St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC)

SLDC welcomes Dr. Gerard Hollins Jr. as its executive vice president of development! Gerard is a St. Louis native bringing over 30 years of experience in real estate financing, development and management. When he begins his role with SLDC in mid-August, he will oversee the city's pipeline of real estate projects and business investments. Most recently, Gerard served as director of grants and impact investments at the James S. McDonnell Foundation (@JSMF), where he identified and managed over $90 million in investments and grants. Throughout his career, he has also held leadership positions in St. Louis city and county government and has taught at the University of Missouri-St. Louis (@umsl) and Washington University in St. Louis (@WashU). SLDC President and CEO Stephen Westbrooks and St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer expressed support for Gerard's appointment. “This role serves as the primary engine for deal flow and developer engagement at SLDC,” Stephen said. “We’re confident Gerard will help establish clear, coordinated and predictable pathways for project execution for developers, businesses and investors in the city.”

Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Center St. Louis (AMICSTL) will open a $37M advanced manufacturing facility in North St. Louis. Their award of $2M from the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program will help create a long-term, sustainable pipeline of highly qualified employees. Thanks to AMICSTL for creating a bright future for St. Louis in advanced manufacturing!

Is your Minority- or Women-Owned Business Enterprise (M/WBE) certification up to date? 🤔 Keep your M/WBE certification current to ensure your business is ready for new opportunities in the City of St. Louis. Through CertifySTL, managed and operated by SLDC with support from the @STLPartnership, qualifying St. Louis businesses can apply, update, renew and expand their M/WBE certifications. Submit renewal materials through the B2GNow portal dedicated to M/WBE certifications at sldc.gob2g.com. Read our latest blog for M/WBE certification guidance and more information about CertifySTL: developstlouis.org/blog/how-to-re…

🚨 Registration is open for the 2026 Mayor's Celebration of Businesses luncheon on Thursday, October 1! Powered by SLDC, the annual luncheon brings together business, civic and community leaders to recognize the companies, partnerships and investments helping make St. Louis work. Sponsorship opportunities for the luncheon are also available for organizations looking to support and celebrate the local business community. 🔗 Register today and learn more about sponsorship opportunities: SLDCMBL26.eventbrite.com

Catalyst STL is renovating a vacant building on 2953 MLK to create an entrepreneurial hub, co-working & small space for businesses & the community. In part, the $1M from the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program will help them invest in people and place. Thanks Catalyst STL for moving the City forward!

HEADSHOT HAPPY HOUR: Come to the #NEEC on 7/30 to upgrade your website & LinkedIn profile with a professional headshot. Stay for the Small Business Panel & network with local entrepreneurs & partners. Admission is 100% free, but headshots are limited to the first 100 businesses. Register: ow.ly/SI2q50ZryaJ

St. Louis has the people, partnerships and drive to make meaningful progress toward citywide revitalization. SLDC, alongside the St. Louis Community Foundation and the James S. McDonnell Foundation, hosted Rip Rapson, president and CEO of The Kresge Foundation, yesterday at the Northside Movement Center. The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation dedicated to expanding opportunities in American cities. Civic, business and philanthropic leaders—including St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer and SLDC President and CEO Stephen Westbrooks—talked about what St. Louis can learn from Detroit’s revitalization efforts. Rapson emphasized the importance of aligning public, private, philanthropic and community partners around shared priorities: “No mayor can pull this off alone, no civic culture can pull this off alone, no nonprofit culture can pull this off alone, and no business community can pull this off alone." Read more from St. Louis Public Radio: stlpr.org/government-pol…

SLDC is invested in helping keep jobs, families and businesses rooted in St. Louis. The SLDC Board of Directors recently approved approximately $16 million in New Markets Tax Credits to support two major projects: 🏭 Chemline Inc.'s $60 million expansion will help modernize equipment, increase production capacity and upgrade its facility in the Mark Twain Industrial neighborhood. 🏡 Habitat for Humanity St. Louis (@habitatstl) will help expand local homeownership and continue rebuilding in an area impacted by the May 2025 tornado, with plans to construct 40 new homes in the Vandeventer neighborhood. These investments strengthen business growth, job creation and neighborhood recovery across the city. Read more in the St. Louis Business Journal: bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2…

The Cherokee Street Community Improvement District (CID) is helping emerging businesses take the next step into storefront retail through the Cherokee Pulse Project. 🤝🏪 The program offers short-term, flexible lease opportunities for established businesses ready to test a physical retail space, build visibility and become part of one of St. Louis’ most creative commercial corridors. “Cherokee Street has always been built by people willing to take a chance on an idea,” program director Ashley Johnson said. “We want to create more opportunities for entrepreneurs to become part of Cherokee’s story." Businesses and property owners can find more information and apply at cherokeestreet.com/pulse.

