Mercy's Wentzville Medical Campus Plan Approved

With a unanimous vote, Mercy’s plan for a medical campus with a 75-bed hospital in Wentzville, Missouri, received approval from the Missouri Facilities Review Committee on Monday, July 29. The $635 million project will break ground in the coming months (date to be announced soon) with construction anticipated to take approximately four years.

Following its April announcement, Mercy hosted community roundtable discussions in Lincoln, St. Charles and Warren counties to learn about health care needs from area residents.

“We’ve appreciated listening to residents’ overwhelmingly positive feedback and ideas on what’s needed in the region, and we shared with them what Mercy will provide,” said Dr. Jeff Ciaramita, Mercy president of specialty service lines. “With the state’s approval, we look forward to getting started.”

The 425,000-square-foot hospital will include 75 inpatient medical/surgical (med/surg) beds, a 28-bay emergency department with two trauma bays and 18 observation beds. In addition to general med/surg care, the campus will offer specialty care such as cardiovascular, cancer and orthopedics, outpatient imaging, diagnostic and treatment services.

“The Mercy Wentzville proposal is a win for our county and I am pleased Missouri approved the Certificate of Need request,” said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann. “Once constructed, this new hospital campus will address critical health care needs for our growing population in St. Charles County by ensuring our neighbors can access high-quality medical care closer to home.”

Located on 60 acres at the intersection of interstates 64 and 70, Mercy Hospital Wentzville will be the state’s first completely new, acute care hospital campus built since 2015 when Mercy opened its hospital in Joplin following the 2011 tornado.

“The Certificate of Need approval for Mercy’s new hospital in Wentzville will significantly enhance access to health care closer to where our residents live,” said Wentzville Mayor Nick Guccione. “The hospital will not only meet the urgent health care needs of our rapidly growing population but also create hundreds of jobs, fostering economic development. Mercy’s new hospital aligns perfectly with our goal of establishing Wentzville as a regional destination and promoting economic vitality.” 

“More than a decade in the making, this visionary project will serve the community’s needs for generations to come,” said Steve Mackin, Mercy president and CEO. “Securing the state’s certificate of need approval marks a pivotal milestone, ensuring that patients in the tri-county area will soon have access to care closer to home.”

Mercy is working with Cannon Design for architecture and design and plans to use 100% local, union labor.

ARCO: The Rail in Midtown Approaches Completion

The Rail, a multifamily complex is progressing swiftly toward its scheduled completion in late 2024. Spanning ±380,000 square feet, this 268-unit, 4-story apartment building with 3-story garage parking will offer spacious indoor and outdoor living areas with modern amenities including golf simulator, game lounge, enclosed courtyard with pool and more. Current construction highlights include:

• First Third: Trimming out all MEPS and unit finishes.
• Second Third: drywall, painting and installing cabinets, countertops, backsplashes and flooring.
• Last Third: Working on MEPFP rough-in’s and preparing for drywall.

Impact of SLDC's New Economic Development Incentives Review Process

As demonstrated by the fewer number of TIF & tax abatement projects approved in 2021–23, SLDC's new process for reviewing tax-incentivized projects is more rigorous, transparent, equitable & community-driven.

From 2017–20, ~53 tax-abated projects were approved per year vs. 51 total from 2021-23 under current leadership.

How AI is Transforming the Manufacturing Industry | Paycor Blog

AI is revolutionizing every aspect of work. Some of these tools are extremely well-known – everyone’s talking about ChatGPT and Midjourney. But those are just the most visible examples. They’re also pretty new, so they’re subjects of hot debate. If you look deeper, you’ll see that AI has been around for a while, and it’s already had a huge impact on American industry.

Manufacturing is a prime example. Today, 93% of industry leaders say they’re already using some form of AI (AI Multiple Research). From predictive maintenance and quality control to robots and smart factories, this technology is everywhere – and it’s going to change the very nature of work.

What AI Manufacturing Tools Mean for the Labor Market

As AI technology grows more powerful and popular, U.S. workers are expressing concern. What do these tools mean for the job market? Will machines replace human workers? Your employees might be concerned about the future, especially in the manufacturing industry. Companies are indeed starting to automate routine and repetitive tasks that workers used to perform. However, the impact of AI on the labor market is more nuanced than it might seem.

We’re facing an unprecedented labor shortage. As of 2024, there are 8.8 million job openings in the U.S. and just 6.5 million unemployed people (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). Manufacturers are getting hit especially hard. Experts predict that by 2030, there could be 2.1 million unfilled jobs in that industry alone (National Association of Manufacturers).

