On the Vine - April

The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Food, Agriculture, and Nutrition Innovation Center (JJK FAN) was officially unveiled this week. Located in East St. Louis, this new enterprise will provide quality youth and community programs in STEAM+Ag and ignite economic empowerment and community development in the region. JJK-FAN is a unique partnership of the Danforth Center, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Read more.

IMAGE: Logos of the Danforth Center, BioGenerator, The Yield Lab, and Arch Grants with a banner reading “New startups to STL.”

A New Crop of Startups

One of the many hurdles for young startups is funding. Through their annual competition, the nonprofit Arch Grants awards funds to early-stage companies who headquarter in St. Louis. Now, the Danforth Center, BioGenerator, and The Yield Lab are partnering with Arch Grants to fund a new track in this competition specifically for “AgriFoodTech” startups. The companies brought here thanks to this initiative will benefit from the 39 North innovation ecosystem and create new opportunities for our region. Read more.

IMAGE: Personnel behind the creation of the new 39 North childcare center.

Childcare Center Coming to 39 North

A new early childhood education center is coming to 39 North. The Danforth Center, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, and the city of Olivette have joined forces with YWCA Metro St. Louis to bring this much-needed service to the 600-acre innovation district. The new center will provide affordable childcare with STEM educational elements designed to foster a lifelong love of learning. Read more.

St. Louis, A Rising Star, Grows Workforce

The Brookings Institution recently called St. Louis a “Rising Star in Tech.” And as the Post-Dispatch states, our region needs workers to power this growing industry. That’s why the Danforth Center is partnering with St. Louis Community College Center for Plant and Life Sciences. This program, located in BRDG Park on the Danforth Center campus, aims to provide local students a pipeline to well-paying scientific jobs, and to provide local companies with a well-trained workforce. Learn about one graduate who is now working at New Leaf Symbiotics. Read more.

The Spring Leaflet is Here!

Want the latest stories from the Danforth Center? Check out the spring edition of the Leaflet. In this issue, you can learn about our ongoing work to combat climate change and preserve our natural environment and get caught up on all our most recent and important news. Read the Leaflet online here.

Give STL Day

This year, on May 5, the Danforth Center will be participating in Give STL Day, a 24-hour online day of giving to support regional nonprofits. If you would like to join us in our mission to improve the human condition through plant science, please consider making a gift to the Center this Give STL Day. Early donations are already being accepted. Click here to donate today.