$175,000 Grant for Manufacturing Training Alliance
The Alliance Industry Certification Program is located within the MET Center. The grant will allow continuation of Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) training for 30 students, facilitate placement into apprenticeships and assistance in securing permanent employment.

$740,000 Grant for St. Louis Small Business Development Center
Supporting the SBDC is consistent with the EZ’s policy of investing in infrastructure and participating in partnerships that expand resources. EZ funds will be used staff who will provide technical assistance in the area of business plan development and applying for various forms of financing. Business retention and relocation work completed in this effort is expected to create 60-200 jobs.

$250,000 Forgivable Loan for Schnucks Markets Inc.
The East St. Louis store is located within the EZ area, employs 112 people and is the only major supermarket in the area.  This loan is for the store to remain open at least another five years, maintain current employees, make necessary repairs and renovations including a drive-up pharmacy.

$70,000 Loan for Manilla Bay Products, LLC
This is a start-up fruit juice beverage manufacturing company using the brand Name Atura. The loan is for working capital, equipment and inventory stock.  Products are expected to be sold to institutions, wholesalers. retailers and the government.

$600,000 Forgivable Loan for Solae, LLC
Solae is a St. Louis based company in the LaSalle Park area that manufactures and researches soy based products.  The EZ loan will help purchase additional equipment for the consolidation of the Indiana operation into St. Louis.  The company currently employs 375 people and hopes to create 8 new jobs.

$150,000 Loan for City Grocers, LLC
This project is helping to redevelop to the downtown area. City Grocery will offer catering services in addition to stocking such items as; produce, dairy, meats, seafood, deli items, bakery, frozen items and beverages.  The loan is for working capital, equipment and inventory.  The store will create 18 to 22 jobs.

$150,000 Loan for Gateway Fabricators Inc.
Gateway Fabricators is an East St. Louis business that manufactures aluminum and steel components for the transportation industry with customers ordering after-market trailer repair parts.  The EZ loan is working capital for the purchase of bulk raw materials to increase sales profitability.

$50,000 Grant for Greater St. Louis Regional Empowerment Zone (Marketing for EZ Tax Credit Program)
This grant is for the execution of an awareness strategy plan on the availability of EZ tax credits. Mailings, seminars, media events and web site updates will be the delivery methods.  The proposed outcome is to reach all 4,600 EZ businesses.

$150,000 Loan for YES Inc.  – The Lee J Store
This loan is for improvements to a new downtown location for a fashion retail store that will catering to loft residents and visitors and well as general clientele.  This project is expected to create 10 jobs.

$400,000 Loan for Blackmon's Entertainment and Banquet Facility
The EZ loan will be used for construction of a proposed banquet and entertainment center in East St. Louis and will share current owned facilities that provide important amenities to the area.

$200,000 Loan for Heuris
The EZ loan for working capital presents an opportunity to further reinforce downtown development with a new high tech software company in the consumer electronic industry.

$158,000 – Loan $150,000 and $8,000 Grant for City Design
This downtown based company does soil and concrete testing for construction industry, environment remediation and engineering services. EZ loan is for working capital and the grant to cover consultants directing business recovery plan which will to create 5 full-time jobs.

$155,650 Grant for Worth Industries Capital Improvements
EZ grant will enable this non-profit, sheltered workshop training program for disabled adults to complete renovations at the North Broadway site with new lighting, heat, air-conditioning, loading dock repair and paved parking area for 56  disabled workers.

$80,000 Loan for El’s Multi Service Company
New equipment and operating costs from the EZ will be combined with a unique investment from a Tenant Management Association. Together, these funds will support the retention and expansion of an existing cleaning and landscaping business that will hire underemployed EZ residents.

$250,000 Loan for Merchandise Mart Restaurant- Kitchen K
EZ funds are invested to start-up of 5,800 square foot restaurant in the historic Merchandise Mart, adjacent to the Renaissance Grand Hotel and the Convention Center. The restaurant will be managed by experienced, local restaurateurs and will create 25-30 jobs.

$125,000 Grant for Metro-East Education to Careers Transition Service
This grant will assure continuance of career services to special needs Metro-East high school students.  Program I will expose students to career opportunities and Program II offers transition services to get seniors employed and involved in the community.

$100,000 Loan for Arvin’s Appliance Furniture and A/C
EZ funds will be used for equipment, inventory and working capital necessary to re-open a retail business following a fire. Approximately 6 jobs will be created.

$250,000 Loan for Lackey Sheet Metal
This project retains and potentially expands an existing EZ business. A low interest rate loan will facilitate acquisition costs and retain approximately 22 jobs.

$749,405 Grant for MET Center Tuition and Operating
Managed by the St. Louis Community College, this grant will offer EZ residents tuition, work readiness and advanced skill training programs. Remaining portion of grant will cover technology upgrades. client assessments, tracking, drug testing, transportation, etc. Programs available are WorkLink, Metal Manufacturing, Construction, Information Technology and Midwest Telecommunications.

