St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC)

A new investment is moving into North St. Louis. 🚚🤝 Local law firm Timmerman Law LLC is relocating to the Penrose neighborhood with a vision to bring new energy and opportunity to an area impacted by the May 2025 tornado. With approval to acquire four lots through the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA), which is staffed by SLDC, attorney Mark Timmerman plans to transform underutilized land into a community-centered business hub—potentially including space for shops and a small business incubator. Timmerman said he wants children growing up in Penrose to experience consistent improvements in their neighborhood and access to resources, while also creating space for new businesses to open, from neighborhood entrepreneurs and beyond, to bring jobs and opportunity. This move is an example of how LRA leverages strategic land reuse to support neighborhood recovery and help restore economic activity in historically disinvested areas. 📰 Read more: ksdk.com/article/weathe…

👏 North St. Louis is seeing continued investment in the Jeff-Vander-Lou neighborhood.📍 Sensient Colors is expanding its St. Louis facility to grow its natural color production, meeting rising demand for cleaner and more transparent ingredients. Plus: 🔹 28,000 square feet of specialized production space added to its existing facility 🔹 More than 84 new jobs expected This week, the Enhanced Enterprise Zone Board (EEZB), supported by SLDC, approved tax abatement for the project, marking an important step in progressing economic opportunity and strengthening the region’s food manufacturing sector. Read more from the @stltoday: stltoday.com/news/local/bus…

EXPUNGEMENT CLINIC: Join us on May 6th or 20th for an Expungement Informational Clinic where attendees can explore expungement options in the State of Missouri for non-violent & non-sexual charges. Learn more: ow.ly/3Kcn50YSHbO

Looking for more opportunities in the regional economy? Participate in SLDC's series of certification trainings. The next session, Maintaining Your Certification: Annual Requirements (NCAs) and Common Pitfalls, is May 12. Details: ow.ly/a2u750YSCYG

Due to upcoming inclement weather today (April 27), the NEEC will close at 2 p.m. All of today's sessions after 2 p.m. will be rescheduled at a later date. Stay up-to-date on SLDC's events: developstlouis.org/events

SLDC President and CEO Stephen Westbrooks has a vision for St. Louis focused on accountability and investment. In a recent interview with @KMOV's First Alert Forward, Stephen discussed priorities for downtown stabilization, attracting new residents and advancing projects that support long-term economic growth. “When I think about St. Louis and the future of St. Louis, I would like to see more people choose the city as a place they want to live, work and raise families, and enjoy everything it has to offer." Watch the full interview: ow.ly/xeXk50YPgtC

Downtown St. Louis is stepping up to the plate this season. ⚾ As the St. Louis Cardinals bring fans back to the heart of the city, local restaurants are seeing new opportunities for growth and fresh energy on the streets. The Downtown Retail Incentive Program powered by SLDC and Greater St. Louis Inc. are helping make that momentum possible. With support from the program, businesses like Karsyn’s Soule are opening their doors downtown, adding to the diversity of dining options and helping create a more vibrant, welcoming experience for residents and visitors alike. Catch the full story from KMOV to see how downtown businesses are building momentum this season and what it means for St. Louis’ continued growth: firstalert4.com/2026/04/17/fir…

The new portion of the Brickline Greenway connecting Midtown and Downtown St. Louis ➡️ Officially open! 🎉 SLDC was excited to join the city in celebrating yesterday’s opening on Market Street and see the continued progress made by our partners at @GreatRiversSTL (GRG). Creating a more walkable and vibrant St. Louis, this new stretch links Harris-Stowe State University, Energizer Park and nearby Downtown destinations, improving pedestrian access and advancing more activated public spaces. Congratulations to GRG and all partners involved in helping move this transformational project forward. 👏 📺Watch more from @KMOV: firstalert4.com/2026/04/14/par…

Participate in SLDC's series of certification trainings & tap into more opportunities in the region: Today @ 10 a.m.: Getting Certified with SLDC: Understanding How to Complete Your M/WBE Application April 21 @ 10 a.m.: M/WBE Certification 101: What You Need & How to Apply Details: ow.ly/9get50YIoH6

Winland Foods is investing in South St. Louis. 👏 The $38.5 million facility expansion will create 25 new jobs and enhance production and packaging capacity. In support of the project, the Port Authority Commission of the City of St. Louis, staffed by SLDC, approved incentives to help advance the global food manufacturer's expansion and reinforce St. Louis as a strong market for industrial investment and job growth. 🏭 Read more from KMOV: firstalert4.com/2026/04/10/sou…

