About:
The Gateway Arch serves as Mayor Tishuara Jones’ background/Twitter
Mayor Tishaura O. Jones today celebrated the launch of the Stronger STL website to highlight the transformative impact of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the City of St. Louis and provide support for residents and organizations seeking to learn more about funding eligibility and allocation.
“The launch of this platform underscores our city’s commitment to building a better St. Louis now and into the future,” said Mayor Jones. “The Stronger STL website provides a direct line of sight into how these funds are being deployed to grow and foster resilience within our communities.”
The Biden administration’s allocation of $350 billion to state and local governments has provided the region with a vital lifeline, with $498 million dedicated to the City of St. Louis. This new website serves as a centralized hub for residents to access funds and tap into the progress of current projects.
The site will showcase the incredible work of local businesses in revitalizing our community and creating a more resilient future for all residents of the St. Louis region. Residents, nonprofits, and businesses can use the site to determine their eligibility for certain ARPA funding, like homebuyer assistance and small business and nonprofit funding.
As of January 31, 2024, St. Louis City has funded 223 projects, totaling $498,076,020.00 in appropriations. Notably, $272,519,142.08 has been programmed, representing 54.7% of the total appropriation. The hub illustrates the impact and accountability in connection to ARPA-funded projects.
The Stronger STL website can be accessed at arpa.stlouis-mo.gov.
With an influx of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the City of St. Louis is investing in a stronger future. $50,000 is now available for qualified first time homebuyers purchasing a home in the City of St. Louis.
To access the benefits provided by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), apply for funds directly from the government as an individual or family.
First-Time Home Buyer Assistance
HomeSTL provides down payment and closing cost assistance. Qualified applicants may receive assistance, a permanent interest rate reduction, prepaids and principal reduction (no cash back to borrower).
Eligibility:
- Must be first time homebuyer (not have owned or co-owned a home in the last three years)
- Household income limit cannot exceed City of St. Louis 80% AMI
- Buyers must meet credit and income qualifications of program
- Complete an approved homebuyer education course
- Must meet lender’s qualifications
- Secure pre-approval with eligible mortgage lender
- Purchase an owner-occupied, single family home within the City of St. Louis
Learn more and apply on St. Louis Development Corporation’s (SLDC’s) HomeSTL program page.
Small Business Loan Fund
This $2.5 million loan fund provides much-needed working capital to help small businesses and nonprofits grow. The city’s economic development team, St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC), is especially looking to help minority, and women-owned businesses, who often struggle to secure traditional bank financing. If you know a business or organization ready to grow, this might just be the help they need.
Eligibility:
- 2 years in business (with corresponding tax returns)
- Owners of more than 20% of the business are U.S. citizens or legal residents
- Not filed for bankruptcy in the last (3) years
- Never defaulted on a government loan
- Can provide Balance and Profit & Loss sheets to detail cash flow
Learn more and apply on St. Louis Development Corporation’s (SLDC’s) Loans & Grants page.
Healthy Home Repair Program
Does your home need an important repair? Are safety issues worrying you, but the cost is out of reach? Enter the Healthy Home Repair program – your home’s superhero. We will hire the crew to check the issue, bring in the fix-it squad, and guess what? It’s all 100% covered. Let’s turn that worry into a win! We’re building a Stronger Stl one home at a time.
Eligibility:
- City homeowner for more than two years
- Less than 80% of Area Median Income
- Your city real estate taxes are current
Learn more and apply for the Healthy Home Repair Program.
Road Improvements
Safer Intersections and All-New Streets Are Straight Ahead
More than $40 million in road improvements are set to get underway in 2024. In addition to paving the entire length of Kingshighway, Jefferson, Union, Goodfellow, and Grand, the city will deliver new traffic calming and pedestrian safety measures at the most dangerous intersections to slow down speeding cars and make streets safer for everyone no matter how they get around.
If you’d like to learn more, read the full article about these road improvements.
Youth Outreach and crime Reduction
With funding for nine different community outreach groups, the city is taking a new approach to violence prevention. In place of the common practice of arrest and incarceration, these teams of interpreters work in neighborhoods to break the cycle of violence. Their approach seeks to turn down the heat in conflicts and get vulnerable teens the services they need, including: housing, addiction treatment and mental health services.
To find resources for temporary housing and mental healthcare, or to view our open RFPs related to youth outreach and crime reduction, visit our Office of Violence Prevention page.
New Affordable Housing
This year the City is investing more than $18 million in new affordable housing projects, funded through the American Rescue Plan and other affordable housing programs. That totals more than 952 new affordable housing units that residents can soon call home. Building communities and helping our neighbors find safe, affordable housing is one way we are building a Stronger Stl.
Take a look at some of the new American Rescue Plan-funded developments underway throughout St. Louis on the City’s Community Development Administration page.
To explore affordable housing programs in St. Louis, visit SLDC’s Resources page.
City of St. Louis
1200 Market St.
City Hall Room 200
St. Louis, Missouri 63130
STLARPA@stlouis-mo.gov
(314) 622-3201
Privacy and Security Policy
Website Policies and Notices
#StrongerSTL #ARPA #CommunityResilience #Funding #StLouis #MayorJones