The federal government offered to $24 million to create a loan pool in struggling areas of North St. Louis County—most infamously displayed to the country over the past year in the intense racial conflicts centering around Ferguson.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced "the allocation of more than $26 million from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program for St. Louis County, Missouri," according to a release from the county of St. Louis. Making up the bulk of that total, "St. Louis County received $24 million under the Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program to establish a loan pool for community development projects." In addition to the $24 million, HUD granted $2.4 million in Declared Disaster Recovery Funds for areas damaged by tornadoes and severe storms in 2013.
Local news station KVHS reports more detail about how the money will be spent: "St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger says much of the money is expected to go to north St. Louis County, including Ferguson, where economic disparity became a focal point during unrest that followed the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by a police officer last year."
The Section 108 Loan Guarantee Program can found projects ranging from "transit-oriented development; mixed-use commercial, retail and multi-family rental development; business development loans; and public infrastructure and facilities, including collaborative projects that cross municipal borders," according to the press release.
Read the full story: HUD Awards More Than $26 Million to St. Louis County to Boost Economic Growth and Revitalize Distressed Communities
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