CBN MEMBER BRIGHT SPOTS
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.
St. Louis Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund to receive $500,000 in ARPA funds
The City of St. Louis has announced it is investing $500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds in the St. Louis Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund (RETAF) to help keep families in their homes before 2022 tax sales start in April.
CBN members Park Central Development, Prosperity Connection, and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri announced in the fall that they were partnering with the City of St. Louis Collector of Revenue’s Office to launch RETAF. RETAF’s goal is to help economically distressed families save their homes from real estate tax foreclosure.
BJC Healthcare partners with CBN members to support community health improvement
BJC HealthCare is introducing its community health improvement strategic plan, leadership team, and first regional partnerships in an effort to alleviate health inequities across the St. Louis region. Two of their initial partnerships are with CBN members Midwest BankCentre and St. Louis Community Credit Union, both financial institutions that have a shared mission of improving health and economic wellbeing. BJC recently developed a depository relationship with these two local financial institutions to address a historic lack of investment in the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis County. The deposits will be used to create loans to invest in these communities, including support for entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses and for individuals to realize the dream of home ownership.
Read the full press release >>
Read more about St. Louis Community Credit Union’s Community Impact Deposit Program >>
Park Central Development and IFF Partnering to Administer $15 Million Housing Fund
St. Louis Development Corporation has selected Beyond the Bridge—a joint venture that includes Smith NMTC Associates LLC and CBN members Park Central Development and IFF—to administer a new $15 million revolving fund designed to grow new construction and homeownership in St. Louis neighborhoods that have struggled with disinvestment.
Midwest BankCentre investing $200 million in 24:1 community over the next 5 years
Screenshot from Fox 2 News story
Fox 2 News recently spotlighted the longstanding partnership between Beyond Housing and Midwest BankCentre, which is currently ramping up to invest $200 million in the 24:1 community over the next 5 years. The investment will cover supports like homebuyer education and small business lending.
Lutheran Development Group set to start Marquette Homes Project in Dutchtown
Image by DutchtownSTL.org and featured in the original NextSTL story
Lutheran Development Group has received funding to complete Marquette Homes, which will bring 60 new and rehabbed affordable housing units to the Dutchtown and Gravois Park neighborhoods! The project spans 14 buildings and lots, 54,000 square feet for residential space, and one commercial unit.
CBN Members and Partners Receive $49 Million+ for 4 Affordable Housing Projects
Baden School, which will soon become Baden School Apartment Complex. Image from the St. Louis Public Schools website.
CBN members Rise Community Development, Lutheran Development Group, and North Newstead Association, along with partners DOORWAYS and Efficacy Consulting and Development, have received over $49 million from the Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) to complete 4 affordable housing development projects.
Treesilience Program Will Improve Tree Canopy in North St. Louis County
The Nature Conservancy has partnered with CBN members Beyond Housing and Forest Releaf of Missouri on the Treesilience initiative, which will remove dead, dying, or dangerous trees and plant 100 new trees in North St. Louis County to help reduce air pollution, heat islands, and floods.
CBN Members and Partners Launch St. Louis Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund
CBN members Park Central Development, Prosperity Connection, and Legal Services of Eastern Missouri have partnered with the Collector of Revenue’s Office to launch the St. Louis Real Estate Tax Assistance Fund (RETAF). RETAF’s goal is to help economically distressed families save their homes from real estate tax foreclosure. The fund will be available to eligible St. Louis City homeowners starting in the spring of 2022.
DeSales and Partners Launch Friends of South Grand
Image by DeSales Community Development
DeSales Community Development launched Friends of South Grand on November 15, 2021 to raise funds in support of the restoration and ongoing maintenance of the South Grand medians between Arsenal and DeTonty Avenue. Friends of South Grand was made possible through support and sponsorship from Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC, South Grand CID, and the leadership of St. Louis City Alderwomen Christine Ingrassia and Annie Rice.
Other early supporters include the neighborhood associations of Compton Heights, Compton Hill Reservoir Square, Shaw, and Tower Grove East as well as City Property Company. Tower Grove Park is providing technical assistance.
IFF Coordinates Capacity Building for Nonprofits Led by People of Color
IFF’s Stronger Nonprofits Initiative offers 14 months of capacity building to help People of Color-led nonprofits navigate systemic barriers to accessing capital and real estate opportunities. Ten St. Louis-area nonprofits were chosen to participate in the latest cohort, including CBN members Cornerstone Corporation, North Newstead Association, Northside Community Housing, and Rise Community Development.
Beyond Housing and Ameren Team Up to Improve 400 Homes in North County
Beyond Housing partner up with Ameren Missouri to reduce residents utility bills at no cost, while also upgrading other home improvements based on resident needs. So far, the energy efficiency program has supported 400 homes in North County St. Louis,
Speaker Series Inclusion Series Features President and CEO Chris Krehmeyer
The St. Louis Inclusion Speaker Series presented by CBN member International Institute St. Louis has insightful guests every single week and is honoring President and CEO Chris Krehmeyer to share his thoughts on housing and inclusive growth. Watch the full discussion here!
Brand Foundation New Expansion
CBN member Brand Foundation is excited to share their team's expansion efforts into the Atlanta market and believes this will create opportunities for shared learning between the City of St. Louis and City of Atlanta startup ecosystems!
Park Central Development and the Landmark Association of St. Louis on Historical Landmark
On Aug. 24, Park Central Development and the Landmarks Association of St. Louis conducted the official dedication for the Oscar Waring House, located in the Grove neighborhood, as a City of St. Louis Historical Landmark. Oscar Waring was the first Black Principal of Historic Sumner High School and was a remarkable scholar.
International Institute of St. Louis Committed to Helping Afghan Refugees
As the International Institute of St. Louis prepares to welcome up to 1,000 Afghan refugees, they are seeking community members and organizations to help by sharing cash gifts, in-kind donations, and time and expertise.
St. Louis Development Corporation Announces New Chief of Staff
Daffney Moore has been selected as St. Louis Development Corporation's (SLDC) Chief of Staff and strategic advisor/counsel to Executive Director, Neal Richardson. This role is essential for equitable growth and prosperity for the City of St. Louis.
Tower Grove Neighboorhood CDC Launches ARCH by HomeScreen
TGNCDC has launched ARCH by HomeScreen. ARCH, an acronym for At-risk Renters’ Connection to Housing, is a platform that expands TGNCDC’s tenant screening platform, HomeScreen, to nonprofit organizations searching for rental properties for their clients. At its core, ARCH is an apartment listing service and since launching, they have onboarded 60 landlords and 79 nonprofit users from 31 nonprofit organizations.
If any nonprofit organization is in need of this service, please contact Ella Gross at ella@towergrovecdc.org to get set up with an ARCH by HomeScreen account
Ameren and Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis Partner on First of "Neighborhood Solar" Energy Facilities
Ameren has come with the first-ever project on Humanity Saint Louis parking lot located in Dutchtown South neighborhood. The plan is to be net carbon zero by 2050.
CBN Members Spotlighted in Article About STL's North Central Corridor
New plans on redeveloping The North Central Corridor that will bring the Delmar Divide together. Including many of our CBN members getting active in creating a community plan.
