CD_Ventures

10/08/2024

PORTLAND RANKS AS "MOST LIVABLE CITY" IN NATIONAL RANKING

Earlier this year, our family "co-located" between St. Louis and Portland, Maine --- the latter to be close to our first grandson, Henry.

We purchased a condo in Deering Center, one of Portland's many livable urban neighborhoods --- 10 minutes from downtown, 10 minutes from the ocean, 10 minutes from the airport, and 6 minutes from Henry --- we can enthusiastically attest to Portland's ranking as a "Livable City."

We each still have our offices in St. Louis, but have found regularly commuting between Portland and St. Louis to work well.

In ranking Portland, Maine #1 in the Top 20 Most Livable Places in the Nation for 2024, RENTCAFE.COM notes:

"With its mix of urban amenities and scenic natural landscapes, Portland, ME, metro area strikes that perfect balance between good living ( #5 for quality of life) and “location, location, location” ( #5 for location and community).

It’s no wonder, then, that the metro area is this year’s reigning champion when it comes to livability. After all, what’s better than the aesthetic of a historic port area?

What is the Portland metro area’s claim to fame?

- Great higher education opportunities
- Steady income growth
- Plenty of sports facilities
- Fresh food sources
- Diverse health care providers
- Who is this metro area perfect for? Fitness enthusiasts, foodies and young professionals looking for a lifestyle that promotes a work/life balance.

Visual of Portland, ME metro area's rankings.

https://www.rentcafe.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2024/10/Portland-ME-8.png

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., CORTEX Innovation Community, St. Louis

08/15/2024

JOHN BERGLUND'S INSIGHTS ON
"DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS PROGRESS"

Starwood Group John Berglund — Jim McKelvey’s partner in the high tech adaptive reuse of the former St. Louis Post-Dispatch HQ into The Post Building — did a terrific interview this morning on KTRS with McGraw Milhaven on the future of downtown St. Louis, including the emergence of St. Louis’ newest Innovation District:

- the Downtown North Insight District;

- The Post Building;

-The Globe Building; and,

- T-Rex and NGA Moon Shot Labs.

The interview is well worth a listen:

John Berglund with The Starwood Group: McGraw Show 8 - 14 - 24
KTRS 550am
August 14, 2024. 29:56 Minutes

John Berglund with The Starwood Group: McGraw Show 8 - 14 - 24 by KTRS 550 am SoundCloud

https://lnkd.in/gVTvfe35

Also attached is a related international article published this past week by GEOSPATIAL WORLD MAGAZINE on the new District and St. Louis’ aspirations to become a Global Geospatial Intelligence Hub:

"St. Louis Continues to Emerge as a Geospatial Intelligence, FinTech and Data Center Hub."
Geospatial World Magazine | Summer 2024 Quarterly Issue, Pages 48 to 50. https://lnkd.in/g9_A99sr

John Berglund of The Starwood Group: McGraw Show 8 - 14 - 24 by KTRS 550am, McGraw Milhaven (pictured below).
soundcloud.com

05/17/2024

PAYING TRIBUTE TO PATTY HAGEN AND HER CIVIC VISION

May 17, 2024

As the St. Louis delegation gathered in Orlando earlier this month at the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation's (USGIF) GEOINT2024 Symposium to showcase St. Louis' emergence as a Geospatial Intelligence leader, we received the sad news that our longtime civic colleague, Patty Hagen, had unexpectedly passed away from a brain aneurism.

For over a decade, Patty had served as the inspirational leader of St. Louis' top entrepreneurial incubator, the T-Rex Innovation Center. She brought energy, verve, and welcoming support to tech start ups in St. Louis from the day she became President and Executive Director of T-Rex in 2014.

In recent years, she also partnered with Steve Stone of The Globe Building and John Berglund of The Post Building in the creation of St. Louis' newest innovation district --- Downtown North, which she and her civic partners described as "An Urban Insight District at the Heart of America."

In addition, Patty and T-Rex partnered with Mark Munsell of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) in establishing NGA's "Moon Shot Labs," located at T-Rex.

It seems like just yesterday that Patty was welcoming guests to T-Rex for the preview of the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation's (USGIF) program in advance of their May 5-8 Orlando GEOINT 2024 Symposium.

