There are many factors that have gone into the growth of the BioBelt in the St. Louis metro.

The region’s strong research base is exploring some of the world’s most difficult plant and life sciences questions. Researchers in the BioBelt are leading the charge to unlock the mysteries of the human genome and are providing answers on everything from HIV/AIDS to water pollution cleanup.

Also, a large number of companies and institutions have invested substantially in the technology infrastructure for the region.

The 390 plant and life sciences enterprises based in the St. Louis metro employ 22,000 workers and have an economic impact of more than $10.5 billion, according to the Battelle Memorial Institute.

Expansions in the metro mean the biotech region will continue to grow.

Gateway Medical Research Inc., a privately held clinical research firm specializing in bioequivalence testing of generic drugs, is expanding its headquarters in St. Charles, Mo., in the St. Louis metro to meet the demand in the pharmacy sector for clinical research organizations to perform bioequivalent testing and bring generic drugs to the market.

“Our current 50,000 square foot, single story facility houses six spacious clinics, with a capacity of 300 study participants,” said Donna Wolff, director of finance for Gateway Medical Research. “The new expanded clinical research space will provide an additional 53,000 square feet and increase our capabilities from 300 to 500 beds.”

With the expansion, Gateway Medical Research anticipates an increase in personnel to 80 full-time employees and 180 per diem technical staff. Currently, the company employs a professional staff of about 60 specialists, along with a per diem technical staff of 150 paramedics, EMTs, phlebotomists and support personnel.

Throughout the growth and expansion of the company, the emphasis continues to be excellence in management; accurate, timely and well-conducted studies; recruitment of experienced professionals; and strict adherence to protocol and sponsor requirements, Wolff said.

“The added space will have a positive impact on the St. Charles community by funneling additional revenue into the area through increased staff, construction loans, contractor utilization, busier labs and by engaging more area volunteers,” Wolff said. “Of course, the greatest benefit is that more generic drugs will be taken safely to market, which can reduce health care and insurance costs for all of us.”

The expansion should be complete this year, Wolff said.

Another life sciences company has completed its expansion in St. Charles County. Linco Diagnostic Services Inc. has completed a new 52,000 square foot bioanalytical and administrative facility on 6 acres within the Missouri Research Park.

Linco Diagnostics conducts laboratory analysis of testing kits related to high growth research areas such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis.

Linco Diagnostic is the sister company to fellow Missouri Research Park tenant Linco Research Inc., which researches and develops test kits in these same areas.

Both companies serve pharmaceutical, biotechnology and academic clients throughout the United States and internationally.

Prior to building their new headquarters, Linco Diagnostic occupied 8,000 square feet within one of Linco Research’s two Missouri Research Park buildings.

Linco Diagnostic’s new building is located in proximity to Linco Research’s buildings, forming a triangle of facilities totaling more than 80,000 square feet.

The facility features five state-of-the-art laboratories, the two largest of which are 3,500 square feet and 1,500 square feet. The building also provides enhanced sample management capabilities and is equipped with a high-tech security system that allows workers to easily move about the laboratories.

Thirty-five employees currently work for Linco Diagnostic.

Linco Diagnostic has about 12,000 square feet of undeveloped space within their new headquarters for future expansion. The company also has access to adjacent land, which could eventually support a 40,000 square foot facility.

The Missouri Research Park is the first business park in the St. Louis region to market exclusively to technology-intensive and research-based companies.

The 200-acre complex, with more than 1.2 million square feet, has been a catalyst for development along a high-tech corridor in St. Charles County. Fourteen companies and three government facilities within the park employ about 1,800 people.

Grant Helps Manufacturer Expand

A state grant has helped the city of Washington attract automotive supply manufacturer Harman Becker Automotive Systems Manufacturing to its industrial park. The new company will invest $26 million in a manufacturing facility and employ 200 workers within three years.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development approved a request from the city of Washington for a $250,000 industrial infrastructure grant through its Community Development Block Grant program. The funds will help pay for the infrastructure improvements necessary to accommodate the expansion.

Harman Becker is a wholly owned subsidiary of Franklin, Ky.,-based Harman International Industries Inc. The company manufactures navigation and digitally integrated infotainment systems, primarily for the automotive industry.

The company will manufacture both navigation and infotainment systems at the new site to accommodate the growing market for these products. Construction is expected to be complete by December.

The CDBG funds will help the city make street, sewer and storm water retention basin improvements.

As a result, the intersection serving the industrial park will be upgraded to accommodate additional truck and automobile traffic, water and sanitary sewer facilities will be expanded to service the new facility and storm drainage retention facilities will be built to control water runoff.

The company will also receive job training funds from the state’s Division of Workforce Development, and the Missouri Development Finance Board has granted preliminary approval for the use of $1 million in BUILD Missouri bonds.

The city, through the Washington Redevelopment Corp., is also providing financial assistance for the project, as well as property tax abatement through Chapter 100 bonds.