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U.S. Photonics-TerraPower partnership underscores a manufacturing landscape in Missouri that is generating jobs at a quicker pace than the rest of the nation.
While the highly technical nuclear research deal has yet to bear fruit in terms of jobs, the state’s manufacturing jobs picture is trending upward, according to Manufacturers’ News, a national publisher of industrial databases.
Recent data said manufacturing job growth in Missouri was at 11 times greater than the national average.
For the 12 months ending in August, Show-Me State manufacturing jobs grew by 1.1 percent, or 3,300 jobs. The national average during that same time was 0.1 percent. Transportation equipment manufacturing is leading Missouri’s job growth in part due to a $1.1 billion Ford (NYSE: F) plant addition in Claycomo, a General Motors (NYSE: GM) expansion in Wentzville and a $5 million plant development by Leggett & Platt Inc. (NYSE: LEG) in Carthage.
Aileen Gronewold, Leggett & Platt’s vice president of human capital, said the manufacturer is planning to add 12 positions by the end of the year and up to 20 by early next year.
However, research agreements are not automatic in producing jobs for the manufacturing phase.
Two companies that have shared space with U.S. Photonics at Jordan Valley Innovation Center downtown are working to overcome a lack of investment.
Jim Baker, Missouri State University vice president for research, economic development and international programs, said Bethesda, Md.-based Lockheed Martin Corp.’s planned exit from JVIC, approved by the MSU Board of Governors this month, stems from a slowdown in project funding by the U.S. Department of Defense.
“There is a general lack of funding for the specific kinds of projects it was doing,” Baker said of the company that is spending more than $500,000 to terminate its contract early. “I think with the projects it had here in Springfield, the level of funding has decreased in the past couple of years for a variety of reasons, so it is consolidating operations.”
Dwindling federal funds also shuttered plans to develop emergency treatment for eye injuries on the battlefield being forwarded by Mercy Research & Development at JVIC.
A two-year research project funded by $4.8 million in DOD grants came to a screeching halt for local scientists and physicians.
“We completed it on time with all the deliverables reached,” said Mercy Clinic Dr. Shachar Tauber, who led the research team at JVIC. “Due to the present state of the economy and the funding, we can’t continue. It’s bittersweet.
“It reminds us that we have to work even harder now going forward for new avenues for research.”
Tauber said another grant or a private contract could revive the work to create contact lenses capable of emitting such drugs as antibiotics and steroids. He said Mercy R&D’s prototypes are not proprietary to the DOD, but the military has first right of refusal.
“Anytime you have an R&D environment based on federal funds, there is always going to be this kind of dynamic movement,” Baker said, adding early interest was high to fill the Lockheed Martin space at JVIC.
Springfield Business Journal Editor Eric Olson contributed to this story.[[In-content Ad]]
