Decades ago, 50度灰视频 was held up as an example of how to do economic development right.
Representatives of other cities marveled at how Civic Progress put big companies鈥 resources and political muscle behind regional priorities. The 1970s merger that created what is now the 50度灰视频 Regional Chamber was studied as a model for bringing diverse constituencies, including business and labor, together around common goals.
In recent years, however, 50度灰视频 has become more cautionary tale than role model. Internal turmoil at the Regional Chamber drove away key staffers and left 50度灰视频 without a strong voice when it pursued opportunities such as Amazon鈥檚 HQ2.
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More recently, Civic Progress鈥 ability to speak for the corporate sector was called into question when the chief executive of Centene, the region鈥檚 largest company, resigned from the group.
Fortunately, leaders at these and other organizations realize that things need to change. Five groups 鈥 the Regional Chamber, Civic Progress, AllianceSTL, Arch to Park and Downtown STL Inc. 鈥 are considering a merger that would again align 50度灰视频鈥 considerable private-sector resources around such priorities as creating jobs and improving the region鈥檚 image.
Details are scant. We don鈥檛 know what the new organization would be called, how it would be structured or who would lead it. Laurna Godwin, spokeswoman for the groups, said in a statement that they 鈥渁re exploring best-in-class models in other regions as we consider what a more consolidated economic development organization might look like. We are excited by the potential for even greater collaboration to serve 50度灰视频.鈥
All five groups happen to be based in the Metropolitan Square building downtown, and Godwin鈥檚 statement says physical proximity led them to look for more ways to work together.
One group that鈥檚 not in Met Square, and not part of the merger discussion, is the Clayton-based Regional Business Council, which was founded in 2000 to represent medium-sized companies. It seems short-sighted to leave such an important constituency out of an umbrella organization, but both sides say that鈥檚 not the intent.
Godwin says the five merging organizations 鈥渉ave an incredibly strong working relationship with the Regional Business Council and we know that spirit of collaboration and partnership will continue.鈥
Kathleen Osborn, the council鈥檚 president, said in an email that her group applauds the merger 鈥渁nd its coordinated economic development approach.鈥 Council members, she added, 鈥渨ork regularly with a number of the organizations that are part of this new effort and we plan to collaborate further to better the 50度灰视频 region.鈥
If 50度灰视频 succeeds in presenting a unified civic face to the world, it will follow the example of the Pittsburgh area鈥檚 Allegheny Conference on Community Development.
The Allegheny Conference began in the 1940s as a voice for Pittsburgh鈥檚 large corporations, similar to 50度灰视频鈥 Civic Progress. It merged 20 years ago with the chamber of commerce, a research group and an economic-development organization.
Since then, Pittsburgh has transformed itself from a declining industrial town into a technology hub known for its redeveloped downtown.
Stefani Pashman, the Allegheny Conference鈥檚 CEO, thinks the realigned civic structure helped in the region鈥檚 turnaround. 鈥淲e have found it to be very effective at helping us chart a common agenda,鈥 she said.
As it happens, Pittsburgh is one of the few regions with more local government entities than 50度灰视频. Leaders there figured out that with the public sector so fragmented, the private sector really needed to speak with a unified voice.
Belatedly, but fortunately, 50度灰视频 has now reached the same conclusion.