Linking Disadvantaged Neighborhoods to Regional Economies

The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) held its Leadership Summit this week bringing economic development leaders from across the country together to share ideas. STL Partnership CEO and President, Rodney Crim, participated on a panel focusing on linking disadvantaged neighborhoods to regional economies. Crim talked about initiatives the St. Louis Promise Zone and St. Louis Mosaic Project are doing in the St. Louis metro area.

St. Louis Promise Zone

“The Promise Zone area in the St. Louis region includes about 200,000 people in an area where we’re trying to focus on providing opportunities by helping these areas collaborate with one another. We demonstrated a lot of momentum during the Obama administration which kept us going during the last four years and we will continue to build on that momentum as we move forward.”

St. Louis Mosaic Project

“Most areas that are thriving throughout the country are more welcoming to the foreign-born. Many foreign-born individuals are more likely to start their own businesses, many have advanced degrees, so we feel that that will strengthen the St. Louis region in terms of economic growth and provide a quality of life that is beneficial to everyone.”

IEDC is a non-profit membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 5,000 members, IEDC is the largest national and global organization of its kind.