Senate Approves Geospatial Innovation Act, Boosting St. Louis' GEOfutures Ambitions
Eric Schmitt meets with leaders in geospatial technologies about transforming St. Louis into THE defense technology capital of the country.
The National Geospatial Innovation Hub Advancement Act, recently passed by the U.S. Senate as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, marks a significant step towards establishing St. Louis as a national hub for geospatial technology and workforce development. This act, championed by U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, aims to create a robust geospatial workforce in St. Louis by providing millions in federal funding for a program likely to be administered by NGA West[1].
The act includes a "Geospatial Workforce Pilot Program" designed to develop skilled professionals in geospatial technologies, methodologies, and capabilities to support the Department of Defense's intelligence requirements. This program could potentially be housed at NGA West, further cementing St. Louis' position in the geospatial sector[1].
Rendering of the new NGA West Campus in North St. Louis.
The initiative aligns with the GeoFutures Strategic Roadmap, which identifies scaling up geospatial talent and workforce development as a key priority for the region. Additionally, the Talent Initiative Working Group, led by former NGA Director Vice Adm. Robert Sharp, plans to conduct a talent and workforce programming landscape assessment in 2025, setting the stage for effective utilization of the federal funds[1][4].
The proposed program is expected to include partnerships with local and regional educational institutions for curriculum development, engagement with industry partners to align training with current and future demands, funding for training facilities and resources, and ongoing monitoring of training program effectiveness[1].
Senator Schmitt envisions St. Louis becoming the "defense tech capital of the United States." This act is expected to attract more talent to St. Louis, establish the city as a hub for defense technology, and provide a significant boost to the growing geospatial sector[1][3].
The initiative has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Sam Murphey, GSL Chief Strategy Officer, who expressed gratitude for Senator Schmitt's leadership. The act was also a priority for GSL's Policy Advisory Board[1].
VADM Robert Sharp, Director of the NGA meets with the GeoFutures STL team at GEOINT Symposium.
Funding for this initiative is substantial, with the committee-passed Defense Appropriations bill including $5 million for the act through normal appropriations processes. The Department of Defense will collaborate with local universities and private organizations, including the Taylor Geospatial Institute, to develop geospatial training skills that meet current defense industry needs[3].
This act represents a significant step towards positioning St. Louis as a global hub for geospatial technologies, aligning with the city's vision for 2030 as outlined in the GeoFutures Strategic Roadmap. It addresses the growing demand for geospatial expertise, driven by the proliferation of imagery and data in the field[1][3][4].
Citations:
[2] https://www.missouripartnership.com/major-industries/geospatial/
[4] https://greaterstlinc.com/our-work/strategic-initiatives/geofutures/geofutures-roadmap
[5] https://evntiv.net/geofutures-strategic-roadmap/
[7] https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5024/all-info
[8] https://www.linkedin.com/posts/nga_geospatial-ngainstl-activity-7235671181247336448-N80I
[9] https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/5024/text