Restoring St. Louis takes a collective effort, and O'Fallon Park's community restoration project is another meaningful step forward. 🌳 Tomorrow, @ForestReLeaf, the City’s Forestry Division, O'Fallon Community Development Organization and @GreatRiversSTL will come together to replant 350 trees lost in the 2025 tornado. SLDC encourages opportunities like this, where residents volunteer, help restore shared spaces and strengthen community resilience along the way. 🗓️ Saturday, April 11 | 12:30 to 3 p.m. ✅ RSVP and volunteer: eventbrite.com/e/ofallon-park…

Get involved in tornado recovery efforts and earn up to $25 per hour through St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment's (SLATE) new Disaster Recovery Jobs Program. This program connects residents to temporary, paid job opportunities with local partners including the Land Reutilization Authority (LRA), while helping remove barriers to employment and supporting ongoing efforts in the community. SLATE is hosting weekday information sessions through April 24. Attend a session or submit an interest form to learn more: stlouis-mo.gov/government/dep…

Bidding & Estimating Academy: Part 1 of the 3-part Academy begins April 21. Business owners & contractors are invited to learn the fundamental principles of profitable estimating, including defining scope, understanding overhead & interpreting project specifications. Details & register: ow.ly/ZIRa50YyT01

Looking for more opportunities in the regional economy? Participate in SLDC's series of certification trainings starting this month. Certification provides entry to a highly progressive and abundant market region within the St. Louis Metropolitan area, offering numerous opportunities for contracting which leads to growth and development. Firms have the chance to participate in bidding for government contracts at the federal, state and local levels through our MWBE Certification Program. Additionally, non-governmental companies that embrace our certification also fulfill minority goals in contracting and procurement. Learn more: ow.ly/gm2l50YCsGG

Want to better understand the people and processes shaping downtown St. Louis? Join The Futuremakers Club, SLDC and partners this Thursday for the first "Futuremakers Forum: A Civic & Social Salon." This community-led event brings together residents, business owners and civic leaders for a conversation on “How Downtown Works: Systems, Policy, Design.” Featured presenters—including SLDC, the St. Louis Board of Election Commissioners and Alderwoman Jami Cox Antwi—will share insights on how downtown St. Louis functions and ways residents can engage more directly. The evening will also highlight resources that support business growth and downtown investments, including SLDC’s Business Assistance Center and the Downtown Retail Incentive Program. 📅 Thursday, April 2 ⏰ 4–6:30 p.m. (program begins at 5 p.m.) 📍 21c Museum Hotel (1528 Locust Street) 🔗 RSVP and learn more: eventbrite.com/e/futuremakers…

April is Financial Literacy Month, so join us at the #NEEC on April 7 , 8 or 9 for How to Train Your Bookkeeper with Quickbooks. The sessions will cover understanding your cash flow in real time, how to avoid costly bookkeeping mistakes & make better decisions using accurate reports. Register: ow.ly/ZYE150YBUwW

Welcoming a new chapter for St. Louis! Yesterday, we proudly celebrated the swearing-in of Stephen Westbrooks as SLDC's new President and CEO. We look forward to his leadership, vision and the continued momentum to advancing inclusive growth and economic opportunity across the city.

Celebrating 24 years of impact. 💜 Thanks to SLDC's outgoing President and CEO Otis Williams for more than two decades of leadership, dedication and service to the St. Louis community. Your legacy will continue to shape the city for years to come. We wish you a well-earned and fulfilling retirement!

Part 1 of the 3-part Bidding & Estimating Academy begins April 21. Business owners & contractors will move beyond guesswork to a structured, repeatable process to accurately calculate costs, assess risks & create professional-grade bids & estimates. Details & register: ow.ly/G6KL50YySYh

New incentive changes that reward affordable housing and community-focused development are advancing in St. Louis! As reported by @stlmag's Eric Schmid, proposed updates to the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA) scoring system aim to bring greater clarity and consistency in how projects are evaluated while also placing greater emphasis on projects that matter most to residents. SLDC economic development analyst Andrew Knop noted that under the proposed model, many of the highest-scoring projects would be those advancing affordable housing and neighborhood investment. 📰 Read more: stlmag.com/business/lcra-…