CDA Announces $21 million in CDBG and HOME Awards

The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA) announced today the allocation of over $18 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $3.1 million in HOME funds for 2025. These resources will foster the city's ongoing commitment to addressing pressing social services, affordable housing, and infrastructure needs. The wide-ranging awards include investments into youth jobs, afterschool programs, food assistance, senior services, job training programs, commercial facade improvements, addressing vacancy and problem properties, supporting transitional housing, expanding educational and youth programs, and assisting elderly residents. 

“Our community thrives when we invest in its future. These funds will provide critical resources to support housing, food security, job training, youth services, and much more,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “By working closely with our partners, we’re not only addressing urgent needs but building the foundation for a stronger, more resilient St. Louis.”

Established in 1974 by HUD, CDBG is a federal program that provides flexible funding to help local governments address a wide range of community development needs. Cities, counties, or regions decide how to use these funds to address local priorities like affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, and services for low- and moderate-income residents. City of St. Louis CDBG awards are determined by a rating system based on the Economic Justice Action Plan. 

The priorities for the 2025 CDBG awards were shaped by public engagement, feedback, and extensive research conducted as part of the City of St. Louis' 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan process. This plan guides the City's investments in housing and community development over the next five years. The draft Consolidated Plan is now available for public comment, and residents are encouraged to review and provide feedback.

Notable components of this year's awards include investments in youth support, transitional housing, employment training programs, and neighborhood beautification while also expanding access to vital community services such as food pantries, senior care, and tech training programs.

“This year’s CDBG awards reflect the City’s deep commitment to partnering with a diverse range of organizations which play a vital role in strengthening our neighborhoods,” said CDA Executive Director Nahuel Fefer. “The CDBG program - in concert with an array of other public, private and philanthropic funds - is fostering a regenerative ecosystem of social services and developments which represents a pipeline out of poverty, and is catalyzing equitable and sustainable growth in the city.”

CDBG is an annual funding cycle, with the application period typically opening in late summer each year. The program has long been a cornerstone of the City’s efforts to support nonprofits and public services that create long-term positive impacts for St. Louis residents.

Highlights of the 2025 CDBG and HOME Funding:

• $3.4 million for public services, including youth mentorship, food security, and senior services.
• $520,269 for commercial facade improvements to support local businesses and neighborhood revitalization.
• $3 million for homeownership assistance, including home repairs and down payment assistance.
• $1.3 million for youth employment, job training, microenterprises, and economic development infrastructure
• $1.7 million for public improvements like neighborhood beautification, community center upgrades, and infrastructure.

A complete list of awards is available on the CDA's website. These awards will be administered through CDA subject to approval by the Board of Aldermen.

The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program provides annual grants on a formula basis to states, cities, and counties to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing and a suitable living environment, and by expanding economic opportunities, principally for low- and moderate-income persons.

List of 2025 CDBG Awards by Category:

Public Services:
Total: $3,554,078

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri: $100,000
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis: $98,177
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis – Out of School Time for Youth: $98,000
• Carondelet Community Betterment Federation: $72,000
• City Counselor's Office: $228,000
• City Seniors, Inc. – Senior Services: $135,490
• City Seniors, Inc. – Food Pantry: $30,000
• Covenant House Missouri – Genesis Shelter Program: $55,000
• Covenant House Missouri – Transitional Living Program: $45,000
• Criminal Justice Ministry – Release to Rent: $125,000
• Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry – Expanded Recreation Program: $308,000
• Employment Connection – Competitive Employment Program: $150,000
• Employment Connection – Green Jobs: $150,000
• Employment Connection – Re-Entry: $150,000
• Food Outreach - Food Assistance Services: $160,193
• Gene Slay's Girls & Boys Club of St. Louis: $150,000
• Guardian Angel Settlement Association: $50,000 (Childcare)
• Guardian Angel Settlement Association: $50,000 (Senior Services)
• Guardian Angel Settlement Association: $50,000 (Food Pantry)
• Hope House STL – Transitional Housing Program: $150,000
• Interfaith Residence (DOORWAYS): $150,000
• Midtown Community Services: $25,903
• Mission: St. Louis: $96,611 (EACH1)
• Mission: St. Louis: $112,260 (Beyond School)
• Northside Youth & Senior Service Center, Inc.: $60,000
• STL Youth Jobs - Summer Work Experience: $70,000
• Seed St. Louis: $88,000
• St. Louis Area Agency on Aging: $270,000
• SLACO – Development & Engagement Institute: $30,000
• St. Patrick Center: $100,000 (Shamrock Club Day Treatment Program)
• St. Patrick Center: $75,000 (Workforce Development Program)
• Tower Grove Neighborhoods CDC: $50,000 (At-Risk Renters' Connection)
• Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis: $104,444 
• Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis: $125,000 (Save Our Sons and Sisters Job Prep)
• Youth & Family Center: $70,000

