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In 1994, the federal government created the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community Initiative. The initiative's goal is revitalization of urban and rural distressed communities by infusing federal seed money. This seed money is leveraged with other public and private investment.
St. Louis city and East St. Louis Illinois received an Enterprise Community designation in 1994.
In 1998 the region joined together to apply for an Empowerment Zone designation to receive extended benefits for development projects. The cities of Wellston, St. Louis, and East St. Louis, St. Louis County and the states of Illinois and Missouri participated in a joint planning process and developed an application for Round II Empowerment Zone designation. The hard work paid off and starting January 1, 1999 the Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone was born.
The Empowerment Zone covers 13.7 square miles, 22 census tracts, 37,904 residents and 2,000 acres of developable site.
The application outlined the plans for the first two years of work, including the formation of a non-profit management corporation to adminster the program. This was accomplished. The Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone has a board of directors representing the different geographies, residents, business and regional development organizations.
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