Three major St. Louis properties are moving closer to future redevelopment. 🏗️🔄 The Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority (LCRA), staffed by SLDC, recently approved stabilization, construction and selective demolition work at the former Cleveland High School, Marshall School and the Monarch on MLK. Supported in part by American Rescue Plan Act funding, this work marks the next step in preparing underused properties for productive reuse, including: 🏭 Future development opportunities at Cleveland and Marshall 🏫 Tenant-ready industrial space at the Monarch on MLK 🗞️ Read more about the LCRA redevelopment projects in the @stlouisbiz: bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2…

🚨 Save the date for the 2026 Mayor's Celebration of Businesses on Thursday, October 1! The annual luncheon, powered by SLDC, brings together business, civic and community leaders to celebrate the companies, partnerships and investments helping move St. Louis forward. Sponsorship opportunities for the luncheon are available now, offering organizations the chance to support the St. Louis business community. General registration will open soon. Join us as we recognize the people and organizations helping make St. Louis a city that works for businesses, neighborhoods and residents. 🔗 Find sponsorship information and event details: developstlouis.org/luncheon

Today on Juneteenth, SLDC honors the generations who have advanced the cause of freedom and reflects on the work that remains to expand opportunity and create a more equitable future for all. Through our work to support neighborhoods, small businesses, homeownership and inclusive economic growth, we remain committed to helping build a city where opportunity reaches every community. View Juneteenth events and celebrations happening around the city today: ⬇️ ⭐ Third Annual Juneteenth Celebration! | Griot Museum of Black History ⭐ Soul of a People: A Juneteenth Celebration of Black Music | Powell Hall ⭐ Juneteenth Celebration at The Moniker | The Moniker

SLDC, NEEC and BAC will be closed on Friday, June 19, for Juneteenth. Regular business hours will resume on Monday, June 22.

🛥️ FreightWeekSTL 2026 brought industry leaders, logistics experts and government officials to St. Louis June 8–12 to experience firsthand why our region is a global freight, logistics and supply chain powerhouse.🌎💪 One of the week's highlights was the Ag Coast of America Riverboat Tour, hosted by the St. Louis Regional Freightway (@TheFreightWay). Participants received a unique perspective on the region's multimodal freight network, including roads, bridges, rail and barge facilities, freight transfer services, and the ports and infrastructure that make this stretch of the Mississippi River the Ag Coast of America. 📸⚓SLDC was proud to partner with FreightWeekSTL 2026 and have SLDC Port Director Susan Taylor join fellow industry leaders on board to discuss the vital role these assets play in the region's economy and the exciting career opportunities available in the freight and logistics industry.

⏪ Last week’s North St. Louis Business Collective, hosted by SLDC’s Neighborhood Transformation Team, continued its mission connecting entrepreneurs with lenders, city services and community partners offering guidance on financing, insurance, permits, taxes and more. For Larry Johnson, owner of The Pull Up Store, those connections made a real difference. After the May 2025 tornado disrupted many of his customers and the surrounding community, an introduction made through a previous Business Collective event connected Larry with the St. Louis Community Credit Union. The credit union refinanced his loan, lowered his payments and helped keep his business open. 📊 SLDC has surveyed 740 businesses impacted by the tornado, and Neighborhood Transformation Manager Melissa Garcia shared with @KMOV that about 48 have received loans so far. Future Business Collective events will help SLDC and its partners reach more business owners with the tools and support they need. 📺 Watch the full story and interview: firstalert4.com/2026/06/12/nor…

Big things are coming to The Ville neighborhood 🎉 Yesterday, the Northside Youth and Senior Service Center broke ground on what will become a new ~16,000-square-foot facility. 🏗️ Supported by an investment from SLDC’s North City Grant Program and other organizations, this transformative project will roughly double the center’s service capacity, including expanded meal programs, intergenerational programming and youth-focused services. The new facility will also serve as a hub for North St. Louis, providing flexible community gathering space for events, partner organizations and emergency response efforts. Investments like these help strengthen neighborhoods, support community wellness and contribute to a more vibrant city. SLDC is proud to be part of this effort and looks forward to seeing the impact of the new center. 📰 Read more in the @stlouisbiz: bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2…

Have you heard the latest homeownership news in St. Louis? 🏡 SLDC has reopened HomeSTL, a homebuyer assistance program helping first-time buyers purchase a home in the City of St. Louis. With up to $50,000 available through a no-interest, forgivable loan, the program is helping open doors for residents while supporting stronger neighborhoods. Individuals impacted by the May 2025 tornado are also encouraged to apply. “If we can start building density pocket by pocket, we’re on a path to building a stronger market for the City of St. Louis and some of these long, historically disinvested neighborhoods,” said Deion Broxton, SLDC's Vice President of Communications & Public Affairs. ❓ Funding is available on a first-come, first-served basis. To get started, applicants should contact an SLDC-approved lender. 🔗 Watch the @KMOV story and learn more about HomeSTL: firstalert4.com/2026/05/27/st-…

Master the process of pricing projects for maximum profitability & competitiveness at the 3-part Bidding & Estimating Academy, starting 16. Business owners & contractors will learn a structured, repeatable process to create professional bids & estimates. Register: ow.ly/wst250YYpQH

Creating opportunities for the next generation helps build St. Louis. 🛠️ SLDC is proud to partner with Construction Forum's upcoming "Yeah I Built That! Hands-On Construction Showcase", introducing middle and high school students and young adults to possible careers across the construction industry. Attendees will get a closer look at the machines, technology and skills shaping St. Louis’ built environment, exploring careers that support neighborhood reinvestment, infrastructure and development. Youth groups and exhibitors are invited to sign up and be part of the experience. 👇 📅 Wednesday, June 24 | 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 📌 William J. Harrison Center | 3140 Cass Ave. 🔗 Sign up by Monday, June 15: constructforstl.org/yibt-hands-on-…

⚠️ The next 21-day bid window for Prop NS properties is now open through Thursday, June 25 at noon. Prop NS helps transform vacant residential properties into homes and neighborhood assets by stabilizing, securing and preparing buildings for redevelopment. Whether you're an experienced developer or a rehabber with the resources to complete a project, this is an opportunity to invest in St. Louis neighborhoods and bring vacant properties back to life. Interested in submitting an offer? Learn more about the buying and rehabilitation process in our Prop NS FAQ: ow.ly/FHjJ50Z7HzT