With 16 private company tenants and nine university units already functioning within Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s University Park, SIUE is seeking to expand its client base at the 330-acre site.
“University Park provides a unique opportunity for private sector emerging industries and businesses to enhance their competitive positions through beneficial relationships with SIUE,” said Jim Pennekamp, special assistant to the chancellor for economic development and University Park executive director.
Tenants of University Park at SIUE are close to valuable human resources, including a capable base of student interns, a highly skilled pool of potential employees and faculty researchers. Today, University Park includes:
- 151,071 square feet of space—95 percent of which is occupied
- 169 full-time and 93 part-time employees, and 103 student workers
- University Park companies have hired 50 SIUE graduates
- Five SIUE-owned buildings, four privately owned buildings and two UP owned buildings
“The University plays a critical role in advancing the region’s economic development and future success,” said SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe. “It is the commitment of all parties involved that make SIUE a destination University—not only for students, but also for researchers and entrepreneurs.”
Private companies are a major component to the success of the region and University Park. A total of 16 private companies in University Park provide 71 full-time jobs, 74 part-time positions and opportunities for 20 student workers. Nine SIUE units in University Park employ 98 people full-time and provide 19 part-time opportunities along with 83 student worker jobs.
The American Red Cross (ARC) recently returned 15 prime acres to University Park. The ARC had planned to build a blood processing center and national testing laboratory on the SIUE site to replace its 50-year-old St. Louis facility. The ARC will not build the project in University Park or any other location in the foreseeable future.