Last week Gov. Jay Nixon said the state Office of Community Engagement would work with St. Louis County and the City of St. Louis to seek federal Promise Zone designation, which provides high-poverty urban, rural and tribal communities preferential access for certain competitive federal programs and technical assistance to accelerate revitalization efforts.
In 2014, the Obama Administration has designated the first five Promise Zones in San Antonio, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Southeastern Kentucky and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. The administration intends to designate six additional Urban Promise Zones in 2015. November 21 is the deadline for submission. For more information, visit www.hud.gov under “Economic Development Programs.”