Industrial investments shape St. Francois County’s future
Several of the communities in the area have their own development plans calling for new investments, but the focus here will be investment and development in unincorporated St. Francois County, even though several municipalities will reap significant benefits.
During conversations with the St. Francois County Commissioners recently, it was revealed that within the next 10 years, nearly $500 million worth of investment in new industries will take place in this county. This is an investment by companies planning construction and operation throughout the county; no government funds or taxpayer dollars are involved in this. Major investments like these usually cause other companies or individuals to then invest in the surrounding areas, with the initial investment acting as an anchor or magnet.
Investing Businesses
IKO, an international shingle manufacturer, recently broke ground on a $120 million complex at Trap Rock in the southwest portion of the county. When completed by 2026, the facility, called Bismarck Granules, will initially employ 50 workers and when the plant reaches full production, employment will rise to 75-100 full-time employees. IKO signed a 99-year lease agreement, which indicates its commitment to the project. The granules will be shipped by rail to IKO facilities for manufacturing shingles across the country.
The gas for this industry, and several other perspective companies, will be provided by the City of Bismarck, which owns a natural gas line that serves Bismarck and that portion of the county. Bismarck received a $7 million grant, and IKO contributed $8 million to rebuild the pipeline and expand capacity. Bismarck will now have the ability to buy natural gas at a lower price, store it, utilize it when prices rise, and pass the savings on to its customers. Funds will give the community the ability to develop long-range plans for Bismarck. In the words of Mayor Seth Radford, “Bismarck is open for business.”
County officials indicated that the possibility of another investment in the same area was a definite possibility, with an investment of a minimum of $100 million. Couple this with the interest shown by at least one and possibly two smaller industries in Bismarck proper, and the southwest corner of the county becomes a potential hotbed of investment and activity. With this, industrial development will follow satellite businesses and housing.
Ameren announced plans, at the March 4 St. Francois County Commission meeting, to develop 1,000 megawatts of battery storage in the county, near the Hazel Run substation. The cost of developing such a facility is, “$100 million,” according to Presiding Commissioner Harold Gallaher.
Mississippi Lime purchased the Dolomite facility on Old Bonne Terre Road. The upgrade to the facility includes state-of-the-art kilns, construction of a laboratory for quality and application testing, expanding rail capabilities, and providing dolomitic quicklime for use in the steel and glass industries. The cost of this project, according to county officials familiar with the permits, is again a minimum of $100 million. MLC President and CEO Paul Hogan said, “This is a massive investment and undertaking, but it’s worth doing because it will create significant, measurable impacts for people and planet. The new kiln will enable MLC to produce dolomitic quicklime that meets tight specifications for impurities, meeting a range of customer needs in sectors such as steel and glass.” Completion is targeted for 2026.
Other factors: Industrial expansion brings with it the opportunity for growth in the housing market. The opening of the Berry Road bridge in late September or October will “Open up that whole north quadrant, northwest quadrant of the county,” said Commissioner Kary Buckley. Continuing, he related, “We’ve been told that there’s one gap where 110 acres is going to be developed for housing.”
A factor in the expansion of housing is that St. Francois County is the first county south of St. Louis without planning and zoning. Presiding Commissioner Gallaher stated, “That’s a big factor. If you’re going to build a house, do you want to build it in Jefferson County with all the inspections and requirements or move five miles south and put it here with a $30,000 or $40,000 savings?
Buckley added that the cost of building a 1,800 square foot home in St. Francois County would cost $38,000 less than to build the identical house in Jefferson County. Add to that, Buckley said, “You can literally drive from there to Festus as quickly as you can drive to Farmington,” which makes the northern part of the county an attractive alternative.
There were 110 new homes constructed in St. Francois County last year. A new house is defined as completed and occupied for tax purposes. And there are ruminations of interest in finding properties for an expanded industrial park in the unincorporated county.
Conclusion: St. Francois County is an attractive area for recreation, residency, and now industrial expansion. It is a logical progression. The next 10 years will see significant growth in both unincorporated and incorporated regions of the county. As time marches on, the face of the county will continue to change. It is best to prepare to move forward by learning from the past.
Dan Schunks is a staff writer for the Daily Journal. He can be reached at dschunks@dailyjournalonline.com.
