Real Estate
St. Louis County Port Authority

The Port will consider economic and community development projects that fall within one or more of its funding priorities and may include non-construction (e.g., programmatic) or construction (including land acquisition, renovation, new construction and/or infrastructure) projects. The Port’s funding priorities are outlined above and included in the grant application.

To aid in understanding of the types of projects that the Port Authority funds, we provide the following definitions of “economic development” and “community development.”

Economic development means promoting the development, growth and retention of long-term diversified business and employment opportunities that equitably generate increased wealth and enhanced quality life for a community’s residents, businesses and institutions.

Typically, economic development can be described as the creation of jobs and wealth and the improvement in our quality of life.

Community development is not separate from but is an integral part of economic development. Community development sustains and supports economic development by ensuring that local communities have the resources and conditions necessary to benefit from large scale initiatives.

Community development encompasses a broad range of activities and programs that build community and human capacity, and are often undertaken by non-profits, including local community development corporations.

These activities may include community planning, façade improvement programs for local businesses, and workforce development and training programs. Community development may also include activities that enhance the physical environment, such as public infrastructure (e.g. streetscape improvements like sidewalks and lighting and public art or gathering spaces) and brownfields remediation.

Non-profits (must have 501(c)(3) designation) are eligible applicants for Port CIF grants. The Port does not accept applications for funding from individuals.

Yes. Applicants or projects must be located in St. Louis County and/or primarily serve St. Louis County.

Requests for funding will be considered, as applicable, in light of the following criteria—

• Quality and quantity of economic and community outcomes, including jobs created/retained and businesses served

• Consistency with a neighborhood, community or regional economic or community development plan or strategy and the degree to which the project contributes to one or more strategies within the applicable plan

• Other resources leveraged

• Potential to catalyze additional investment and/or development

• Capacity and experience of applicant organization to execute project

• Sustainability of proposed project (future funding and implementation)

• Demonstrated community support and engagement in establishing project priorities and outcomes

With respect to community support and alignment, the Port Authority also looks to principles of community economic development when it considers proposals for funding under the CIF.

Community economic development is an inclusive and participatory process by which communities initiate and generate their solutions to economic problems. Community economic development focuses on community centered solutions for stabilizing local economies; creating long-term employment; building on local resources and capacities; increasing community control and ownership, and enhancing environmental health.

Principles of Community Economic Development included the following—

• Sustainability: Is this a long-term solution?

• Community-Based: Does it serve the interests of the broader community?

• Participatory: Have a broad and diverse range of community members been involved?

• Asset-Based: What are the community’s resources and assets?

• Self-Reliance: Does it reduce economic dependence?

Because the Port accepts grant applications for a range of projects, including both programmatic and redevelopment/construction related projects, there is no “typical” grant amount. Award amounts will be based on community impact. See Question 5, Evaluation Criteria.

In the 2026 CIF round, the Port has capped any single grant award at $300,000. Applicants whose requests exceed this cap will not be considered for funding.

No. Organizations may, however, include administrative or operating expenses related to the specific project or program that is the subject of grant request.

Yes. The Port’s CIF grants are for terms of up to two years.  CIF grant awards in 2026 will be capped at $300,000 in total.

Yes. The Port has a procurement policy that outlines a competitive process for the purchase of all goods and services. Grantees receive an orientation on the requirements of the Port’s procurement policy at the beginning of the grant.

The Port recognizes that organizations often need to seek funding from multiple sources over time for large capital projects.  While a capital project that is already underway does not necessarily disqualify an applicant from receiving a CIF grant, grantees are required to follow the Port’s procurement requirements for expenses to be eligible for reimbursement under their grant.  Non-profits should contact Beth Noonan (email above) prior to applying if their projects are underway or expected to be initiated prior to the projected timeframe for awards.

CIF grantees are reimbursed by the Port based on the submission of documented, eligible project costs. Grantees may submit requests for reimbursement no more than once per month. Grantees do not receive a lump sum at the outset of the grant.