HR teams are already scrambling to revamp their recruiting strategies, hoping to attract young workers with a new focus on career development and on-the-job training. This strategy shows new hires that you’re invested in their growth, encouraging long-term employee loyalty. Over time, that should save on recruiting costs and help companies maintain institutional knowledge. But it won’t solve the bigger problem: as Baby Boomers retire, there will just be fewer workers available. From that perspective, AI tools aren’t here to take away jobs. They’re here to fill in the gaps.

Of course, that’s just one side of the story. AI is also changing the type of work that businesses perform. A company might not need employees to pack boxes anymore – but it will need people to service AI tools. That could mean data analysts, robotics programmers, and other technicians. This could be a global opportunity to upskill the workforce. 

AI and HR: Supporting the Transition

Fortunately, most employees want the same thing their employers need: learning and development. One survey found 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it offered training opportunities (Zippia). That’s where HR comes in.

Upskilling is the key to success for all involved, from the C-Suite to entry-level employees. In one fell swoop, HR leaders can boost employee engagement, improve retention rates, and drive business success. The future is uncertain. It could bring new technologies, industry disruptions, a continuing labor shortage, or all of the above. With a more agile, curious, loyal team, you’ll be better prepared for whatever comes next.

Athletic Trainers Help Workers Get Back to the Jobsite and Stay Healthy After Injury

Athletic trainers can train more than just athletes. Physically demanding jobs, such as construction, can put major strain on the body, and athletic trainers can help workers recover better.

There are a number of factors on an active jobsite that can lead to workplace injuries. Heavy machinery, fast-moving equipment, material handling, loud noises and more can create safety hazards and make it easy to lose focus or become distracted. Additionally, the movements workers have to do in their roles—such as lifting or pushing objects or crouching low to the ground for extended periods—can add strain to the body if not done correctly.



The goal is always to minimize the risk of injury, and yet, incidents still occur. According to 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics data, slips, trips and falls are the most common injuries, accounting for 18% of non-fatal work injuries resulting in days away from work. When workers are injured, it can lead to downtime, lost productivity on the site and workers’ compensation claims.

Employers and site leaders can take various approaches to help workers return to the jobsite safely and effectively and keep them healthy once they return. Introducing an onsite clinic and athletic trainers can help prevent injuries, improve worker health, get people back to work effectively and keep them healthy in the long run. Here are three ways athletic trainers help workers get back to the job and improve their overall health.

INJURY PREVENTION

Athletic trainers are a critical asset for worksites looking to reduce injuries and implement prevention strategies that show improvement over time. A huge factor in introducing risk controls on a jobsite is knowing the worker population. Age, physical activity, nutrition, level of experience and conditions like obesity or diabetes can have an impact on injuries. These health factors can make some workers more prone to severe injury or bruises and cuts. They can also turn a small slip or fall into a more severe surgical case.

Athletic trainers will walk around the jobsite and observe workers as they perform their tasks, allowing them to pick up on population health trends that might require formal, sitewide programs. For example, if they notice a lot of workers seem to have unsafe back movement or complain of back pain, athletic trainers will develop ergonomic solutions and stretching programs that teach workers better ways to lift or perform their function and get the group to complete warm-up stretches together to get their muscles ready to work.

STRATEGIC RECOVERY

When a worker is injured, athletic trainers are an important resource to help them stay motivated to get better, providing guidance and showing them the science behind recovery. Athletic trainers focus on the employee and their health rather than the work restriction, helping them slowly implement strategic treatment options and improving overall functional movement that will get them to the next point in their recovery. Athletic trainers also monitor progress each week and help workers make necessary changes and adjustments during recovery time to ensure they are getting the most out of it.

Athletic trainers will tap into preventative stretching programs for injury recovery, giving workers movements that are easy to follow and that target the affected area. When an injured worker comes to an onsite clinic, athletic trainers can create progressive recommendations that mimic what the worker does on the job. For example, a worker might lift 15-lb. stacks regularly and needs to get back to doing so without pain. The athletic trainer can mimic that movement with no weight and slowly increase the weight until the worker is back to 100% functionality. Additionally, athletic trainers will give attention to the worker’s full body, not just the injury, to ensure they are fully ready to return to the job and don’t risk another injury by overcompensating.

Expand your network with the FRB St. Louis facilities team and learn about the opportunities available at the Bank, including previous projects! Registration Details will be released soon.

When: Thursday, September 26th, 4:30 - 6:30 pm

Where: Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Economy Museum (free/secured parking in the Bank's garage)