After nearly two years of hard work, and with the invaluable assistance of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri's Neighborhood Advocacy Program, DeSales Community Development has successfully obtained the title to 3543 Victor. They are proud to announce that the home has hit the housing market as of July 2023. This charming home is conveniently located near South Grand and Tower Grove Park, making it an ideal place to live. Click here to view the listing. They are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to new neighbors in Tower Grove East and take one more step towards transforming a vacant property into a vibrant and thriving community!
Justine PETERSON Awarded Microlender of the Year in Illinois
On Tuesday, July 18th, Justine PETERSEN's Central Illinois team attended the SBA Illinois 2023 Lender Awards Luncheon in Chicago. The SBA Lender Awards Luncheon celebrates lenders and small business advocates throughout Illinois. JP received the unique distinction of SBA Microloan Program of the Year. The award comes four months after JP officially launched the Champaign County Loan Fund in partnership with Champaign County and the Champaign County Economic Development Corporation. JP's Central Illinois Operations Manager Tristan Brown accepted the award on behalf of the organization. Also representing JP with Tristan was Asset Building Counselor Kristen Willis. While Kristen and Tristan do spend a great deal of time serving clients in the communities they're based in, they also work hard to grow relationships and service small business needs for clients in Decatur, Peoria, and other parts of Illinois. JP considers it a wonderful honor to be recognized alongside partners and peers, such as Peoples National Bank and Bank of Springfield and looks forward to continuing to be accessible to Illinois small business entrepreneurs.
DeSales Community Development 2022 Annual Report
In 2022, DeSales Community Development achieved significant milestones. They made notable progress on 3 vacancy initiative properties. Two were sold to capable developers. DeSales enlisted the EPA to clear 10,000 gallons of liquid waste from another. Additionally, they helped secure a Low Income Housing Tax Credit to preserve a 152-unit affordable housing development near Lafayette Square, ensuring access to quality, affordable housing for years to come in this area. The community service team actively prevented evictions by assisting residents in accessing $2.1 million in rental assistance via SAFHR, while also promoting financial stability. Meanwhile, Southside Rec continued to offer a wide range of activities from baseball to garden camp, providing year-round fun for over 300 neighborhood children. Finally, after 35 years of service, Tom Pickel, Executive Director, passed the leadership baton to Becky Reinhart with grace and humility. There is also a blog section added to the website.
Their vision is to continue to recognize quality affordable housing as a basic human need, necessary for a healthy and diverse community. To learn more about the success of DeSales Community Development in their 2022 Annual Report, click here.
Tower Grove Community Development Corporation Redevelops 3629 Hydraulic Ave and 4063 Potomac Ave
3629 Hydraulic Ave was a long vacant / nuisance property with an out of state owner in Tower Grove South. Tower Grove Community Development Corporation’s goal was to purchase the property and restore it to affordable rate housing. The property was horribly damaged due to time, weather, and squatters over the years. After cleaning out and demoing the interior, TGCDC created 2 beautiful, 2 bedroom rental apartments. During construction they formed a new partnership with a local not for profit organization, Opportunity House. Opportunity House uses a community based approach towards supporting unhoused young adults by providing housing, creating stability, encouraging growth, and building community. The transformation of 3629 Hydraulic in partnership with Opportunity House gave a home to 4 unhoused young adults who identify under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. Opportunity House will provide counseling, life skills training, and financial support to these young adults to create stability and opportunities for education and employment.
4063 Potomac Ave sat vacant and boarded up on a quiet Tower Grove South neighborhood street for over a decade. TGCDC identified the problem property and contacted Legal Services of Eastern Mo (LSEM). They filed a lawsuit in City court and obtained the right to make improvements to the property to address years of building code violations. TGCDC was given title to the property to complete the full renovation. The property was recently finished and sold to new homeowners. Without TGCDC’s intervention and our partnership with LSEM, 4063 Potomac would continue as a neighborhood nuisance and eventually lost. Now there is tax generating, a renovated home, and new stakeholders in our community.
Tower Grove Community Development Corporation's 2022 Annual Report
In mid 2022, Tower Grove Community Development Corporation (TGCDC) Board of Directors adopted their five year business plan (here). The plan outlines 5 primary goals that reflect their capacity, experience, and funding to help ther community while considering their growth as an organization into an expanded service area.
The annual report to the community highlights their progress towards these goals including some preliminary outputs and outcomes. Their 2022-2026 business plan was created using their framework and vision plan (here) as a foundation. They are proud of the service they’ve delivered to the community for over 41 years!
Click here to read the full annual report.
St. Louis Community Credit Union releases 2021 Impact Report
Cover of St. Louis Community Credit Union’s 2021 Impact Report
St. Louis Community Credit Union has released their 2021 Impact Report, which sheds light on the work their staff and partners have been doing to meet the financial and life needs of their membership.
Paul Woodruff, SLCCU’s Vice President of Community Development, said of the report: “While our vision of a financially equitable St. Louis for all is far from being realized, the winds of hope and change continue to propel the community development finance industry forward. Our Board and staff continue efforts to build the capacity and confidence of account holders to manage personal finances, as well as their ability to access services and loans that provide them the opportunity to build generational wealth.”
Cornerstone's work highlighted in St. Louis Magazine
St. Louis Magazine recently published a feature highlighting Cornerstone’s work in the West End neighborhood, including photos of some of their rehab work and an interview with Executive Director Monique Thomas.
Prosperity Connection partners with Jim Butler Auto Group to host credit fair
Screenshot from Fox 2 News story
Prosperity Connection recently teamed up with Jim Butler Auto Group to host a credit fair, where participants were able to access a credit review with financial coaches.
