STL Partnership Highlights Regional Collaboration at APA Bi-State Conference
Bauschard Trost, Shelton share story of West Florissant Avenue
St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) recently joined planners, city leaders and development professionals from across Missouri and Arkansas at the 2025 American Planning Association Bi-State Conference. Senior Project Managers Maude Bauschard Trost and Kellie Shelton were invited to share the story of “Collaborative Zoning, Land Use and Economic Development along West Florissant Avenue.” Their session focused on how three municipalities—Dellwood, Ferguson and Jennings—came together through a 50-year agreement to guide future growth along one of North St. Louis County’s most important corridors. It’s a unique approach that shows the power of working across boundaries to create safer, more vibrant and more investment-ready places.
For STL Partnership, the conference was also a reminder that collaboration doesn’t stop at the podium. Hallway conversations and networking sessions sparked new ideas, from potential brownfield sites that could be transformed with the right resources, to municipalities interested in joining upcoming initiatives in Spanish Lake. These chance encounters often open doors to projects and partnerships that shape the region’s future.
The conference also offered a valuable opportunity to learn from peers around the region. One presentation on water quality and watershed protection in Christian County, Missouri, highlighted state-level resources that could be adapted to support conservation planning closer to home. Another session showcased ways to nurture small-scale developers—local entrepreneurs whose projects bring energy and new life to neighborhoods but who often face hurdles in getting started. Both provided fresh perspectives that could be applied to ongoing efforts in Spanish Lake and across the Promise Zone.
“Sharing the West Florissant story allowed us to demonstrate how much stronger our communities can be when they work together,” said Bauschard Trost. “The agreement among Dellwood, Ferguson, and Jennings is a powerful example of collaboration that will benefit the region for decades to come.”
Shelton added, “Conferences like this are so important because they connect us with peers who are tackling similar challenges in different ways. We come home with new tools, new partners, and renewed energy to keep moving projects forward here in St. Louis.”
Beyond the individual sessions, gatherings like the APA Bi-State Conference are an important way for STL Partnership staff to sharpen skills, connect with national trends and bring new ideas back to St. Louis. The work underway along West Florissant is just one example of how collaboration can create long-term benefits. By pairing lessons learned with regional expertise, STL Partnership continues to help communities take on their toughest challenges with creativity and momentum.
