With Expansion, Arch Grants Grows Into “Economic Engine”
At the grand opening of its expanded headquarters in Downtown St. Louis this week, Arch Grants — a member of the GSL Chair's Council — announced a new lending program designed to provide critical growth capital to local startups. The program, a partnership with the James S. McDonnell Foundation, an executive-level GSL investor, and the St. Louis Community Credit Union, a GSL Investor Council member, emphasizes the organization’s role as an “economic engine for the region,” said Executive Director Gabe Angieri.
Since 2012, Arch Grants-backed startups have generated more than $1.3 billion in revenue, raised more than $870 million in follow-on capital, created more than 4,000 jobs, and paid more than $239 million in wages in the St. Louis region.
The Bottom Line: Support for small businesses is built into the STL 2030 Jobs Plan as a key strategy for regional economic growth — but that support must be inclusive, and programs like Arch Grants’ helps make that possible. “Access to capital remains one of the biggest barriers for entrepreneurs from communities that have historically been excluded from our economy,” said Jason Q. Purnell, President of the James S. McDonnell Foundation. “This partnership with Arch Grants and St. Louis Community Credit Union is about changing that by helping more local founders grow their businesses, create quality jobs, and build wealth right here in St. Louis.”
The Saint Louis Art Museum, a member of the GSL Investor Council, will on Saturday, Oct. 18, open a major exhibition of German artist Anselm Kiefer — the first American retrospective of his work since 2005. The exhibition, curated in part by SLAM’s Director Min Jung Kim, encompasses multiple halls and mixed media, and even includes paintings created specifically by the artist that invoke his time on the Mississippi.
The Bottom Line: Such an important exhibition by a living artist underscores the fact that St. Louis is a major player in the art world, and its impressive collection includes, as Kim said, “one of the largest and most diverse collections of 20th century German art in particular.” The fact that this major exhibition is also free is a testament to the museum’s commitment to and position within the St. Louis community.
Making Art History: Min Jung Kim brings a fresh perspective to SLAM’s role in the metro. >> theSTL.com
Local Incubator Named a Top National Small Business
Kre8 Spaces, a St. Louis-based, veteran-founded creative incubator and a GSL Investor Council member, has been recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top 100 Small Businesses in America. >> DC News Now
A St. Louis Icon Gets His Due
The 125-year-old St. Louis Post-Dispatch Weatherbird now has his own exhibit in the Field House Museum — and recognition in the New York Times. >> New York Times
From locally owned favorites to nationally recognized destinations, Downtown Restaurant Week highlights the cultural and economic impact of Downtown’s vibrant food scene. The week-long celebration — presented by Greater St. Louis, Inc. and Explore St. Louis — will showcase the best of Downtown dining with special menus and deals at participating restaurants and bars.
The Bottom Line: The STL 2030 Jobs Plan reminds us that the revitalization of Downtown St. Louis is integral to inclusive economic growth for the entire region. A full week that highlights Downtown restaurants not only supports those businesses but drives traffic and awareness to the local neighborhood. "Downtown Restaurant Week celebrates the talent and creativity that make St. Louis a standout culinary destination, where every meal tells a story and strengthens our city’s growing reputation as a top place to dine," said Brad Dean, President and CEO of Explore St. Louis.
