Background

In October 2023, the Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority of the City of St. Louis (LCRA) — a development board staffed by the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) — purchased a 150,000-square-foot industrial building at 3940 Dr. Martin Luther King Drive in North St. Louis, along with 29 surrounding vacant parcels. Once redeveloped, the 15.39-acre site will transform into an innovative transit-accessible workforce and training campus for manufacturing and other high-paying, in-demand careers.

The Monarch on MLK

Powered by SLDC, the campus will become a connection point for the community. Small and minority-owned business support will convene at the campus alongside workforce development and training opportunities. Coupled with a collection of community resources and collaborators, the campus is a beacon of change for North St. Louis — a tangible, vibrant manifestation of St. Louis’ investment in advancing equity and improving economic resiliency for residents of predominantly black neighborhoods as envisioned in the Economic Justice Action Plan.

The campus is central to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District — flanked by the Next NGA West Campus and six-neighborhood Project Connect Area on the east and AMIC STL and Ranken Technical College to the west — weaving together St. Louis’ industrial roots with next generation inclusive opportunities for St. Louisans as the global epicenter for industry and innovation.

Programming at the campus will expand the training, accreditation and apprenticeship pipeline, focusing on advanced manufacturing, education, geospatial, healthcare and transportation and logistics. Leveraging a place-based strategy, the campus will be a hub for economic mobility organizations and initiatives that address housing, financial empowerment and job creation — with area residents prioritized for program enrollment.

Empowering Dreams. Developing Success. Transforming Realities.

Awaken job prospects, amplify earning potential, activate ideas and explore employment pathways at the campus, where a diverse and empowered entrepreneurial ecosystem converges with community collaboration, transformational training and industrious opportunities that propel potential and produce prosperity for all St. Louisans.

SLDC anticipates The Monarch on MLK will welcome its first tenants in 2025.

The Monarch on MLK is wholly funded with Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) passed through the City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA).