stats count Mayor’s Business Luncheon highlights city growth – Meer Beek

Mayor’s Business Luncheon highlights city growth

Donning a white construction helmet, Neal Richardson, president and CEO of the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), ended his presentation with an enthusiastic call & response challenge to the capacity-filled auditorium.

“St. Louis, are you ready to build?

“St. Louis, are you ready to build a future where every young person, no matter what zip code you were born in, has the opportunity to reach their full potential?”

“Are you ready to build an ecosystem where all businesses in the city of St. Louis are able to succeed?”

Richardson was co-host of the annual Mayor’s Celebration of Businesses luncheon held at the Marriott St. Louis Grand Hotel on Friday. This year’s theme, “Ready to Build,” highlighted the contributions of local businesses and organizations that demonstrated a strong commitment to the City of St. Louis.

The awardees included, the Passport Cocktail Bar & Bottle Shop, St. Louis Midtown Redevelopment Corporation, the Victor luxury apts., Intertwine Wine Bar on the city’s southside, Garcia Construction, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and WEPOWER, northside youth and senior service center.

Each was recognized for their efforts that are in alignment with the city’s “Economic Justice Action Plan,” which focuses on empowering, developing and transforming the city through equitable economic growth.

In his address, Richardson also recognized SLDC’s and the city’s partners, such as Greater St. Louis Inc., St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, the St. Louis Community Foundation, the board of Aldermen and its board president, Meagan Green.

“The economic justice action plan is our blueprint to build a more inclusive, stronger and equitable St. Louis,” Richardson preached. “We need a skilled team to bring that vision to life. These partnerships are critical in building the city’s future. That means we need every partner in this room to make St. Louis what it can be.”

Richardson went on to highlight key city initiatives, such as Scale Up STL-a $2.5 million program created to offer loans to business support to small businesses and nonprofits; Mobilize STL-a program designed to offer bridge loans to small contractors and suppliers overcome funding delays that come with participation in major projects; and Home STL- a program designed to recruit mortgage lenders to assist in the city’s homebuyer assistance program.

He also spoke on the Northside Economic Empowerment Center, a vital resource that has already reached over 4,000 residents and 2000 businesses in North St. Louis and surrounding areas.

Richardson set the stage for Mayor Tishaura O. Jones’ keynote address where she elaborated on other projects that SLDC and Greater St. Louis, Inc. have undertaken over the past year. They included revitalization efforts involving the Millennium Hotel and the Railroad Exchange Building. She also discussed the initiative “Stable Communities STL,” aimed at addressing the issue of vacant and neglected properties.

Jones announced her administration’s ambitious goal to develop 5,000 affordable market-rate housing units in the City of St. Louis over the next five years.

“Home is where you raise your family, create memories, and build wealth,” Jones told the packed banquet room. “The ability to acquire and hold affordable housing is crucial to economic justice, and the lack of affordable housing in our city is the root of so many of our problems. If we want St. Louis to prosper and grow, we must create a thriving community where every resident has access to the opportunities they deserve.”

Jones said her administration has already made significant progress in its commitment to address the city’s housing crisis with plans to build thousands of affordable housing units and repair more than 500 dilapidated units-mostly in North St. Louis-in two years.

Most of the city’s revitalization efforts, under Jones, have been accomplished due to the $498 million American Rescue Plan (ARPA) investment. To achieve the city’s ambitious goals, Jones invited regional and local stakeholders – including businesses, community organizations, and residents – to actively participate in the city’s vital work.

During his time on stage, again using the “rebuilding St. Louis” analogy, Richarson spoke like a home builder: 

“Now that we have the right tools and are working on the infrastructure, it’s time for us to stabilize the beams and the pillars that hold everything up.”

Richardson then outlined the city’s commitment to spend more than “$65 million to maintain vacant lots because, he said, “the land we build on must be strong.” That amount did not include the city’s commitment to spend an additional $15 million to remove 1,000 vacant structures across the city,” he added.

As he completed his line of “are you ready…” questions, the audience responded with deafening applause. Taking that as an apparent affirmation to his queries, Richarson ended his speech with an aggressive challenge:

“Well then, let’s get to building!”

Sylvester Brown Jr. is the Deaconess Foundation Community Advocacy Fellow.

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