Business briefs
SLATE opens summer employment programs for city youth
St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment is accepting applications for several youth employment and job-training programs aimed at St. Louis residents ages 16 to 24.
The agency’s Summer Youth Employment Program provides paid work experience and job-readiness training for young people seeking employment skills and career exposure. Participants are paired with job coaches who assist with career planning, resume preparation and financial literacy training.
SLATE also offers programs for out-of-school youth ages 17 to 24, including educational support, job training and employment services through partnerships with regional organizations.
A separate Youth Empowerment Program targets residents ages 19 to 24 with work-based learning opportunities and career development support.
Additional information and application details are available through SLATE Missouri Job Center.
Alaska Airlines adds non-stop to Portland, Oregon
Alaska Airlines launched nonstop this week service May 13 between St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Portland International Airport in Oregon, marking a second direct route from St. Louis to the Pacific Northwest.
The airline, which has operated at Lambert since 2013, already offers nonstop service to Seattle. It also provides seasonal service to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, between January and April.
Alaska Airlines will operate one daily flight between St. Louis and Portland seven days a week. The service is scheduled to run through Oct. 2.
The Portland route will use the airline’s Boeing 737-9 Max aircraft, which seats 178 passengers and includes first-class, premium and main cabin seating.
United Way commits $1.3 million to ongoing tornado recovery
United Way of Greater St. Louis will invest an additional $1.3 million in long-term recovery efforts tied to the May 2025 tornado that damaged large sections of St. Louis.
The funding includes $1 million for unmet needs identified through disaster case management, along with support for several community organizations involved in recovery efforts.
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Recovery Center will receive $100,000, while the 314 Oasis Resiliency Center, West Side Missionary Baptist Church Resiliency Center and Home Sweet Home will each receive targeted funding.
United Way said its 211 referral line handled more than 3,200 requests for storm-related assistance over the past year. The organization also reported coordinating volunteers, food distribution and funding support for nonprofit and neighborhood recovery efforts across the region.
Metro East attraction reopens after renovations
The Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower in Hartford, Illinois, is set to reopen May 14 following a renovation project aimed at expanding the site’s appeal as a tourism and recreation destination, according to the St. Louis Business Journal.
The 180-foot tower near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers underwent upgrades that include improvements to the observation tower, expanded visitor amenities, public art and a new children’s play area. Officials also updated exhibits highlighting the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the surrounding river region.
The attraction first opened in 2010 and features observation platforms with views of the river confluence, downtown St. Louis and the Gateway Arch. Local leaders hope the renovations will help draw additional visitors to the Metro East tourism corridor.