Kickoff Event for CertifySTL

SLDC takes charge of MWBE Certification Program

 

On Sept. 3rd, St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) hosted a kickoff event for CertifySTL, the St. Louis region’s Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) Certification Program. The event took place at the Northside Economic Empowerment Center, located at 4248 Cottage Ave. in St. Louis. Speakers included Chairman, President and CEO of SLDC Neal Richardson, CEO and President of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) Rodney Crim, Chief of Staff for Mayor Jones Jared Boyd and Senior Vice President of Minority and Small Business Empowerment Stacey Fowler. After the ceremony concluded, attendees were invited to either learn more about the CertifySTL program or walk the red carpet and begin their certification process.

The purpose of the MWBE Program is to foster minority owned businesses’ participation in City contracting opportunities and other development projects the City incentivizes. SLDC will monitor MWBE utilization on those projects in order to guarantee goals are achieved. SLDC will also focus on eliminating barriers to equal economic opportunity for businesses and promote the capabilities of MWBEs.

SLDC is partnering on this project with STL Partnership. The program will certify businesses in St. Louis’ Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

Firms interested in learning more about certification are invited to attend SLDC’s weekly “Digging Through the Weeds of Certification” training session at the Northside Economic Empowerment Center.

Learn more here.