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Eric Schmid
Economic Development ReporterEric Schmid covers Economic Development for St. Louis Public Radio. He's primarily focused on examining policies and ideas to drive population and business growth throughout the St. Louis region.
He previously covered the Metro East writing about many topics in the Illinois counties adjacent to St. Louis, but regularly returns to stories about the environment, public policy, and the census and demographics.
Eric came to the station through Report for America in 2019 and was tasked to develop STLPR’s coverage east of the Mississippi. Before joining St. Louis Public Radio, Eric held internships at Fox News Channel, NPR-affiliate WSHU Public Radio and AccuWeather. He graduated from Stony Brook University in New York with a degree in Journalism in 2018.
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The facility makes seats for vehicles including ones produced at the nearby General Motors plant. Workers want improvements to pay, health and safety and other conditions.
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Plans include new transit lines and redesigning major roads to make them safer and more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.
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Historically, St. Louis has had few basketball courts in south city. These new ones follow additions at Tower Grove Park and Forest Park in recent years.
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The expansion in St. Charles County will likely generate 500 construction and 130 manufacturing jobs.
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The funds were initially allocated in 2021, but the original legislation had challenges to it and needed to be revised, said SLDC President Neal Richardson.
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“Our goal is to create the preeminent construction innovation district that creates economic opportunities,” said one of the developers.
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The county has set up collection boxes for ticks at three parks: Lone Elk, Greensfelder and West Tyson.
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One year away from a federal deadline to reduce nutrient runoff into the Gulf of Mexico by 20%, increases in tile drainage, livestock and fertilizer use have made success unlikely.
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The prospect of precision agriculture has existed for decades, but many of the technologies and techniques that will enable it have been slow to catch on.
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The old paradigm in downtown St. Louis, that of a central business district with millions of square feet of office space, has faltered in recent years.
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“Devastating for St. Louis,” says former editor Sarah Fenske. Big Lou Media, which acquired the RFT in 2023, has sold the publication to an undisclosed buyer.
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The new wellness center, once completed, will offer a place to help men recover from addiction in a region that only has a handful of detox beds.