ST. JAMES—Driving on Industrial Drive in the St. James Industrial Park  is a brand new experience. The jarring chug holes and the rough gravel are gone, replaced with asphalt, thanks to grants from the Missouri Department of Economic Development and USDA Rural Development made possible because of an expansion of Tacony Manufacturing, a vacuum manufacturer located in the industrial park.

    Don Maggi Construction completed the paving in late September. Some 2,400 feet of roadway was improved. The city of St. James paid for the work through a Community Development Block grant for economic development program and a USDA Rural Development Business Enterprise grant. In addition, the city and the St. James Industrial Development Authority provided cash and in-kind match.

Tacony Manufacturing was planning to invest some $3.7 million through the addition of some 108,400 square feet of production space and some 20 new jobs. However, to accomplish that, access to the industrial park needed to be improved.  While the Springfield Road entrance was paved, the Highway K entrance was still gravel.

     “With amazing steady growth, Tacony Manufacturing doesn't waiver when it comes to making decisions and implementing a plan for expansion, creating new jobs and bridging all obstacles,” said Nancy Montgomery, Tacony human resources director. “Literally… bridging obstacles.  The old narrow bridge and gravel road were a hindrance to our warehouse departments and, therefore, limiting Tacony's development potential,” she explained.

The state of Missouri agreed to inject $196,049 in to the roadway project to ensure that Tacony’s expansion moved forward. When the project was bid out, the lowest bid came in at $242,316.85, said St. James Community Development Director Candace Connell.  The USDA grant—worth $27,230—allowed the project to proceed without requiring the city to significantly increase its cash and in-kind match, she added.  The total cash and in-kind match for the road construction made by the city and the St. James Industrial Development Authority will exceed $50,000.

    In addition to the road paving, the St. James IDA also paid for the replacement of the bridge on Industrial Drive, a project that cost of $174,900.00.

    “The City of St. James is pleased to support continued growth of local companies like Tacony Manufacturing through projects like this,” Connell said. “Tacony Manufacturing's continued expansion and success directly contribute to the economic growth of our community and it is vital that the city do what it can to encourage and support expansions like this. The improvements made to the Industrial Park will allow the St. James Industrial Development Authority and the City of St. James to support the businesses located in the park and assist in the work to attract new business and jobs to our community,” she concluded.

   Montgomery proudly acknowledged the Tacony workforce—the 11-year veterans and the newly hired personnel—for their steadfastness and patience through all the company’s construction projects… with more to come in the near future.  Plastic injection molding operations are scheduled to commence in late December, creating eight to 10 more jobs, she noted.

“ Kudos to the City of St. James, Meramec Regional Planning Commission and Division of Economic Development for a remarkable unified effort!" said Montgomery.
 
Photos follow:
 
Workers with Don Maggi Construction pave Industrial Drive in the St. James Industrial Park in late September. The work was a partnership effort, involving Tacony Manufacturing, the State of Missouri, USDA Rural Development, the city of St. James, the St. James IDA and Meramec Regional Planning Commission. The new bridge pictured in the photo was a separate project funded by the St. James IDA.