Urban Training Center to be Built on LCRA Property

Facility to train hundreds of individuals a year

After issuing a request for proposals to redevelop land owned in Wellston, Mo., the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the County of St. Louis (LCRA) has announced that the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) will build an Urban Training Center at Plymouth Industrial Park, located at 6440 Page Avenue. The proposal for the new facility from the LiUNA’s Missouri and Kansas Laborers District Council (MKLDC) was approved by the LCRA’s Board of Commissioners on Nov. 19.

“With this project, LCRA believes this new development will help the region’s job market and economy,” said Jami Dolby, chair of the LCRA. “We feel like this project in Wellston is the perfect fit to not only find a purpose for land that needed to be redeveloped but also train hundreds of individuals looking for a new career or skillset. We look forward to working with LiUNA on this new facility.”

“Workforce development is essential to the growth of our region and builds pathways to successful careers,” said County Executive Sam Page. “Our new 2050 Comprehensive Plan highlights the need for upskilling and training to bridge the gap between available workers and employer needs. I look forward to the training center helping us meet these goals.”

Created in partnership with the Associated General Contractors (AGC), SITE Improvement Association and the Mason Contractors Association, this state-of-the-art facility will strengthen the region’s construction workforce.

Located near the Wellston MetroLink stop and supported by multiple bus routes, the 40,000-square-foot Urban Training Center, which sits on a 15.65-acre campus, is expected to train up to 500 apprentices, journeymen or journeywomen a year.

“This Urban Training Center represents the future of St. Louis’ workforce,” said Brandon Flinn, business manager of the MKLDC. “By placing this facility where people live, work and ride transit, we’re eliminating barriers and opening the door to real careers with guaranteed wages, healthcare, and retirement. This project will be built by our local workforce, and in turn, it will help train the next generation of skilled construction craft Laborers who will continue building our region.”

The Training Center will feature both indoor and outdoor training areas, allowing the Laborers to offer a comprehensive curriculum modeled after the programs at the High Hill Laborers Training Facility in Montgomery County. Courses will include concrete placement, scaffold building, safety certifications, solar training, environmental remediation, pipeline work, asbestos abatement, elevation control, GPS and drone training, along with other core Laborer skills needed on today’s construction sites.

“This development will have a substantial economic and educational impact on the City,” said Nathaniel Griffin, Wellston mayor. Continuing, Griffin stated, “This project is the first of many that shows how LCRA and the City can work together for the citizens of Wellston.”

Groundbreaking is planned for the spring of 2026. Once completed, the Training Center will serve Laborers across the eastern half of Missouri, including Locals 42, 110, 660, 662, 840, 955 and 1104. The facility will include an open intake window for applicants, helping recruit and develop a strong local workforce for the future of St. Louis.

“This training center will provide another opportunity to enhance the workforce, particularly in our area,” said Rita Heard Days, chair of the St. Louis County Council. “I am pleased that LiUNA has selected a perfect spot with the MET Center, a childcare facility and an incubator center all in close proximity. This will eliminate some of the challenges some students may face as they look to establish careers in the industry.”

“We are very excited about the plans for this training facility,” said Rodney Crim, CEO and president of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership). “This new facility will train hundreds of hardworking St. Louisans, who will fill many vital positions around the region.”