North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program (US)

The City of St. Louis, through its Community Development Administration has allocated $37 Million of Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), for the administration of a North St. Louis Small Business & Non-Profit Grant Program, originally defined in Board Bill 82 (2022-23 session) and amended in Board Bill 37 (2023-24 session).

The intent of the program is to provide economic development and empowerment assistance to small businesses and non-profits located in North St. Louis, where there exists a demonstrated need to reverse the effects of decades of disinvestment. The program will focus investment in the following geographic areas, on or North of Delmar Boulevard, and within a HUD designated Qualified Census Tract (QCT) or a SLDC designated Economic Justice Index (EJI) Areas EJI-1 and EJI-2.

Types of Grants

• Small Business Stabilization, Training and Expansion Grant Program
  • Grants for small for-profit and non-profit businesses for operational stabilization, training, expansion and other operating costs.
• Community Enhancement Grant Program (Façade, Rehabilitation, and New Construction)
  • Grants for small for-profit and non-profit businesses for community enhancement that includes, facade improvements, site rehabilitation and new construction with proven capacity need for enhancement and meet eligible program expenditures.
• Community Needs
  • Grants for small for-profit and non-profit business organizations, new to a neighborhood, and fills a gap in needed neighborhood services, to include professional or health services or enhanced retail or cultural offerings. ONLY for established businesses expanding into eligible geographic areas with site control.

Eligibility Criteria

• Business or non-profit located on or North of Delmar Boulevard
• Located in a Qualified Census Tract (QCT) OR
• Located in EJI Area 1 or 2
• Eligible established small businesses or non-profits as defined in the grant application.
• Definition of Non-profit Organization: Non-profit organization is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in contrast with an entity that operates as a business aiming to generate a profit for its owners.
• Eligible Established Non-profit organization has the following:
  • Articles of Incorporation
  • By-Laws
  • Good Standing Certificate from the Missouri Secretary of State
  • Federal & State Tax Designation – IRS 501(c)(3) status, State Tax Exempt Letter
  • Business License Exemption letter from the St. Louis City’s License Collectors Office
  • Unique Entity Identification Number
  • Not included within the Federal Exclusion Database
  • Meets geography eligibility
• Definition of Small Business: Small businesses are types of LLC, corporations, partnerships, or sole proprietorships which have a small number of employees. The Small Business Administration (SBA) defines a small business as employing 500 or fewer employees. However, this grant will prioritize small businesses with 100 employees or less.
• Eligible Established Small Business has the following:
  • Business name
  • Registered business with the MO Secretary of State
  • Has a Business License issued by the St. Louis City’s License Collectors Office
  • Unique Entity Identification Number
  • Not included within the Federal Exclusion Database
  • Meets geography eligibility
  • Federal Tax Identification #

For more information, visit SLDC.