Real Estate & Community Investment

Community Investment Fund Application

Presentation from Public Information Session – Info Session Presentation 2022 – Final

Community Investment Fund Application

The St. Louis County Port Authority’s Community Investment Fund supports economic and community development projects that advance or align with one or more of investment priority areas listed below. Examples are intended to be illustrative.

1) Business Retention & Expansion, which may include, programs that offer

  • Loan products or funds that fill gaps in available capital
  • Workforce development programs for in demand jobs
  • Supporting international market expansion for local businesses

2) Neighborhood Economic and Community Development, which may include programs to address

  • Repositioning vacant and under-utilized properties (often retail sites)
  • Neighborhood infrastructures improvements
  • Planning/feasibility studies
  • Community planning/organization
  • Neighborhood stabilization

3) Entrepreneurship programs, which may include

  • Supporting small business development, especially expanding opportunities for minority and neighborhood-based businesses
  • Fostering innovation ecosystem development, such as financing, business technical assistance or facilities/infrastructure.

4) Real Estate Development/Redevelopment, including

  • Brownfield Redevelopment
  • Site acquisitionand assemblage
  • Site preparation (pre-development – A/E, demo, infrastructure)

5) Targeted Industry Sector Support (based on County or Regional strategic priorities)

The Port prioritizes projects that increase economic opportunity for historically underserved individuals and/or benefit underserved or economically distressed communities.

Funds for the St. Louis County Port Authority Community Reinvestment Fund are provided through rental payments received from Penn National Gaming, Inc. for the lease of the ground where River City Casino is located.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING

Applications for the current grant cycle are due by 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 10, 2022.

Applications may be submitted electronically to [email protected] or in hard copy at the offices of the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.

Funding decisions are anticipated in Fall 2022.

2022 Port Grant Application Appendix I | Appendix II

Additional Information

The Port Authority will host two, free, optional information sessions to review the application process and answer any questions applicants may have.  These information sessions will be virtual. See information session presentation here. The sessions will be held as follows:

Thursday, July 7 at 2:00 p.m.

Register here.

 

Wednesday, July 13 at 10:00 a.m.

Register here.

 

In addition, please see our answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Additional questions may be submitted at [email protected]