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Missouri Jobs Are Top Priority for Long-Term Growth

JANUARY 21, 2010 - Missouri Governor Jay Nixon toured Sigma-Aldrich, Thursday morning, to detail his three-part 2010 Jobs Package to grow businesses, invest in science and technology and provide new job training opportunities.

Missouri Jobs Are Top Priority for Long-Term Economic Growth
by Betty Moore, SLFP.com
ST. LOUIS, MO, (SLFP.com), January 25, 2010- "We are not waiting around to create jobs in the Show Me state," said Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, January 21, the morning after delivering his second State of the State address in Jefferson City.

Governor Nixon detailed his proposed 2010 Jobs Package during a tour of Sigma-Aldrich, a leading international life-sciences company, with headquarters in St. Louis.

Governor Nixon stated that progress has been made in Missouri over the past year. "We passed a jobs bill to provide additional tools to help our businesses grow. Yesterday, we made national history by freezing tuition at all two and four year institutions of higher education for the second year in a row."

The Governor commended Sigma-Aldrich for their scientific and technological innovations. "We are here today standing on the ground floor of one of the great companies of the world - a company that continues to make a difference in helping lives all across the world."

Sigma-Aldrich, which operates in 38 countries and has 7,800 employees worldwide, was recently recognized for its scientific breakthrough for creating 'knockout rats' used for disease research. Over one million scientists and technologists use its products.

In an interview with Saint Louis Front Page following the press conference, Governor Nixon stated that "When talk about science and technology and investing in Missouri workers, you talk about rewarding Missouri companies like Sigma-Aldrich that have been loyal stewards of our state. Being able to give them additional incentives when they expand, gives us a chance to step up on the playing field and lead our way out of the recession."

When asked how he planned to bridge the technology gap, the Governor responded enthusiastically, "As I said last night in my State of the State address, we are leaning forward in trying to make sure that Missouri is one of the leading states in getting federal dollars when it comes to broadband."

"I really do believe that it's the railroad to the future. It's the super highway of the information technology. We want to make sure that all across the Show Me state, people have access to the digital world," he emphasized.

The Governor's 2010 Jobs Package includes three major components. The Missouri First and Missouri Science and Innovation Reinvestment Act (MOSIRA) will require legislative approval. The Training for Tomorrow, a $12 million investment in job-training programs at Missouri community colleges, does not require legislative approval.

"The economic challenges we face are tough, but I know the people of Missouri are tougher," Governor Nixon said. "We are going to turn these funds around quickly and meet the workforce demands and get hard working Missourians back to work."

Following the stop in St. Louis, the Governor planned to visit Aptuit, a global pharmaceutical company in Kansas City.

Edward Jones Ranks No. 2 by FORTUNE Magazine
KANSAS CITY, MO, (kansascityfrontpage.com), January 25, 2010 - The financial-services firm Edward Jones ranked No. 2 on FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For 2010" list in its 11th year on the prestigious list. Edward Jones also ranked No. 1 for large-sized companies.

Edward Jones' 11 FORTUNE rankings also include top 10 finishes for eight years and consecutive No. 1 rankings in 2002 and 2003. This is the firm's second consecutive year at No. 2.

"I think people feel good about working here, in part, because of the work we do," said Jim Weddle, Edward Jones' managing partner. "We work with individual investors and help them make their lives just a little bit better. Perhaps because of the work they've done with us, they can send their children to college, they can retire a little earlier or with greater comfort. It's important work. It's work that we earn every day. It's a privilege to work with our clients. I think our associates feel good about that work."

In naming Edward Jones to the list, FORTUNE editors said: "The investment adviser weathered the recession without closing one of its 12,615 offices or laying off a single employee. Salaries were frozen, but profit sharing continued."

"This honor is especially gratifying in the face of adversity and challenges the financial-services industry has faced the last two years," Weddle said. "But we were able to stay focused on the long-term because we are a partnership and we know who we are and what we do. We had no layoffs. We had to make some difficult decisions in terms of cutting back expenses, which we did successfully. But when you respect the people who work here, you take care of them - not just in the good times, but the difficult times as well."

According to FORTUNE Deputy Managing Editor Hank Gilman, "The most important considerations for this year's list were hiring and the ways in which companies are helping their employees weather the recession. All 100 companies on our list are currently hiring, representing a total of more than 92,000 open job positions."

Currently, Edward Jones has more than 600 positions available throughout the country. The most positions open are that of financial advisor and branch office administrator. Each Edward Jones branch office includes one financial advisor and one branch office administrator who work one on one with clients in the communities where those clients live.

To pick the "100 Best Companies to Work For," FORTUNE partners with the Great Place to Work® Institute -- a global research and consulting firm with offices in 30 countries -- to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America. St. Louis-based companies Scottrade, Monsanto and Build-A-Bear Workshop also made the list.

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