Show-Me State Times

The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA) announced the first recipients of the 2024 Neighborhood Transformation Grants. These grants aim to foster community-driven development, expand affordable housing, build neighborhood capacity, activate vacant lots, and support the implementation of comprehensive neighborhood plans across St. Louis.

"Renovating more than 50 vacant homes across neighborhoods like Old North St. Louis, Dutchtown, Gravois Park, Lewis Place, Carr Square, Penrose, and Tower Grove East will add life, vibrancy, and new residents to these communities," Mayor Tishaura O. Jones stated. "These investments will provide families with safe, quality, affordable housing, fostering thriving neighborhoods where everyone has the opportunity to live, work and play."

CDA created these funding opportunities in response to community input and based on the assessment of unmet needs identified in the City's Economic Justice Index and ARPA Community Needs Survey.

"All four of these new grant programs break new ground for CDA, allowing us to meet needs identified by residents and community stakeholders," said CDA Executive Director Nahuel Fefer. "From minor repairs to bringing vacant units back online to small grants to support quick wins on the ground, these resources are designed to empower communities to make their plans for neighborhood transformation a reality."

By retaining SLACO and FORWARD to administer small grant programs and partnering with non-profit developers and neighborhood groups across the city, CDA aims to fund specific projects identified by stakeholders as catalytic.

Neighborhood Plan Implementation Grants: CDA is awarding $1.6 million in Economic Development Sales Tax funding approved by City voters in 2017 for neighborhood revitalization with place-based investments. The recipients are:

- **Cornerstone for Goodfellow & Maple and Hodiamont Tracks Park Improvements**

- Award Amount: $800,000

- Project: Park improvements at Maple and Goodfellow intersection.

- Funding Source: Economic Development Sales Tax

- **St. Louis Art Place Initiative in Gravois Park**

- Award Amount: $800,000

- Project: Interblock greenways and beautification efforts.

- Funding Source: Economic Development Sales Tax

Neighborhood Capacity Building Grants Administration: Administered by SLACO with a total fund distribution of $400,000. This program will help build neighborhood capacity by funding supplies, technical assistance, community engagement activities/events intended to strengthen neighborhoods.

Community Development Grants Administration: Inspired by the Vacancy Collaborative; CDA has allocated $500,000 administered by FORWARD for reducing vacancy and blight through small grants ranging from $1,000-$15,000 for transforming vacant lots into community assets.

Vacant Unit Turns: CDA is addressing vacant rental units' repair through minor rehabs:

- **RISE**

- Developments: Crown Square, Fox Manor

- Funds: $454,001

- Units: 33

- **Sanctuary in the Ordinary**

- Development Name: Evans Apartments

- Funds: $150,000

- Units: 8

- **Carr Square Tenant Corporation**

- Development Name: CARR Square Village

- Funds: $1500

- Units:3

**Horizon Housing**

Development Names West Florissant Gravois

Funds:$2000

Units9(West Florissant4Gravois5)

Project Maintenance updates vacant rental units Penrose Tower Grove East neighborhoods contributing stabilization availability affordable housing Funding Source American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Neighborhood Transformation Grants part CDAs mission revitalize improve quality life residents supporting comprehensive enhancing organizational capacity addressing housing create sustainable thriving communities second year since launching seek project proposals Qualified Census Tracts QCTs Economic Justice Index areas encouraged submit wide range gardens parks construction hiring staff back office minor medium renovations home repairs The2024 cycle$21668557 available communitydriven programs announce awards summer following remaining categories HOMEARP Permanent Supportive Housing Available Funds$9668557 Affordable Production Rental For Sale Available$6000000 Historic Home Repair Program Construction Management Services RFP About serves clearinghouse federal state local works implement Mayors economic agenda funding wide range public nonprofit entities provide public services combat blight conduct various other activities