By Maria Altman, St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis, MO. – On the heels of Pfizer's announcement of layoffs this week St. Louis County got some good economic news Thursday.
Pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts says it will expand at NorthPark in north St. Louis County.
The county had been competing with suburban Philadelphia for the 300 or so new jobs.
In order to lure Express Scripts the state has offered $3 million in incentives and the county another $4 million in tax abatements.
County executive Charlie Dooley says he's not leery of giving tax incentives, even in light of Pfizer's announcement Monday to cut 600 jobs.
"We give tax abatement and tax incentives to companies that provide real jobs. If you don't provide those jobs, you don't get those incentives. Period," Dooley said.
Dooley says Pfizer will not get the $7 million it was promised in tax incentives.
The new plant in NorthPark, across Interstate 70 from the Express Scripts headquarters at UM St. Louis, is expected to be completed in April.