Downtown Engagement and Public Safety Initiative Highlights New Downtown Business, Successful 2021 GEOINT Symposium

The Downtown Engagement and Public Safety Initiative today hosted its weekly update recapping the weekend events that occurred Downtown and outline future efforts to activate downtown St. Louis. Mayor Jones highlighted Whisky on Washington, the first Black-owned bar of its kind in St. Louis, and owner David Shanks as a new small business to the neighborhood helping create positive spaces for residents downtown.

“While we have more work to do, I’m encouraged by the way we’re coming together - business, civic, community, and governmental leaders - to combine our resources and create positive spaces downtown,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “We hope unique small businesses like Whisky on Washington will help lead the way in revitalizing the neighborhood."

The update comes on the heels of the successful 2021 GEOINT Symposium last week. More than 3,000 attendees from various countries visited Downtown St. Louis for the four-day conference. With the NGA West campus under construction and the next GEOINT conference set for 2023 in the city, St. Louis is primed to be a leader in geospatial intelligence and technology, which as of 2019 contributed 27,000 jobs and nearly $5 billion in economic impact to the region.

“St. Louis was in the spotlight of the international geospatial industry last week, as more than 3,300 people registered to attend the Global GEOINT Symposium held Downtown,” said Greater St. Louis, Inc. CEO Jason Hall. “These guests came from across the United States and dozens of countries. GEOINT attendees filled hotels and restaurants, enjoyed Ballpark Village, toured the Next NGA West site north of Downtown, and walked the streets – all without incident. Downtown St. Louis shined on the global stage, setting the stage for even larger crowds in 2023 and 2025 when GEOINT returns to St. Louis.”

Interim Public Safety Director Dr. Dan Isom reported that there were no reported violent crimes downtown over the past weekend. The Downtown Engagement and Public Safety Initiative continues to meet on a weekly basis to provide updates and highlight upcoming events to activate the downtown area.