Advanced Manufacturing

Missouri S&T, East Central College and St. Charles Community College have received a state grant to promote high-tech manufacturing and train its workforce.

The expansion in St. Charles County will likely generate 500 construction and 130 manufacturing jobs.

The agreement transfers the GKN St. Louis’ operations to Boeing with the aerospace giant hiring nearly all of GKN's roughly 550-person local workforce.

The Technology2030 report commissioned by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce shows the state ranks just 30th in tech job growth over the past five years, but that’s higher than all neighboring states.

The center will enhance established regional sectors like aerospace, geospatial and biosciences, with its capacity to develop and prototype new ways of manufacturing, as well as provide a local workforce that understands those new techniques.

“If you want to attract economic development to the area, one of the selling points is that we have talent for you to bring whatever your respective business, industry here,” one expert said.

Southwestern Illinois College and St. Louis Community College will open new facilities to train people in areas such as computer-aided design. Local business leaders expect advanced manufacturing to grow into one of the region’s critical industries.

The sector has become a pillar of business opportunity that leaders want to develop in the region.