St. Louis – Local civic leaders are pinning their hopes on the geospatial sector to help boost the region’s economy and create jobs.
As the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency constructs its $1.7 billion western headquarters in north St. Louis, a four-day symposium here last week drew thousands of government officials, industry leaders and entrepreneurs from 25 countries. Their conversation often turned to workforce and the steps necessary to ensure a steady talent pipeline to support the expected growth.
St. Louis has long had an NGA presence — and before that, the predecessor organization, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, or NIMA, which was renamed in 2004. But the region was never thought of as a leader in the field of geospatial technology. Over the past few years, that has begun to change.