SLDC trims staff as ARPA winds down, outsources parts of NWBE certification

Steven Westbrooks, newly appointed CEO of the St. Louis Development Corporation, described a strategic framework — "create, accelerate, and support" — to tailor development strategies across neighborhoods and corridors. Deputy CFO Chris Magcguire presented FY27 numbers showing a roughly $14 million budget, down about $1.4 million (9.2%) from FY26 as ARPA funding concludes.

Magcguire said SLDC revenue declines were driven by the conclusion of ARPA grants; the FY27 budget includes roughly six months of ARPA funding through Dec. 31. Personnel costs decreased and the organization reduced total supported positions from 105 to 87 by removing several vacant and departed posts from the table of organization.

On NWBE and certification work, SLDC said a $300,000 line will fund certification delivery and related software; the agency engaged contracts (B2G software, Porter Brown consultancy) to process certifications and a GriffinStrong threshold analysis has been contracted for MWBE ordinance updates (SLDC committed that the threshold analysis is underway). The budget includes a larger consultant spend for certifySTL while staff headcount was trimmed.

Committee members asked for follow-up details about Ecodo (Ecodo sales tax subsidy used for neighborhood transformation managers) and port authority request lines; SLDC pledged to provide additional detail in follow-up materials.