The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) has chosen a north St. Louis location as its future western headquarters. The $1.75 billion development project will be located near downtown St. Louis.

Photo courtesy of the NGA's website

Future site of NGA’s western HQ. Photo courtesy of the NGA’s website.

Illinois officials fought to get NGA officials to make Scott Air Force base the preferred site.

Several Missouri officials have been lobbying the NGA to expand in St. Louis.

“This is a proud day for St. Louis and for the entire State of Missouri,” said Governor Jay Nixon (D). “This was a tough, high-stakes competition, and St. Louis won decisively.  Not only will Missouri remain home to one of our nation’s most important intelligence agencies, but soon a new state-of-the-art facility will revitalize and transform a blighted area into a safe and vibrant neighborhood. Today’s final decision by the NGA to stay and expand in St. Louis is a shining testament to this region’s vitality, competitiveness, and its people – the hardest working, most innovative men and women in the world. I applaud St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay and the many public and private sector partners who contributed to this landmark achievement, as well as Robert Cardillo and his team at the NGA for making the right decision to stay and grow in our great state.”

St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger also says the NGA made the right decision to remain in St. Louis.

“We have supported this location throughout the process because it is the best for the NGA and the entire St. Louis region. Building its new facility in St. Louis benefits both the agency and its employees. Because the vast majority of its workforce lives in St. Louis County and the city of St. Louis, this site is the most accessible of the finalists,” said Stenger.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) has met with NGA Director Robert Cardillo several times to discuss keeping NGA West in Missouri. He also met with NGA Deputy Director Sue Gordon at NGA West last July to discuss plans for the new facility.

“Missouri has supported the NGA’s critical mission for more than 70 years, and I’m proud that we will continue doing so for decades to come,” Blunt said. “With today’s decision, the NGA has rightly acknowledged the numerous benefits St. Louis provides to the current and future generation of intelligence professionals. I appreciate Director Cardillo’s careful consideration, and look forward to working with him to move this project forward as quickly as possible.”

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-Missouri) urged President Obama, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to support the North St. Louis site for NGA operations.

“NGA made the right call, both for the agency and for St. Louis—and it’s great news for more than 3,000 employees and a proud 72-year legacy on the front lines of American intelligence right here in Missouri. St. Louis competed on merit and came out ahead, and it’s going to mean a boon to a community that’s already making enormous economic strides. This is what sustained, bipartisan cooperation can look like for Missouri, and for our national security,” said McCaskill.

Construction of the facility is expected to begin in mid-2017. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is in charge of building it.