St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC)

Your monthly look at St. Louis economic activity is here. 🔎 From neighborhood investment and small business support to development projects and community partnerships, SLDC’s Inside Scoop newsletter highlights what's moving St. Louis forward. Sign up for SLDC's newsletter to stay connected on the latest updates each month: https://lnkd.in/gj68N7Vb

Homeownership can create stability, opportunity and a deeper sense of belonging in St. Louis. Programs like SLDC's HomeSTL are helping make that future possible for first-time homebuyers across the city. The strong demand reflects the need for resources that make homeownership more accessible and help build a stronger, more inclusive city. Read more from KSDK - 5 On Your Side about how HomeSTL is helping families in St. Louis build a stronger future: https://lnkd.in/eSe5yWqJ 🚨 Please be advised that SLDC is no longer accepting reservation requests for the HomeSTL Downpayment Assistance Program, as all funds are fully reserved as of 8/31/26. If you are a participating lender and have already submitted a reservation request, your client has been placed on a waiting list. Should reserved funds become available, we will only consider buyers from the waiting list who are under contract for the purchase of a home with a closing date on or before September 30, 2026. These requests will be processed in the date order their eligibility packet was completed.

St. Louis founders: Apply for T-REX's Founder Framework. This free, 11-week in-person program is designed to help early-stage founders sharpen their strategy, strengthen their thinking and prepare for growth. The extended application deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 8. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/dWyz4fcR

🚨There’s still time to register for AGC of Missouri's 2026 Advancement Summit next Wednesday, Sept. 2. SLDC President and CEO Stephen Westbrooks will serve as keynote speaker for the event, which will bring together contractors, subcontractors, public agencies, developers, suppliers, educators, workforce partners and community leaders from across the region. The summit will focus on building connections, exploring business opportunities and shaping the region’s future. Registration is free and closes this Monday, August 31. Learn more and reserve your spot: https://lnkd.in/gZS7T-eG

Mark your calendar for the 2026 Mayor's Celebration of Businesses luncheon on Thursday, October 1! Powered by St. Louis Development Corporation, the annual event brings together business, civic and community leaders to recognize the organizations, partnerships and investments driving economic growth and strengthening St. Louis. Join us as we celebrate the people and businesses making St. Louis a city that works. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available. We hope to see you there! 🔗 https://lnkd.in/grRmk9kB 

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding has helped the St. Louis Land Reutilization Authority (LRA), staffed by SLDC, tackle vacancy and accelerate demolition, lot maintenance and property reuse work across the city. As this once-in-a-generation investment comes to a close, SLDC is proud to highlight how the funding has supported the LRA’s work. With support from ARPA funding, the LRA has: ✔️ Demolished more than 500 dilapidated homes through its Demolition Program ✔️ Maintained and cleaned more than 2,100 vacant lots through its Beautification Program ✔️ Reduced its inventory from roughly 10,000 parcels to about 9,000 ✔️ Invested $6.5 million and transferred up to 50 parcels to support 50 new homes in North St. Louis Jasmine Cannon with the LRA spoke with KMOV about how this work helps clear the way for future development, neighborhood investment and new partnerships. Learn more about ARPA funding’s impact in St. Louis: https://lnkd.in/eMrhgQ3A

SLDC and the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) are seeking qualified partners for two current opportunities to strengthen operations, public resources and neighborhood-focused development in St. Louis. 👇 💡 Residential Brokerage Services for Infill Housing Pilot Program: LCRA is seeking residential real estate brokerage services to help bring approximately 15 newly constructed homes to market through the Infill Housing Pilot Program. Proposals are due Sept. 8 at 3 p.m. 💡 Financial Systems & Process Modernization Consultant: SLDC is seeking a consultant or consulting firm to assess current financial systems and develop a roadmap for more efficient workflows, real-time reporting and stronger data-driven financial insights. Proposals are due Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. A pre-submission conference for the Financial Systems & Process Modernization Consultant RFP will be held virtually Monday, Aug. 31, at 4 p.m. Questions for this RFP must be submitted by Friday, Sept. 11, to Dontrinia Baxton at baxtond@stlouis-mo.gov. View current procurement opportunities and full RFP details: https://lnkd.in/ekXmUn_6

Community Connectivity: To support downtown revitalization & digital inclusion goals, the City of St. Louis partnered with SmartWAVE Technologies to deploy a free public Wi-Fi network throughout key downtown areas & public parks. The solution delivers secure, reliable broadband access in outdoor public spaces, helping bridge the digital divide for underserved and unserved communities while enhancing connectivity for residents, visitors, students & local businesses. #ConnectSTL https://lnkd.in/eU_8yXUn

Because of a $1M North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program award, Upsilon Omega Center was able to install a new HVAC system, renovate the interior & newly resurface an ADA-accessible parking lot. These enhancements strengthen the organization's ability to provide programs, services & community events while ensuring the facility remains a reliable resource for generations to come. Congratulations to Upsilon Omega Center!

Today, SLDC leadership joined Mayor Cara Spencer, Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis and various partners for the “Framing 40 Futures” event celebrating Habitat’s planned 40-home development along Evans Avenue in the Vandeventer neighborhood. SLDC helped coordinate creative financing for the project, which utilizes $17 million in New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC), a $3.45 million loan from SLDC and an $8.8 million loan from Midwest BankCentre connected to the Community Investment Guarantee Pool (CIGP). This is the first time SLDC has helped coordinate a lender’s participation in the CIGP, a financing tool that supports investment in community development projects. It's one example of how SLDC uses financial tools, including CIGP and NMTC, to move development forward in St. Louis. Learn more about the creative financing helping move this project forward in the St. Louis Business Journal: https://lnkd.in/exKHed3z