St. Louis Development Corporation Evaluating Applications for North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program, Announces Next Steps to Anticipated Funding in Early 2024
St. Louis, Mo. (January 10, 2024) – As of today, the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), who is administering the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program, has completed its initial intake and completeness review of the 715 applications it received by the October 30, 2023 deadline. The economic development organization has also released an overview of the application review process it intends to use to make grant awards in the first quarter of 2024.
“There was an overwhelming amount of interest in the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program, which is the most substantial ARPA-funded program SLDC has administered to-date. We want to ensure total transparency as we take steps toward awarding funds so that applicants — and the public — understand the entire process,” said SLDC’s President & CEO, Neal Richardson. “Changes to the initial legislation guiding the program, expanding the geographic boundaries, reopening the application and receiving incomplete applications, have made this a complicated program to administer. Despite those challenges, SLDC has remained committed to supporting the small business ecosystem in the City of St. Louis and has provided ample opportunities for organizations to successfully submit a complete application for consideration.”
In 2021, the City of St. Louis, through its Community Development Administration (CDA), allocated $37 million of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to SLDC for the administration of the grant program, which is intended to provide economic development and empowerment assistance to small businesses and non-profits located in North St. Louis, where there exists a demonstrated need to reverse the effects of decades of disinvestment. The program focuses investment in:
Businesses or non-profits located on or North of Delmar Boulevard
Entities located in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) OR Located in EJI Area 1 or 2
Eligible established small businesses or non-profits as defined in the grant application
Program Timeline & Milestones
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021: Ordinance 71504 – Original legislation (Board Bill 82) introduced on July 9, 2021 and signed by Mayor Jones on May 5, 2022 designating funds be used along defined North City Commercial Corridors for grants to stabilize and expand small businesses and non-profits, add needed services to neighborhoods and cover costs for community enhancement projects.
Application for North St. Louis Commercial Corridor Grant Program Opens: June 1, 2022.
SLDC received 181 applications for the originally legislated North St. Louis Commercial Corridor Grant Program.
After reviewing applications, SLDC was concerned about the disparity between more sophisticated organizations and smaller neighborhood businesses.
To ensure that all businesses were able to establish a solid foundation of operation post a global pandemic, SLDC secured small business advisory support through National Development Council (NDC), now Grow America, for all businesses that applied. NDC/Grow America provided the following services to program applicants:
Foundational tools for business operations
Training courses (fiscal management, operations, marketing etc.)
Support in finalizing a competitive application
Development of financial decision tools (balance sheet, P&L, Revenue Projections, etc.)
Two-page business plan for sustainability and/or growth
Applicants were not required to complete a new application. SLDC and its consultants provided support to help businesses retrofit their information into the new application.
Revised Legislation: Ordinance 71696 – Legislation (Board Bill 37) revising and amending Ordinance Number 71504, which created the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program. Clarifies geographic eligibility and eligible uses for funds and how SLDC will assess applications for and make awards for the grant program. Ensures grant program is administered consistent with relevant federal requirements, removes barriers and addresses other issues impacting implementation of the grant program. Board Bill 37 was introduced on May 25, 2023 and was signed by Mayor Jones on July 12, 2023 with an effective date of August 12, 2023.
New Application for North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program Opens: August 1, 2023
To address changes to the program and application process, SLDC hosted two informational webinars on August 9 and 10, 2023. Recording posted on SLDC’s website and YouTube channel.
500 applicants seeking support to complete their applications participated in workshops held at the Northside Economic Empowerment Center (NEEC)
Deadline to Apply: October 30, 2023
Application Completeness Review: October 30 – December 15, 2023
Following the October 30 deadline, SLDC’s initial intake of applications revealed many were incomplete, missing critical and required documentation. Rather than deeming those applications ineligible, SLDC offered a grace period to applicants allowing them to submit missing information by December 15, 2023.
Of the 715 applications received, only 261 were complete. More than 450 applications were missing critical supporting documentation.
Today, 445 applications are 100% complete and will be moving forward for review and funding.
In partnership with NDC/Grow America, SLDC is offering technical assistance and training to all program eligible businesses and non-profits with completed applications
114 applicants have completed a 12-Week business/financial viability course
So there is consistency and clarity about the rigorous review process a small business or non-profit can expect to go through to receive funding, SLDC recently released an Application Review Process, which includes an objective scorecard and selection committees for each grant program.
Some applicants will not progress through the next steps of the application review process. This includes applicants who are not eligible based on geography and entities whose application was not complete, despite multiple touchpoints to secure missing documentation. SLDC will communicate with these applicants directly.
Grant Agreements & Funding
In February 2024, SLDC will host an informational webinar(s) for applicants who have moved forward in the review process (location and details TBD). This session will focus on funding options and what businesses and non-profits can expect once they are selected for funding, including the timeline to expect grant agreements and funding approval.
“Ultimately, SLDC supports all businesses in the City of St. Louis, even if they didn’t qualify or apply for the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program,” said SLDC’s VP of Neighborhood Transformation, Durrell Smith. “Our goal is to improve the healthiness and viability of the entire business ecosystem — not just applicants of a grant program — so we are evaluating other programs, resources and opportunities for businesses and non-profits that will not be selected for this grant. While some may not receive a grant, SLDC is proud to make available robust financial and business training and technical assistance to businesses that will help build capacity and improve their chances of being ready for future financing and funding opportunities.”
Updates about the North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program will continue to be available at https://www.developstlouis.org/nstlsmallbizgrant.