A fond and lasting memory of Patty's upbeat energy and vision for entrepreneurship in St. Louis was captured in the inaugural interview of her by John Berglund for the podcast, IN SIGHT CITY, several weeks ago:

Insight City PodcastInsight City Podcast87 followers87 followers3w • 3 weeks ago

Episode 1 — In the premiere episode of Insight City, John Berglund interviews Patricia Hagen, PhD, Executive Director of T-REX Innovation Center, about the organization’s origins, the keys to cultivating a thriving innovation community, and how strategic partnerships with the NGA are establishing Downtown North St. Louis as an emerging hub for geospatial startups and innovators.

YouTube: https://lnkd.in/dhsZYjvm

Apple: https://lnkd.in/dmy9Aytp

Spotify: https://lnkd.in/dVgkhFsG

Patty Hagen will be missed, and her many contributions to entrepreneurship in St. Louis will be a tribute to her work here.

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., St. Louis

05/16/2024

LONDON-BASED FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT ALLIANCE MAGAZINE FEATURES ST. LOUIS' GROWING GEOINT & FINTECH SECTORS IN THE CURRENT MAY 2024 ISSUE

As St. Louis continues to promote its Geospatial Intelligence (GEOINT) and Fin Tech assets, London-based Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Magazine has published a feature article on St. Louis' Downtown North Insight District, The Globe Building, The Post Building, T-Rex, and NGA's Moon Shot Labs:

"ESRI AND BLOCK JOIN OTHER GEOSPATIAL AND FIN TECH LEADERS LOCATING IN ST. LOUIS' NEWEST INNOVATION DISTRICT."
Foreign Direct Investment Alliance (FDI) Magazine
May 2024
https://lnkd.in/gWSPFDPF

St. Louis is in good company: this edition of the magazine features a cover story on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s initiative, an article by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Canada’s economic development focus, and articles by other state and regional economic development officials.

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., St. Louis, MO

05/07/2024

ST. LOUIS GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE IS SPOTLIGHTED AT U.S. GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE FOUNDATION ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM THIS WEEK IN ORLANDO

Some 4,000 public and private sector leaders in the Geospatial Intelligence sector have gathered today thru Wednesday for the United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF)Annual Symposium, being held this year in Orlando at 2024.

As St. Louis continues to promote its GEOINT and FIN TECH assets, the London-based Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Magazine today published a feature article on the Downtown North Insight District, The Globe Building, The Post Building, T-Rex, and NGA's Moon Shot Labs:

"ESRI AND BLOCK JOIN OTHER GEOSPATIAL AND FIN TECH LEADERS LOCATING INST. LOUIS' NEWEST INNOVATION DISTRICT." May 6, 2024
https://lnkd.in/gWSPFDPF

In addition to the cover story by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on his state's Life Sciences , Bio Tech, and Robotics sectors --- St. Louis' article on its Geospatial Intelligence sector was flanked by articles in FDI Magazine by the Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona; Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia; Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky; and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (the latter was particularly timely, given that a St. Louis delegation was just in Canada promoting economic collaboration and new direct air serve between St. Louis and Montreal this past week).

A strong delegation of St. Louis GEOINT and economic development leaders are here promoting St. Louis' emerging GEOINT industry cluster via an exhibition created by ST LOUIS MADE.

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., St. Louis, MO

05/01/2024

ST. LOUIS' EMERGENCE AS GEOSPATIAL HUB HAS A "SECRET WEAPON"
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/st-louis-geospatial-hub-has-secret-weapon-dick-fleming-f63gc/?trackingId=iJ3FTHTYT76IGAmelcrqPg%3D%3D

05/01/2024

St. Louis is quickly becoming a Geospatial Intelligence Hub, and it has a "secret weapon."

Check it out.

St. Louis' Geospatial Hub Has A "Secret Weapon"
https://lnkd.in/gDrUYy7q

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc.m St. Louis, MO

03/03/2024

MARILYN MELKONIAN: OUR NATION LOSES ANOTHER BRAVE LEADER IN REVITALIZING CITIES

Marilyn made the world a better place.

Marilyn Melkonian Obituary, Washington Post, March 2024 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/marilyn-melkonian-obituary?id=54510592

I had forgotten her role in the movie industry with George Lucas on “Return of the Jedi," following our work together at HUD in the Carter Administration and prior to her forming Telesis Corporation 35 years ago.

She was a wonderful woman, a great friend, and terrific civic colleague.

Losing both Marilyn and Steve Coyle in the space of 2 months is very sad.

STEVE COYLE: NATION LOSES "A CITY BUILDING LEADER"
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/steve-coyle-nation-loses-city-building-leader-dick-fleming-ghaoc/

The 3 of us worked together for 4 years at HUD — with Steve as the Chief of Staff to Secretary Patricia Roberts Harris, and Marilyn and me serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning & Development, respectively.

