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St. Louis tops Illinois, wins bid for new NGA site

ST. LOUIS – If anyone in the rest of the state of Missouri feels a particularly strong breeze blowing in from the East, it is probably the city of St. Louis breathing a huge sigh of relief.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced Thursday it has decided to stay in north St. Louis with a new expanded campus worth nearly $2 billion in investment and 7,000 jobs at the expanded site.

A competing bid from Illinois would have moved the facility to St. Clair County in Illinois near Scott Air Force Base. Those pushing for that site noted that it would have greater security due to its proximity to Scott, and while many feared President Barack Obama would act to move the federal agency to his home state of Illinois, NGA West’s long residency in St. Louis made it a more appealing option, according to NGA Director Robert Cardillo.

“After careful consideration of all of the available information, I have determined that the St. Louis City site is the agency’s preferred alternative,” Cardillo said in a statement. “The St. Louis City site provides NGA with the most technological, academic and professional environment for this agency to develop the capabilities and solutions necessary to solve the hardest intelligence and national security problems entrusted to us by the American people.”

Politicians from the city, across the state and those representing Missouri in Washington from both sides of the aisle have led the effort to keep the NGA in St. Louis, and their retention of the agency is a clear win for the state in terms of economic impact and urban development.

“The NGA has called St. Louis home for the past 72 years, and I am thrilled that Director Cardillo has indicated that the Agency and its 3,100 employees very likely will continue to do so well into the future,” St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay said. “The construction of a state-of-the-art intelligence agency in north St. Louis would have an immense impact. This preliminary decision is a victory for urban America. The many benefits to the future of both St. Louis and NGA are immeasurable, promising and exciting.”

Gov. Jay Nixon was also pleased with the decision.

“The NGA’s decision is a testament to the city’s innovative workforce and infrastructure, and the tireless leadership of Mayor Slay, our entire congressional delegation, the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the many other business and civic leaders who were involved in this effort,” Nixon said. “I also want to thank members of the Missouri General Assembly for passing legislation last year to support the development of the north St. Louis site and pave the way for this transformational investment in the region’s future.”

Missouri’s representatives in Washington also expressed their gratitude. U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, who wrote a letter with Sen. Claire McCaskill urging Cardillo to keep the site in St. Louis Wednesday,

“I’m glad the NGA recognized North St. Louis as the best location for the new west headquarters, and I look forward to continuing to work with the agency as the project moves forward,” Blunt said. “The leadership of Mayor Slay, Senator McCaskill, Congressman Clay, and leaders in Jefferson City has been essential and united.”

Missouri Congressman Lacy Clay, who represents the area of St. Louis, noted that the decision marked the single largest federal investment in the city of St. Louis and that it proved the spirit of the city was still strong.

“History has come full circle in North St. Louis. A great federal failure will now be replaced by a transformative federal success,” Clay said. “But this victory also represents something more profound than just a huge infusion of federal dollars. It is proof positive that when this community truly stands together: Democrats & Republicans; City & County; clergy; business; labor; universities and cultural institutions. St. Louis still knows how to win.”

One caveat to the announcement is that the decision thus far is preliminary. The site will undergo a comment period over the next two months before the decision is finalized, during which time officials from St. Clair County have already said they will attempt to change Cardillo’s mind.