Cornerstone Corporation hosts ribbon cutting for affordable homes in the West End
Cornerstone Corporation celebrated the rehab of affordable homes for two families in the West End Neighborhood with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on May 20, 2022. Attendees enjoyed a tour, refreshments, and music, and the Cornerstone team announced a campaign to preserve the dignity of affordable rental homes in the West End.
Photo by Cornerstone Corporation
Enterprise Bank & Trust releases 2021 Community Impact Report
Enterprise Bank & Trust has released their 2021 Community Impact Report to share stories and data about Enterprise’s various community engagement initiatives, including affordable housing, volunteerism, philanthropy, diversity and inclusion, education, community development and green initiatives.
Cover of Enterprise Bank & Trust’s 2021 Community Impact Report
SHED Releases 2021 Annual Report
Cover of SHED’s 2021 Annual Report
Sustainable Housing & Equitable Development (SHED) has released their 2021 Annual Report. Here are a few highlights it covers:
SHED has been awarded funding from St. Louis County to build two new for-sale homes on vacant lots in U City's 3rd Ward. The homes will be sold to low-moderate income buyers and will help continue to revitalize the 3rd Ward.
SHED has also been awarded a grant from the Marillac Mission Fund to pilot a Senior Home Repair program.
SHED is partnering with the School District of University City to offer hands-on training in the construction trades - this Spring, students from U City High School are building a deck for a SHED client - read a recent article from the Post Dispatch about the program.
U.S. Bank announces $100 billion community benefits plan
As part of their upcoming acquisition of MUFG Union Bank, U.S. Bancorp has partnered with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) and the California Reinvestment Coalition (CRC) to put together a 5-year community benefits plan. The plan focuses on supporting equitable access to capital for low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color.
Rebuilding Together St. Louis helps 18 homeowners with repairs
Screenshot from St. Louis Post-Dispatch video story
Rebuilding Together St. Louis recently completed home repairs and improvements for 18 homes in need of extra support. The work was part of their annual Spring Rebuilding Day event.
St. Louis Development Corporation Releases Roadmap to Economic Justice
St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and the City of St. Louis Mayor’s Office have released their Roadmap to Economic Justice, a vision for guiding the City of St. Louis’ commitment to begin reversing decades of disinvestment. The Roadmap highlights key areas where investment should be focused, including affordable housing, small business empowerment, and addressing vacancy.
Cover of the Roadmap to Economic Justice by SLDC
3 Justine PETERSEN Board Members honored in "Top 100 St. Louisans to Know to Succeed in Business"
Three of Justine PETERSEN’s board members were recently honored in St. Louis Small Business Monthly’s “Top 100 St. Louisans You Should Know to Succeed In Business”: Niccole Clements of PNC Bank (also a CBN member), Elissa Schauman of Leverage Law Group, and Allan Ivie IV of SImmons Bank.
The magazine also honored Scott Held of Ameren Corporation, Greg Kendell of Commerce Bank, Nancy Petersen of Enterprise Bank & Trust, Arrey Obenson of the International Institute of St. Louis, Dara Eskridge of Invest STL, David Noble of Midland States Bank, and Neal Richardson of St. Louis Development Corporation.
Congratulations!
Image by Justine PETERSEN
St. Louis Community Foundation co-commissions report on the St. Louis region's digital divide
Image by St. Louis Community Foundation
The St. Louis Community Foundation and Regional Business Council partnered to commission the St. Louis Digital Divide study, a report that examines the digital divide in St. Louis communities, homes, and public school districts. It estimates that 250,000-300,000 households in St. Louis City and County lack access to high-quality internet and that one-fourth of homes in the City of St. Louis do not have a computer.
The study examines 5 dimensions of the digital divide:
Coverage
Quality
Service affordability
Device affordability
Mentoring
Read more from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch >>
Read more from The St. Louis American >>
Read more about the Community Foundation’s ConnectSTL initiative >>
Rebuilding Together St. Louis provides home repairs for local veterans
Screenshot from Morning in America news segment
Rebuilding Together St. Louis has partnered with the Home Depot Foundation to provide free home repairs to St. Louis-area veterans this year, and their work was recently profiled by Morning in America and other news outlets.
Watch the news story from Morning in America >>
Cornerstone CDC celebrates renovation of 6031 Suburban Avenue
Cornerstone CDC is celebrating the completion of their latest affordable housing project at 6031 Suburban Avenue!
If you’re interested in touring this Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) unit before Cornerstone welcomes their residents in, you can RSVP for their Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Open House on Friday, May 6 at 2:00 pm. Click here for more information about that.
Photo from Cornerstone CDC’s blog
St. Louis Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund profiled on Fox 2 News
Screenshot from Fox 2 News video segment
The St. Louis Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund (RETAF)’s work was recently profiled by Fox 2 News. RETAF’s goal is to help economically distressed families save their homes from real estate tax foreclosure.
CBN members Park Central Development, Prosperity Connection, and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri are partnering with the City of St. Louis Collector of Revenue’s Office to coordinate RETAF.
North County Inc. Announces 2022 Community Development Leadership Awardees
North County Inc. (NCI) is proud to announce their 2022 Community Development Leadership Awardees that will be honored at our 45th Annual Leadership Breakfast on May 6, 2022:
Angie's All-Inclusive Playground in the City of Florissant
The Bread Basket at SSM Health DePaul Hospital - St. Louis
Pattonville Fire Protection District COVID Response Partnership
Nancy Wolff of The Emergency Assistance Ministry (TEAM)
Mercy Clinic in the City of Ferguson
Rose Jackson-Beavers of Behavioral Health Network
If you’d like to join NCI for this celebration of leadership, click here to become a sponsor and purchase tickets.
