As shared by Greater St. Louis:

ICL, a leading global specialty minerals supply company with its U.S. headquarters in the metro, kicked off construction of its new $400 million advanced manufacturing facility today in south St. Louis. Greater St. Louis, Inc. joined ICL executives to welcome U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Warner Baxter, executive chairman of Ameren Corporation and GSL board member, and others, to celebrate the new facility — and the company’s commitment to the metro — at a groundbreaking ceremony.

The company received a $197 million federal grant last year to help build the new plant, which will manufacture the materials needed for lithium batteries used in sustainable energy storage solutions, like electric vehicles. ICL’s investment in St. Louis will add 150 high-paying manufacturing and professional jobs to the metro’s workforce, continuing momentum for the metro’s advanced manufacturing sector and advancing clean energy growth in the U.S. 

In addition to working closely with local unions to recruit and train individuals for these new jobs, ICL — a GSL Chair’s Council member — is partnering with local community, student, and civic organizations to ensure it reaches diverse communities and underserved areas.

“This is yet another huge win for St. Louis and our advanced manufacturing sector,” said Jason Hall, CEO of GSL, which provided support to ICL through the development of its grant proposal. “This facility represents a key milestone in the resurgence of St. Louis, and in the movement to reshore manufacturing and drive new technologies to help the economy and our environment.

“ICL’s corporate theme for 2023 is ‘A Year of Partnership,’ and this investment is a demonstration of public-private partnership at its best,” added Hall. “ICL is helping to lead St. Louis’ resurgence, and we are proud to partner with them.”

ICL employs nearly 800 people in the U.S., more than 300 of whom work in the St. Louis region at the company’s corporate offices in Creve Coeur, its research and innovation hub in Webster Groves, and its production campus in the Carondelet neighborhood in South St. Louis City. In 2021, ICL opened a new, 10,000-square-foot plant that will produce more than 15 million pounds of plant-based meat substitute.

Following the ceremony, the ICL Board of Directors hosted their Board meeting here at Conflux Co-Learning!