April 2, 2018
St. Charles County, Missouri – When St. Charles County business leaders in logistics and distribution met with County Executive Steve Ehlmann for a quarterly economic meeting, Ehlmann heard about the tight labor market, regional transportation issues, property taxes and an appreciation for the business-friendly environment in the local community.
“The logistics and distribution markets are growing by leaps and bounds in St. Charles County,” says the County Executive, “and the announcements by Amazon and Grove Collaborative are just the most recent examples. All these new developments are good for the entire region, and the entire region is going to be able to play a part in filling all the jobs being created.”
Business attendees at the meeting included Michael Barr, President and CEO of Sysco St. Louis LLC in St. Charles; Mark Rhoades, Vice President of Operations at TVS Supply Chain Solutions in Wentzville; Nick Wilfong, Vice President of Sales at Flat World Supply Chain in O’Fallon; Matt Hrubes, Vice President of Leasing and Development at Duke Realty of St. Louis and
developers of the St. Peters Amazon fulfillment center; and Jon Darr, Senior Recruiter at DB Schenker in St. Peters.
The need to prioritize regional highway improvements based on business and population growth was a key topic at the meeting. Ehlmann spoke of traffic congestion issues for businesses and commuters in western St. Charles County, specifically along I-70 and I-64 due to the narrow highway under the railroad overpass in Wentzville.
The group also discussed the growing competition for warehouse workers, the results of new business projects and a national shortage of CDL truck drivers.
The February 2018 unemployment rate is 3.1 percent. The low rate in St. Charles County has resulted in more jobs than job-seekers for more than a year, and the group discussed recruiting from rural Missouri and other areas in the U.S. The County Executive assured the business leaders that he would be working on these issues with County staff and other leaders in the community and across the region.
For more information about the local economy, workforce and business growth assistance, contact the St. Charles County Department of Workforce & Business Development at 636-255-6060 or visit www.sccmo.org/workforce.
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