St. Louis County Port Authority Community Investment Fund Grant

The St. Louis County Port Authority Community Investment Fund enhances economic and community development by providing support to projects that benefit underserved areas. Key priorities include business retention and expansion, neighborhood development, entrepreneurship, and real estate redevelopment. The fund focuses on initiatives that promote economic opportunities for historically underserved individuals and communities, leveraging resources from local partnerships, including rental payments from Penn National Gaming for the River City Casino.

The St. Louis County Port Authority’s Community Investment Fund supports economic and community development projects that advance or align with one or more of investment priority areas listed below. Examples are intended to be illustrative.
Business Retention & Expansion, which may include, programs that offer:Loan products or funds that fill gaps in available capitalWorkforce development programs for in demand jobsSupporting international market expansion for local businessesNeighborhood Economic and Community Development, which may include programs to addressRepositioning vacant and under-utilized properties (often retail sites)Neighborhood infrastructures improvementsPlanning/feasibility studiesCommunity planning/organizationNeighborhood stabilizationEntrepreneurship programs, which may includeSupporting small business development, especially expanding opportunities for minority and neighborhood-based businessesFostering innovation ecosystem development, such as financing, business technical assistance or facilities/infrastructure.Real Estate Development/Redevelopment, includingBrownfield RedevelopmentSite acquisition and assemblageSite preparation (pre-development – A/E, demo, infrastructure)Targeted Industry Sector Support (based on County or Regional strategic priorities)
Funds for the St. Louis County Port Authority Community Reinvestment Fund are provided through rental payments received from Penn National Gaming, Inc. for the lease of the ground where River City Casino is located.