$309,533 Grant for Project RESPECT/WorkLink
This grant is for Better Family Life to replicate the RESPECT/WorkLink Program in East St. Louis to provide employment seeking individuals job readiness and placement through education, counseling and career training.

$350,000 Forgivable Loan for Managed Work Services
This repayable loan through in-kind services to EZ residents and businesses is for a new workforce development entity addressing back end job retention.  Targeted areas will be call centers, customer service, banking, property management, retail manufacturing, clerical services and data processing.

$240,000 Loan for St. Louis Pizza and Wings
Smith’s Superette is a family owned business that has operated profitably for 35 years in the City of St. Louis. EZ has provided a loan for expansion to accommodate the addition of a pizzeria. Thirty-six EZ residents have been hired to date.

$200,000 Loan for DMX Capital Improvements
DMX Industries is a light manufacturing company in Wellston. With a loan to purchase its existing building from a certified Community Development Financial Institution, the EZ provided a low-interest loan for capital improvements. This project will retain 9 jobs and create 2 new jobs.

$8,060 Grant for Operation Excel: YouthBuild (Wellston)
This program is run by St. Louis County Housing Authority.  The grant will be used to recruit 3 to 5 residents 18 to 24 years old into the construction of affordable for-sale homes. After the training program, participants will be placed in construction trainee positions and paid trainee wages and benefits.

$5,294 Grant for YouthBuild: St. Louis Charter School
This grant will help to cover vocational training in the construction trades for 17 to 20 year old students in classroom and construction sites through paying trainee wages, benefits, bonuses and IDA incentives for 15 first year students attending the school.

$114,264 Grant for Marriott Career Advancement Training
This grant for the Marriott International Career Advancement Training Program will allow 70 EZ incumbent workers, over a two year period, to participate in the 36 hour work-site training to enhancing retention and improve chances for advancement.

$242,000 for EZ Business Assistance Center
This grant allows the EZ to create a Business Development Center that will provide business assistance to EZ businesses and residents. Technical assistance will be provided by the US Small Business Administration, RMI, MO Small Business Development Center, Great Rivers Community Capital and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

$400, 000 Loan for State Street Shopping Center Phase III
This project is the expansion of existing retail facilities by 15,600 square feet with additional retail shopping and a restaurant in East St. Louis. The EZ’s fund represent gap financing that makes the project possible. Additional Community Development Block Grant Funds, bank financing and substantial private investment dollars are combined, making this a viable economic revitalization project. 45 jobs will be created by the project.

$500,000 Loan for MLK Plaza
Development of a retail center that serves the Covenant Blue and Grand Center neighborhoods will create 125 temporary construction jobs and approximately 100 full and part time permanent jobs. A Save-A-Lot grocery store will anchor the project, and mark the first substantial development in this area in over 35 years.

$175,000 Grant for Successful Transitions Dress for Success & Transportation
This grant will enable Connections to Success to continue providing collaborative services, counseling, clothing and transportation for a 2 year period to unemployed and under-employed EZ residents seeking livable-wage employment.  This program is currently impacting over EZ 50 families.

$132,069 Grant for Bank and Financial Career Connections – TelTemps
This grant is to cover tuition and equipment to enroll 25 EZ residents into bank teller basic skills and customer service representative training provided by TelTemps.  Significant recruitment sources will be JeffVanderLou Initiative and Vashon High School.

$432,053 Grant for Midwest Telecommunications Preparatory Academy
The academy is operated through the St Louis Junior College at the MET Center in Wellston.  This grant will help with operating cost of telecommunication training for 30 students per a 16 week intensive entry-level program.  Existing telecommunication companies have been contacted on placement possibilities of job-ready students.

$200,000 – Grant $150,000 and $50,000 Loan for C.L. Wicks Corporation
This project supports the expansion and improvement of an existing business in East St. Louis, Illinois. It includes an investment through a grant in the public infrastructure. The business is further supported by a low interest loan that will be used for equipment costs.

$10,000 Grant for a Feasibility Study of locating an RV Park in Lemay
The Lemay Development Corporation received the grant to fund the financial feasibility study for developing an RV Park at the National Lead Site in Lemay, MO. The study outcome will inform their decision whether to present a development proposal in response to the development RFQ.

$38,500 Grant for SBA Entrepreneur Center
This project done by the Small Business Administration equips a classroom for distance learning. It provides the EZ and region with access to additional business development resources.

$750,000 Grant for the St. Louis Enterprise Center in Wellston
This project is a partnership between the St. Louis Economic Council and St. Louis County Land Clearance for Redevelopment Authority for property improvements to develop a business incubator in Wellston, MO.

$11,691 Grant for CISCO Academy for Vashon HS Students
This grant will provide 20 EZ high school juniors and opportunity for two years to receive advanced computer job training under the guidance of the St. Louis Community College.