Trip to Europe could mean new local jobs

When representatives from the Missouri Department of Economic Development went to Europe Aug. 30-Sept. 8, they found that Springfield already is being considered as a site for a German manufacturer.

According to Dennis Roedemeier, the DED's director of business development, there is an investment possibility that could result in more jobs specifically for Springfield.

"In Germany, in the Black Forest region, there's a high-technology company in lab testing equipment that's related to the life sciences area and that has singled out Springfield as the possible future home of its operation," he said.

"They knew all about Springfield, had been to Springfield, had a person there and were actively looking at opening up their operation (there),"

Roedemeier said the company has asked that its name not be released yet but he said the Missouri DED has passed along the company name and contact to the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

Greg Williams, vice president of economic development for the Springfield Chamber, said the chamber is now working with thecontact it received from Roedemeier's office. He said there is also another company from Germany that is considering putting operations here in Springfield.

Williams said it is "indeed a compliment," for a European-based manufacturer to express interest in the Springfield metropolitan area.

"We are very blessed in Springfield to have a number of companies, business and industry, who are foreign-based. Partnership Industrial Center, for that matter, has several companies owned by European parent companies," Williams said.

Williams said the Missouri DED does a good job marketing Springfield, as well as other Missouri communities in different ways via its offices in foreign locations. He said the life sciences type of business could be good for the Springfield area.

"I've personally had an opportunity just recently to inspect various life science operations in the St. Louis metropolitan area, and those organizations create fantastic opportunities, high-tech jobs which obviously are well paying positions," he said.

Roedemeier said .participants in the mission were looking specifically at attracting companies in the life sciences and advanced transportation equipment industries to Missouri.

"We had some very good calls in both areas. In the life sciences area we are perceived as a great place to invest money and do business. And of course, Missouri's been great in the transportation business for a long time," Roedemeier said.

He added that the state's European trade mission in 1999 resulted in about $300 million in investments in Missouri by other countries, mainly in Europe. He said there are more than 50,000 jobs, and about 150 businesses that are here because of foreign investments made in the state's economy.

"Germany is Missouri's leading foreign employer, and the United Kingdom is in the top three. So that gives you a general feel that Missourians are very involved in international business, not only from a trade standpoint, but also from an investment standpoint," Roedemeier said.

In addition to Roedemeier, other trade mission participants were Joseph L. Driskill, director of the Missouri DED, three other state officials, and representatives from the St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association.