SLDC Addresses Concerns About North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program at HUDZ Committee Hearing

On September 24, SLDC's President & CEO, Neal Richardson appeared in front of the HUDZ Committee to address concerns about the perceived lack of transparency and integrity surrounding the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program. Ensuring these funds are equitably, ethically and efficiently dispersed to deserving North St. Louis businesses who were disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is SLDC’s highest priority. 

As the economic development arm of the City of St. Louis, SLDC seeks to create and sustain a business ecosystem that is healthy, diverse and growing. This grant program represents an extraordinary opportunity for black and brown businesses and non-profits who have been previously overlooked to access an unprecedented level of federal funding.  From day one, SLDC has taken its responsibility of administering this first-of-its-kind federally funded grant program extremely seriously. As the President and CEO of St. Louis Development Corporation, I deeply understand the importance of diligently deploying these federal resources to the most adversely affected neighborhoods in North St. Louis, in a timely manner. SLDC has been and will remain dedicated to managing this process with integrity and transparency until every dollar is allocated to qualified small businesses and non-profits.