St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  Efforts continue to keep the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in St. Louis.

Mayor Francis Slay was joined by state and federal leaders during a Monday morning news conference, where he announced an offer to make the proposed north St. Louis site more appealing. “On Friday, I told National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Director Robert Cardillo that we will offer the NGA land at no cost.” said Slay.

The State of Missouri, through the Department of Economic Development, has agreed to make available up to $95 million in Tax Incremental Financing and approximately $36 million in Brownfield Tax Credits.This $131 million commitment by the state, in addition to a $1.5 million annual commitment for up to 30 years by the City of St. Louis, will cover:

* Site acquisition, site preparation, and utility relocation and improvements;
* A full highway interchange at Jefferson Avenue and I-64/Hwy 40;
* Enhancements to N. Jefferson and Cass Avenues;
* Delivering the land to the NGA at no cost.

Senator Roy Blunt also pointed out that the north St. Louis site is the best site from a security standpoint as oppose to having it next to Scott Airforce Base. “Frankly, I think putting those two facilities right next to each other in the world we live in today is not the right thing to do. Why create that big of an appealing target.” said Blunt.

The proposed 99-acre site in north St. Louis is located at the corner of Jefferson and Cass avenues. St. Louis is among four areas competing for the new site of the NGA West Headquarters, which is currently located in south St. Louis.

The NGA is expected to announced it’s preferred site on April 1st.