St. Louis Offers Prime Central U.S. Location for Gateway Studios & Production Services

Exciting New Industry Takes Advantage of All Missouri Offers

If you asked 100 people where the entertainment industry is based, the majority would mention hotspots like LA, Hollywood and Southern California. Or states like Tennessee, Kentucky or Texas with multiple cities that highlight their rich musical histories.

But the Gateway to the West is about to be on the map.

When Gateway Studios and Production Services (GSPS) is fully operational in Chesterfield, MO in 2024, the 32-acre facility will be one of the nation’s most sophisticated facilities for the live music touring, motion picture/television and corporate event industries.

GSPS offers professional audio, lighting, video and streaming services, and studio space for recording and rehearsing.

Bringing Together the Brightest of Industry Professionals

In 2020, GSPS assembled a team of professionals to build a world-class live-touring rehearsal complex and production services company from the ground up.

GSPS combines the latest technology with skilled engineers to manufacture the ultimate show for customers. Collectively, their team has over 100 years of experience in a wide variety of live events ranging from small shows to national tours headlined by the biggest names in the business.

“We are excited that the country’s largest music and video manufacturing center is being built in St. Louis County,” said St. Louis County Executive Dr. Sam Page. “The County is the economic engine of the region. Gateway Studios and this new industry for our region bring more jobs and investment opportunities with it.”¹

Ameren Missouri Shines with Power Planning and Ongoing Engineering Services

We always say that economic development is a team effort.

Multi-entity relationships help attract prospective businesses and work together to initiate projects and see them to completion. Through its close relationship with AllianceSTL (the primary economic development organization for Greater St. Louis) Ameren Missouri saw early involvement, working closely with ARCO Construction, the general contractor for the project.

First, Ameren’s engineering team worked with GSPS to determine that General Service Secondary power delivery would best meet the center’s initial and longer-term needs.

Continuing to Support Development and Looking to the Future

As the development of the project continues through construction and toward commissioning, Ameren’s engineering team remains actively involved to provide expertise and engineering services for line extension, connection and in-facility electrical systems.

During the planning process, Ameren also worked with the Gateway team to help them understand how to integrate future energy efficiency and electrification features into the facility design, such as electric vehicle charging.

GSPS Benefits from Key Incentives and State Subsidies

Attracting the Gateway facility to Greater St. Louis was powered by several very attractive economic incentives.

GSPS qualified for an Ameren Missouri economic development incentive that was available based on their project's particular needs. This incentive program evaluates applications for eligible existing and prospective customers looking to expand in Missouri.

Through its Missouri Works program, the State of Missouri has committed to up to $2.9 million in subsidies.

The third incentive comes from St. Louis County, which offered a 50%, 10-year abatement on real and personal property, as well as up to $130 million in Chapter 100 industrial development bonds.

Successful Economic Development Partnership and Growth

Rob Dixon, Director, Economic & Community Development at Ameren, said “Greater St. Louis and the state of Missouri captured this project against very strong competition from cities in Tennessee and Georgia, where the presence of the entertainment industry is well-entrenched. That’s a testament to the success of economic development in Missouri, when multiple agencies can collaborate to show a unique industry that Missouri is the right place to grow.”

1 Reischman, Alex. November 12, 2021. Gateway Studios Groundbreaking. STL Partnership. https://stlpartnership.com/gateway-studios-groundbreaking/