“We were having a hard time recruiting to St. Louis” (Clark: 2013, construction)

[chicagobear]

As a St. Louis native, I really wish the area could turn itself around. Lambert is a real problem. Relatives complain about fewer flights and the lack of non-stop flights.

From Crain's Chicago Business

Contractors signed $8.5 billion in development deals in the Chicago area last year, the highest level since 2008, and contracts this year were up 18 percent through the end of May, according to New York-based McGraw-Hill Construction. No local company in the industry—indeed, no local company that responded to Crain's survey—has added jobs at the rate of Clayco, which increased in size to 325 employees in 2013 from 25 in 2010. Clayco's Chicago-area revenue grew to $320 million last year, up 23 percent from 2012.

Yet the firm is something of an outlier in the construction business. Though the market's recovery has brought in more work, Mr. Clark says the company's torrid hiring stems largely from two decisions: One, he moved the company's headquarters to Chicago from St. Louis in 2013 because he thought it would be easier to recruit employees here. “We were having a hard time recruiting to St. Louis,” Mr. Clark says. (Chicago's gain has not been a loss for St. Louis, where Clayco still employs about 700.)

[Hector2]

It is not terribly uncommon to hear of executives of StL companies who fly in for the workweek and then back out to Chicago, NYC, Boston for the weekend. In fact, if I remember correctly, the head of one of St. Louis' big tub-thumping organizations like the RCGA didn't even live here but flew in and out every week. Can't remember the details.

The flight situation is part of the problem. It's a reason that InBev moved the the executive offices to NYC. There's also St. Louis' image which...well, for most people on the coasts St. Louis often has no image. In other words, it doesn't register at all.

[DogtownBnR]

It is pretty easy to grow, when you are best political buddies with Rahm Emanuel. I would have to think, Mr. Clarks Chicago connections, have played a major role in his success there.

[OuttaTheLouBurbs]

I think the problem is that St. Louis does not provide a sustainable business climate. We're good for startups, but once businesses become more established they tend to want to move. I think we need to find a way to not only get businesses started but also keep them here. We need to see why they move away and fix those problems.

[bootled]

"We were having a hard time recruiting to St. Louis [at the rate we want to pay]"

Fixed that for you.

[billiken]

^ That's not the way I'd read it...particularly if they moved their HQ to Chicago. Payroll costs are higher there.