Southwestern Illinois a seamless one. training and customized training available land.” “We work with personnel in each for employees. The recent completion of IL-255 to municipality and with economic Godfrey, Ill., provides access to a 40-mile development from start to finish to assist Financial beneFits expressway to south St. Louis. Bristow anyone interested in locating here,” says the 27-mile corridor from South Financial incentives also make Bristow says. Roxana to Godfrey is ripe for retail and Illinois a natural choice: There’s no service industry expansion, and personal property tax, and retirement businesses are lining up to get income is tax-free. Corporations benefit in on development. from no local corporate income tax and credits for investments in mining, health care in manufacturing or retailing. In addition, the riverbend a new Illinois Economic Development for a Growing Economy program Health-care services account for some provides a credit equal to 3 percent 2,000 jobs regionally thanks to the area’s of the wages of a new or expanding two full-service hospitals. St. Anthony’s business’ added employees. Deductions Health Center in Alton is a two-campus, also can be made on dividends paid 199-bed acute care facility, while Alton by corporations operating in Illinois Memorial Hospital is a 206-bed hospital Enterprise Zones and interest on loans recognized for its heart, orthopedic and to enterprise zone businesses. emergency services. www.growthassociation.com = Page 3 = Southwestern Illinois Airports of Southwestern Illinois Air services in Southwestern Illinois allowing for any and all international are second to none. From military flights. The airport is also a designated and large cargo carriers to first-class foreign trade zone, and is part of an business aviation, services abound for enterprise zone offering tax abatements any need. David Miller, director of the and state and local credits for companies St. Louis Regional Airport, says that locate there. cooperation between airports creates Freight shipments often include a positive, synergistic effect for the perishables, which often present entire St. Louis Metroplex. manufacturers with the hardest logistical “We have a rich heritage of equation. Recently, international produce transportation here, and the important cooperative North Bay Produce expanded buzzword for transportation is their central U.S. headquarters at commercial counterparts, MidAmerica is intermodal,” Miller says. “We have MidAmerica St. Louis – a 50,000-square- an industrial strength, international barge, rail, highway and five airports, foot facility built directly on a ramp. cargo airport, bridging the Americas and each with their own niche. We cover and Still, the airport isn’t all freight Asia for international trade. protect the whole gamut of the air arm of and cargo. In 2012, Las Vegas-based “Air trade between Asia and the multimodal transportation.” Allegiant Air began offering nonstop jet Americas comes through North America service from MidAmerica St. Louis to and usually ends up on a truck between MidaMerica Orlando Sanford International Airport. airports,” says Tim Cantwell, director of The flights operate twice weekly, and st. louis airport MidAmerica St. Louis Airport. more destinations are expected. “From Southwestern Illinois, large MidAmerica St. Louis is the state’s freight and belly cargo can easily go only joint-use airport, offering both st. louis on a truck in the United States both ways. civilian and military operations We’re directly linked to all modes of doWntoWn airport through Scott Air Force Base. Boasting transportation and have all the tools that a combined $2.5 billion economic make successful distribution through the Convenience and location define impact, MidAmerica recently ranked United States available.” St. Louis Downtown Airport, the third for economic impact among all the Rail and ground connections are front door for business aviation in the state of Illinois’ airports, just behind available on site. MidAmerica is Midwest. Located in St. Clair County in O’Hare and Midway. But unlike its designated U.S. Customs Port 4581, Cahokia and Sauget, Ill., the airport is www.flymidamerica.com = Page 4 = Special Advertising Section is home to more than 300 based aircraft and much more. The airport also has and 26 business tenants, including a growing nonaeronautical development General Dynamics subsidiary Jet and is home to aviation parts Aviation, one of the top-rated aircraft manufacturer Triumph among others. maintenance repair companies in the Of the park’s 600 business acres, world. From blimps to Boeing 757s, 150 are utility-ready and available for St. Louis Downtown is equipped to lease, ranging in size from less than handle any business aviation aircraft. 1 acre to more than 8 acres. A strip mall is in the works for 2013, and the airport st. louis regional already houses a drivers’ license facility, beauty shop, bank and several eateries. minutes from the city and located in the Located in East Alton, St. Louis The airport’s 30-plus businesses account American Bottoms Enterprise Zone. Regional Airport handles an average for some 700 jobs with an aggregate “You can step off the airplane and be of 80,000 operations each year though annual payroll of $31 million and a total anywhere in the city within 10 minutes, corporate activity, air cargo, recreational economic output for more than $132 from the Gateway Arch to sporting events flights, and civilian and military flight million annually. The airport also is and concert venues,” says Bob McDaniel, training. Major repair and overhaul is home to the Bethalto Fireworks Show airport director. It’s no wonder St. Louis a key niche at the airport, where anchor and the Wings and Wheels Fly-In and Downtown Airport is the first choice for tenant West Star Aviation specializes Car Show, which showcases vintage business owners, V.I.P.s and celebrities in airframe and engine repair and aircraft and vehicles. trying to avoid the hassle and lengthy maintenance, interior refurbishment, security lines of larger airports. The Class IV commercial service airport also serves as a gateway airport for Washington, D.C. St. Louis Downtown is one of the oldest airports in the region, still housing the nation’s first certified flight school. Today, it has two full-service fixed base operators, a full-service restaurant, deli, lounge, an Air and Space Museum, and an active EAA chapter. In 2012, St. Louis Downtown Airport boasted a regional economic impact of $584 million. With just under 2,000 employees, the business aviation airport www.stlouisdowntownairport.com • www.stlouisregional.com = Page 5 = Southwestern Illinois America’s Central Port America’s Central Port is positioned America’s Central Port is located river transportation and expand at the epicenter of multimodal activity within 30 minutes of four regional economic opportunity in the in the United States. Located just north airports, has access to all six North communities we serve,” Wilmsmeyer of downtown St. Louis on the Illinois American Class I rail carriers and says. The port encompasses more than side of the Mississippi River, the 1,200- connects to the regional switching 75 square miles in southwestern acre multi-use facility offers a wide carrier Terminal Railroad Association Madison County, Ill., on the banks of range of services and facilities, of St. Louis. On the highway, America’s the Mississippi River and Chain of including barge, rail and truck transfer Central Port is minutes from downtown Rocks Canal. The municipalities of of commodities; industrial, commercial St. Louis, Mo. An adjacent four-lane Granite City, Madison and Venice are and residential development sites; and limited access highway (Illinois Route 3) located within the district. warehouse and commercial lease provides fast access to Interstates 70, “The port’s river access is one of its opportunities. The port also includes 64, 44 and 55, as well as the St. Louis greatest assets,” Wilmsmeyer says. Foreign Trade Zone #31, recreational outer belt (Interstates 270 and 255). “Water transportation is the most cost- facilities and residential housing. effective and energy-efficient way to the best in river move bulk goods from the American unparalleled access transportation heartland to international markets.” The port is located at the last lock on “America’s Central Port is more than Owned and operated by the Tri-City the Mississippi River, which is free a traditional business park; it is also the Regional Port District, the port’s public flowing past this point. “The port is the St. Louis region’s only full-service, entity has been serving the river most northerly ice-free port on the public intermodal port,” says Dennis industry for more than 50 years. Each Mississippi River, which allows us to Wilmsmeyer, executive director of year, nearly 80 million tons of products operate year round. Additionally, our America’s Central Port. “The port is are shipped past the port’s harbor prime location offers customers and located at the heart of the United States’ facility located on the Chain of Rocks tenants access to open, southerly barge transportation network and provides Canal. And while the port sits on 1,200 navigation all the way to the Port of exceptional access to all three major acres, it maintains jurisdiction of much New Orleans.” freight transportation modes: river, rail more. “The port district was created by The bulk of the port’s river and road.” the State of Illinois in 1959 to promote operations are located along the mile- www.americascentralport.com = Page 6 = Special Advertising Section long North Harbor, which serves Available development sites range from and training opportunities for new or approximately 2,500 barges and 1 acre to more than 90 in size and are existing workers. State utility providers 3 million tons of petroleum, steel, zoned for heavy industrial use. also may offer significant discounts for fertilizer and grain each year. River Tenants receive 24/7 monitoring by a larger projects. amenities include separate liquid and professional security staff, service from For smaller clients, America’s dry bulk terminals, fleeting