Life’s simply too short.

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., St. Louis, MO

03/03/2024

MARILYN MELKONIAN: OUR NATION LOSES ANOTHER BRAVE LEADER IN THE REVITALIZING CITIES

Marilyn made the world a better place.

Marilyn Melkonian Obituary, Washington Post, March 2024 https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/washingtonpost/name/marilyn-melkonian-obituary?id=54510592

I had forgotten her role in the movie industry with George Lucas on “Return of the Jedi," following our work together at HUD in the Carter Administration and prior to her forming Telesis Corporation 35 years ago.

She was a wonderful woman, a great friend, and terrific civic colleague.

Losing both Marilyn and Steve Coyle in the space of 2 months is very sad.

STEVE COYLE: NATION LOSES "A CITY BUILDING LEADER"
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/steve-coyle-nation-loses-city-building-leader-dick-fleming-ghaoc/

The 3 of us worked together for 4 years at HUD — with Steve as the Chief of Staff to Secretary Patricia Roberts Harris, and Marilyn and me serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Community Planning & Development, respectively.

Life’s simply too short.

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., St. Louis, MO

11/07/2022

T-REX: GROWING ST. LOUIS GEOSPATIAL INTELLIGENCE "ONE STARTUP AT A TIME" IN DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS' NEWEST INNOVATION DISTRICT

I'm pleased to report on the continuing progress of St. Louis' newest Innovation District ---the Downtown North Insight District --- in the current issue of India-based Geospatial World Magazine, pages 49 to 51 (link below).

The Downtown North District is a joint civic venture of John Berglund and Jim McKelvey Co-Founders of the Starwood Group; Steve Stone, owner and developer of The Globe Building; and Dr. Patty Hagen, Executive Director and CEO of the T-Rex incubator.

While the early focus of articles on the St. Louis Downtown North Insight District has been on the dramatic adaptive reuses of both the 226,000 square foot former HQ of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch becoming the new home for 1,400 employees of Square and CashApp, and of the 720,000 square foot Art Deco Globe Building as the St. Louis “location of choice” for major Geospatial Intelligence and other tech firms --- this article focuses on the third founding partner in the creation of this new Urban Insight District at the Heart of America, T-REX.

T-REX, located virtually around the corner from The Globe Building, was founded in 2011 as a nonprofit technology innovation and entrepreneurial development facility with a mission to support inclusive economic development in these areas.

Also this month, FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) International Alliance Magazine --- the London-based publication focused on national and international site selection executives and investors --- has just published on St. Louis GEOINT:

"Bridging the Gap Between Economic Development and Site Selection." | FDI International Alliance Magazine | November 2022 | Pages 66 to 69
https://lnkd.in/gvbmmbsu

With completion of the NGA/West HQ slated for early 2026 --- the parallel development of the Downtown North Insight District can be a unique asset in St. Louis’ quest to become a Global Geospatial Hub.

No one captures the significance of the Downtown North and St. Louis’ GEOINT Hub potential better than Robert Cardillo, former Director of NGA when the site selection decision in 2016 to locate the NGA/West Campus in North St. Louis. In addition to now heading his own firm, Cardillo presently serves as Board Chairman of the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF).

Commenting on the new District when visiting The Globe, Robert observed “Quite frankly, my excitement is about being here and seeing this renovation. This is what I was imagining happening --- it’s actually happening.” He continued, “Connective tissue that wasn’t there before is starting to happen. There’s a real momentum here in North St. Louis, and it’s building on itself.”

-- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., St. Louis

Showcasing the most lucrative investment destinations in the world to site selectors and decision makers.

04/18/2021

The Clean Economy has arrived!

--- Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc., CIC@4220, CORTEX Innovation District, St. Louis, MO

Venture capital firms are raising hundreds of millions of dollars to invest in climate proptech solutions as they expect to see increased industry adoption.

01/18/2020

‪ brings back fond memories of campaign 4 yrs ago to keep & expand NGA & its 3100-job HQ in .‬

‪In Nov 2019, NGA broke ground on $1.75-billion NGA HQ at NorthSide. This was the civic campaign pitch:
‬
‪“NGA Civic Campaign - 2016”‬
‪https://youtu.be/Yeo33s-6PoM‬

— Dick Fleming, CEO, Community Development Ventures, Inc, CIC@4220, CORTEX Innovation District, St. Louis, MO

Government, Clergy, and Business Leaders come together to help the NGA decide to stay in St. Louis.