Interim Assistance:
Total: $1,370,000

• Land Reutilization Authority: $1,000,000
• Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry: $370,000 (Operation Brightside)

Commercial Facade Improvement Program:
Total: $520,269

• 1level: $50,000
• 3Hots & A Shot LLC: $50,000
• A & T Broadway LLC: $50,000
• Angels Within CDS LLC: $50,000
• Be Well Cafe Corp: $50,000
• Dad's Cookie Co: $46,250
• DeSales Community Housing Corp: $19,500
• Employment Connection: $21,520
• Intertwine LLC: $25,220
• JAD Productions, LLC: $17,677
• Locs of Glory LLC: $38,000
• MNLS Partnership: $13,150
• Star Bethel MB Church: $30,000
• Sugarwitch LLC: $20,714
• The Mallet Shop: $18,238
• The Property Experts, LLC DBA Palomino Lounge: $20,000

LMI Homeowner Assistance:
Total: $3,065,000

• The Housing Partnership: $115,000 (Down Payment Assistance)
• City of St. Louis Building Divisions: $350,000 (Healthy Home Repair Inspections)
• Mission St. Louis: $700,000 (Healthy Home Repair Program)
• Community Development Administration: $1,900,000 (Home Repair Program Loan Pool)

Housing Construction & Rehabilitation:
Total: $6,261,158

• Community Development Administration: $2,098,977 (Affordable Housing Production & Preservation – CDBG)
• Community Development Administration: $2,972,181 (Affordable Housing Production & Preservation – HOME)
• Community Development Administration: $1,050,000 (Rehabilitation Administration – CDBG)
• Community Development Administration: $140,000 (Rehabilitation Administration – HOME)

Economic Development:
Total: $1,189,807

• St. Louis Development Corporation: $500,000
• LaunchCode Foundation: $300,000
• Justine Petersen: $389,807 (Microenterprise Technical Assistance)

Public Improvements:
Total: $1,610,919

• Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis: $295,000 (Near Northside Walkable Communities Phase II)
• St. Louis Housing Authority: $750,000 (Al Chappelle Community Center Public Improvements)
• Wellston Loop Community Development Corp.: $100,000 (Goodfellow Renewal Project)
• Gene Slay's Girls & Boys Club of St. Louis: $81,031 (Site-Based Club Expansion)
• Northside Youth & Senior Service Center, Inc.: $249,888 (NSYSSC Intergenerational Community Center)
• Northside Youth & Senior Service Center, Inc.: $35,000 (Northside Youth Space)
• CDA: $100,000 (Beautification of City-Owned Vacant Property)

Planning & Administration:
Total: $3,621,762

• City Counselor's Office: $229,500 (Legal Services Support Program)
• Civil Rights Enforcement Agency: $150,000 (Fair Housing Enforcement)
• Community Development Administration: $1,947,262 (CDA Administration – CDBG)
• Community Development Administration: $25,000 (CDA Administration – HOME)
• Comptroller's Office: $45,000 (Federal Grants Administrative Support)
• Planning & Urban Design Agency: $1,125,000 (PDA Administration)
• St. Louis Development Corporation: $100,000 (Capacity Building