Economic Development Panel Meets Thursday To Talk About Business Retention

The City of Olivette has some success stories to tell when it comes to businesses, and is looking at ways to do that while making the city home to more of them. That's part of what's on the agenda for Olivette's Economic Development Commission when it meets Thursday at 6 p.m. 

Earlier this month, Commission chair Greg Springer gave city council members the broad outlines of a brochure and other efforts the panel is looking at when it comes to attracting and retaining businesses.

Springer pointed to marketing materials put out by the Creve Coeur-Olivette Chamber of Commerce that, while not intentional, doesn't necessarily extoll the virtues of living in and doing business in Olivette as much as it could. At that meeting earlier this month, Springer won some assurance that council members would not act in the immediate term on ordinances that could bring changes to Motor-Vehicle Oriented businesses, like those involving drive-thru services, convenience stores and gas stations. The delay would give Springer and others time to take the pulse of outside business interests and developers about coming to the city.

Thursday's meeting will also address the idea of business retention. Springer had mentioned the case of Great Harvest's move out of town in those previous discussions with council members and characterized the move as a result of a "landlord" issue more than an Olivette issue.

Thursday's meeting starts at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers.