Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Contact: Brian Hauswirth, 573-751-0290
Blunt Welcomes 1000 New Jobs
Edward Jones Announces Plans to Expand Mo. Presence
MARYLAND HEIGHTS–Gov. Matt Blunt today applauded plans for Edward Jones to expand operations in St. Louis County and highlighted the pro-job, pro-family policies working to attract and keep business in Missouri.
“We have fought to enact policies that allow businesses to grow and expand and allow entrepreneurs the freedom to create new opportunities,” Blunt said. “I commend Edward Jones for their commitment to the St. Louis region and to the state.”
Under Blunt’s leadership Missouri has enacted significant policy and legislative changes to improve the state’s economic and entrepreneurial climate. Much-needed and comprehensive litigation reform leveled the playing field, protected Missourians’ access to healthcare professionals and tackled frivolous lawsuits and unjustified, ridiculous damages. Workers’ compensation reform protects injured workers without threatening jobs and returned balance back to Missouri’s laws. The governor’s Missouri Quality Jobs Act ties job creation to economic incentives and offers a new approach to economic development that has allowed communities to attract and retain high quality jobs.
Communities and businesses, including Edward Jones, are recognizing the benefits of Blunt’s Missouri Quality Jobs Act and enhanced economic climate. Through the Missouri Quality Jobs Act, Edward Jones will receive approximately $3.9 million in incentives to assist as they work to create more jobs for Missourians. The company announced today they plan to add at least 500 jobs in five years to their St. Louis County operations, and at least 1000 total new jobs by 2016. The expansion is expected to generate nearly $300 million of construction related investments in the area and is a result of cooperative planning and support between government and private enterprise. The Missouri Innovative Finance Committee, Missouri Development Finance Board, Department of Economic Development, St. Louis County, and City of Maryland Heights are just some of the partners involved.
Missouri continues to reap the benefits of the governor’s proactive approach to building a strong economic climate and attracting jobs to the state. The Department of Economic Development estimates nearly 16,000 new businesses were created in 2005, and since January 2005, Missouri businesses have added more than 45,000 jobs to the economy.
Also, in Kansas City last night, Blunt joined H&R Block as they opened their new headquarters that will contribute to revitalizing downtown and house almost 1800 jobs with an average annual salary of more than $60,000.
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