Who will guide St. Louis to its “North Star?

The $1M roadmap for St. Louis’ future

A regional reset is on the table — but can St. Louis actually pull it off? On this episode of the Arch City Report, East-West Gateway’s Jim Wild and Greater St. Louis Inc.’s Ron Kitchens discuss a new effort to align the region’s fractured approach to growth. From competing economic development agendas to the challenge of building trust across city, county and state lines, the conversation explores what it will really take to create a shared vision. It won’t be easy — but as Wild puts it: if you don’t start, you don’t start. All that and more this week's Arch City Report podcast. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/09/11/advancestl-transcript.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/09/11/advancestl-transcript.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

What to do with a downtown windfall

A major week for downtown St. Louis may signal a turning point. A $230 million Rams settlement plan, new state-backed incentives, and long-stalled redevelopment projects could finally gain momentum for revitalizing downtown. But how much impact will they have—and how soon? This week on the Arch City Report, Greater St. Louis Inc. Managing Partner Ron Kitchens breaks down the funding plans, the policy changes, and what it all means for the future of downtown. Plus, why data centers could be critical to the region’s long-term growth. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

The future at Laclede's Landing

St. Louis has long overlooked the Mississippi River—but that may be starting to change. A proposed $15 million investment from Rams settlement funds could jumpstart new life along the riverfront, with big implications for downtown and Laclede’s Landing. Gretchen Minges, co-owner of Laclede’s Landing developer Advantes Group, joins the conversation to discuss growing momentum behind redevelopment, current projects on the Landing, and the challenges still standing in the way. She also weighs in on whether ambitious long-term visions for the riverfront are still within reach as interest in reconnecting the city to the river builds. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/05/07/rams-settlement-riverfront-arch-mississippi-river.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

Who will guide St. Louis to its “North Star?

What is St. Louis’ “north star” — and who should define it? On this episode of the Arch City Report, Erik Siemers breaks down a wide-ranging Advance STL panel featuring leaders from Invest STL, The Opportunity Trust and Beyond Housing. Joined by St. Louis Business Journal reporter Jim Drew, the conversation explores leadership gaps, political realities, the limits of waiting for a single savior, and the role the business community must play in driving regional change. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/30/nonprofit-leaders-critique-st-louis-political-as.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/30/nonprofit-leaders-critique-st-louis-political-as.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/

Bob Clark and the downtown promise

As St. Louis grapples with downtown challenges and questions about who should lead the city’s next chapter, one longtime business leader continues to call on the private sector to step up. In this episode of The Arch City Report, Clayco chairman Bob Clark joins editor Erik Siemers to discuss the role business leaders can—and should—play in shaping the region’s future. Clark, one of Mayor Cara Spencer’s most prominent supporters, addresses criticism surrounding a recent data center vote, his financial backing of the mayor’s campaign and his long-standing argument that St. Louis lacks an urgent, coordinated strategy. He also revisits his earlier suggestion that major employers could make a bold, collective commitment downtown—and whether that idea has gained traction. The conversation also explores leadership turnover across the region, the growing controversy around data center development, and Clark’s takeaways from being aboard the inaugural nonstop British Airways flight from St. Louis to London—an international moment of visibility for the city. Show Links: https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/11/20/mayor-calls-regions-biggest-firms-downtown.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/11/20/mayor-calls-regions-biggest-firms-downtown.html] https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/01/28/bob-clark-clayco-cara-spencer-tishaura-jones.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/01/28/bob-clark-clayco-cara-spencer-tishaura-jones.html] http://bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/23/downtown-st-louis-tower-windows-shot-out-again.html [http://bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/23/downtown-st-louis-tower-windows-shot-out-again.html] https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/16/law-firm-moving-downtown-expand-clayton.html [https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2026/04/16/law-firm-moving-downtown-expand-clayton.html] Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/