Express Scripts is bringing 300 new jobs to the Saint Louis North County region.  The positions are needed to fulfill the mission of the new Technology and Innovation Center.  The facility is located in St. Louis, MO near the company headquarters.

The facility will process mail-order prescriptions within the 224,000 sq. ft. facility.  Express Scripts is referring to the facility as high-tech.  The advances in technology, according to the company, will bring a safer product that ultimately will contribute to lowering healthcare costs.

The facility was made possible partially by the State of Missouri financial incentives to retain job growth within the state.

Source: Express Scripts press room

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon stopped by St. Louis Community College at Forest Park to announce the expenditure of $12,000,000 to re-train those in technology.  The program is officially called “Training for Tomorrow.”

One thing that is clear.  The last place to provide money for training is state funded colleges.  I know from first-hand experience.  The college will receive a set amount of money after meeting the application criteria.  The money is then tossed into an account at St. Louis Community College and then the wasteful spending begins.

The first priority is to benefit the college then the student.  You have probably heard of the typical scenario whereas a budget is established and the goal is to burn it before the end of the fiscal year to obtain the same or higher budget?  Never in a college is there an objective to save money.

This is not to say the money will not go to training in High-Technology as intended.  It certainly will.  Unfortunately, St. Louis Community College will use the funds and burn a good portion of it on wasteful administration, committees, and delegations to subordinate administrators.

The money should be distributed to trade schools throughout the state operating on smaller budgets.  This would provide training at more locations, but also enhance training with more efficient budget management.