services, on-site utilities capable of supporting Central Port operates the only small a general cargo dock, and roll-on/roll- industrial-sized developments, and business incubator in Southwestern off dock used to transfer oversized and support from the port’s staff of Illinois. The River’s Edge Enterprise overweight items to and from the river engineers, planners and development Center serves small companies and and rail or road. specialists. Office and apartment space business startups at exceptionally low also is available on site, while the port rates. Business counseling services also prepared offers more than 1.5 million square feet are provided through partnerships with of rail-served warehouse space in area educational institutions. For groWth Foreign Trade Zone #31. Additional The port’s new South Harbor is space in the port’s business district currently under construction. The off- includes a range of office sizes, channel harbor is located just south of arrangements and finishes based on Locks #27 on the Mississippi River and the needs of individual tenants. is expected to be completed in 2014. Rail access to the harbor is provided perks For by a newly constructed rail loop that port tenants facilitates unit train movement from the port to the region’s six Class I New or expanding port businesses railroad carriers. may be able to take advantage of sales The past few years of private or property tax abatement, alternative development represent an investment financing through a Tax Increment of more than $300 million on property Financing District, Special Business Photo Courtesy of Mark keMPf adjacent to the South Harbor alone. District or tax credits for job creation, www.americascentralport.com = Page 7 = Southwestern Illinois Gateway Commerce Center Gateway Commerce Center is the St. Louis region’s premier bulk distribution park, and with good reason. No other site offers the size, location, access, infrastructure, labor, amenities and economic incentives of Gateway. Located on 2,300 acres, the park has averaged a million square feet of growth each year since its inception in 1998. Vacancies are rare, as Gateway offers an average building size of 650,000 square feet – nearly double the size of buildings on the opposite side of the Mississippi. Meeting a need Domestically produced consumer products from companies like Procter & Gamble, Unilever, and Hershey drive much of Gateway’s business. A unique perk comes via the mighty Mississippi, as many clients, from beer manufacturers to lawn and garden suppliers, add water to products before shipping them out. “The Mississippi River was key to the growth of St. Louis long ago, and it’s still key to the growth of the industrial market by providing quality, affordable water,” says Terry Stieve, executive vice president for Jones Lang LaSalle. And with unbeatable access to road, rail, water and air carriers, Gateway customers enjoy the lowest shipping costs anywhere. “Gateway is one of few parks bordered by two interstates, I-255 and I-270 with “From the pavement design to more than double in size in coming years two interchanges providing easy and the width of the roads, all of the park – a good indicator of expected growth. efficient access to the park. The park also elements have been designed for that offers rail service by Norfolk Southern, type of velocity,” Stieve says. “There This special section is published for Southwestern Illinois and all major rail carriers have by Journal Communications Inc. aren’t many places with the type of intermodal facilities less than 20 miles infrastructure Gateway Commerce away,” Stieve says. Center has.” Located on site, USF Logistics Services Tenants appreciate low operating costs and Schneider Logistics provide trucking, For more information, visit any of our sponsors: www.leadershipcouncilswil.com logistics and handling for overflow needs. and access to a plentiful, well-trained www.growthassociation.com • www.flymidamerica.com Norfolk Southern runs along the park’s workforce, while financial incentives are www.stlouisdowntownairport.com www.stlouisregional.com property line, while Triple Crown Services motivators for many customers. A real www.americascentralport.com Co. operates a 62-acre intermodal facility estate tax abatement offered by Madison www.gatewaydelivers.com on site. The park also is a short drive to County has brought the center much ©Copyright 2013 Journal Communications Inc., four cargo-handling airports and the attention, as tenants save more than $1 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, (615) 771-0080. nation’s second-largest inland port. per square foot per year over the Missouri Gateway’s thorough design means side of the river. All rights reserved. No portion of this special advertising section may be reproduced in whole or in part infrastructure and road systems can In 2013, Gateway Commerce Center without written consent. accommodate 400-600 truck movements will break ground on a 569,160-square- Cover photo by David Carson per building per day. foot building. The building is expected to www.gatewaydelivers.com = Page 8 =