The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) announced that St. Louis will be the site for the Next NGA West Campus.

Working closely with policymakers, intelligence professions as well as the Armed Forces the NGA provides world-class geospatial information to help make informed decisions. The NGA currently has a facility located near Anheuser-Busch brewery in the Soulard neighborhood.

There are four sites being considered for the new campus; a site in Fenton, one in Mehlville, one in St. Louis City and a site in St. Clair County in Illinois.

Recently, St. Louis Alderman approved the development of 100-acers in North St. Louis. Of the four sites the agency is looking into, the St. Louis City, is the preferred location.

“There is going to be a lot of jobs,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay. “It will help be an anchor and attraction of development all around it. We already have plans for housing development, grocery store, for gas stations for different things you’ll need in a community. It will send a message that big things are possible.”

The St. Louis government will be working to prep the surrounding area before the Federal government begins construction of the new campus.

In order to complete the prep work the city plans to utilize local workers and companies.

“We are concentrating on making sure we have a high level of minority and also local workers,” said Mayor Slay. “This is going to be a community project. This isn’t going to just be a federal project. This is going be a community project.”