SLDC’s Roadmap to Economic Justice in St. Louis

The St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and the City of St. Louis Mayor’s Office have created a plan to use American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to reverse decades of economic decline in North St. Louis. The Economic Justice Action Plan lays out specific steps the city must take to seek to create long-lasting economic growth for the residents and businesses in St. Louis.

The plan outlines five primary goals, along with three pillars of action.

Five primary goals:
Strengthen neighborhoods
Close the wealth gap
Improve healthy & education outcomes
Expand the tax base
Grow the City’s population

Three pillars of action:
Equitable inclusive development: incentive reform site assembly & development commercial corridor revitalization
Neighborhood transformation: neighborhood capacity building vacancy & environmental justice housing accessibility
Economic empowerment: business empowerment workforce development educational justice

The plan also includes a survey that lists top priorities from the community, as well as an evaluation of different parts of the city on indicators of need and opportunity, such as high unemployment rate or if a neighborhood has a community development corporation.

According to the SLDC and City of St. Louis Mayor’s Office, an estimated total of $246 million will be invested by December 31, 2026.

See the full Economic Justice Action Plan here.