In its annual report, the Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone announced it provided more than $1.3 million for development projects last year. These projects include small business loans, workforce development, tax credits and support for community housing efforts. The Empowerment Zone has provided funding to develop the Renaissance Grand Hotel, City Grocer and the Small Business Development Center in downtown St. Louis, Parsons Place rental community in East St. Louis, and the St. Louis Enterprise Center and the Manufacturing Training Alliance in Wellston. More than 60 community-based organizations have received small grants.
Since its inception, the Empowerment Zone has committed more than $25 million in projects, leveraged more than $300 million in regional investments and created 1,500 jobs.
SLCC receives nursing workforce diversity grant
St. Louis Community College’s district wide nursing program has received a Nursing Workforce Diversity grant in the amount of $272,998 for year one of a three-year project from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Services and Resources Administration.
The Pre-Entry Preparation, Retention and Support (PREPRS) project aims to increase the success rate of minority and international nursing students through an array of support strategies including student stipends. The second and third years of the grant, in the amounts of $280,992 and $286,614, are subject to availability.
City Franchise Fair on August 17
Business entrepreneurs interested in owning a national franchise are invited to attend the City of St. Louis Retail Franchise Fair. The free fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 17 at Harris-Stowe State University, Emerson Performing Arts Center, 3026 Laclede Ave.
The daylong event is sponsored by the City of St. Louis/St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) and Commerce Bank. A networking reception will be held from 4-7 p.m.
A wide variety of national franchise companies will have booths, including All State Insurance, World Financial Group, YourTravelBiz.Com, Guard-a-Kid, various restaurants and other franchises. Participants will have the chance to meet representatives from the franchise companies and learn the intricate details of buying and operating their own franchises.
For more information, call Ericca Willis, director of minority business development at SLDC at 622-3400, ext. 308.
Edward Jones tops J.D. Power list
The financial-services firm Edward Jones ranks highest in full-service investor satisfaction for the second consecutive year, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2006 Full Service Investor Satisfaction StudySM, the firm announced.
The J.D. Power and Associates study found that strong customer service representative performance, convenience, account set-up/offerings, account statements and product and service offerings combined with competitive investment performance drive Edward Jones first-place finish. Edward Jones does particularly well serving its more affluent clients, the survey found.