July 2026
July 2026
Community Outreach Liasion Quen Agnew
Welcome to July
July has been an incredible reminder that our region is at its best when we come together. This past month, we connected with entrepreneurs and innovators at the SLDC Business Expo, celebrated the spirit of Juneteenth from downtown St. Louis to Dellwood and Florissant, supported “Yeah, I Build That,” a hands-on construction showcase at the Empowerment Center that introduced participants to careers in the skilled trades, experienced the energy of Black Wall Street in Wellston, enjoyed the vibrant Hispanic Festival in Florissant, and even joined the British Airways Community Welcome Party. Every stop brought new conversations, new partnerships, and a renewed appreciation for the people, cultures, and opportunities that make our region so special.
This month’s edition is a celebration of those moments. We invite you to explore a few highlights from across the region and discover how, one connection at a time, we’re building stronger communities together.
Inside This Issue
Community Hidden Gem
Tower Grove Park
One of St. Louis’ oldest and most beautiful parks, Tower Grove Park hosts summer farmers markets, food truck Fridays, yoga, concerts, and festivals—making it a great place to spend a summer evening.
Engaging with the Community Resources and Events
Quote of the Month
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.”
— Henry Ford
Did You Know?
St. Louis is home to more free major attractions than almost any other U.S. city, including the Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center, and the Missouri History Museum.
Engaging with the Community
SLDC North St. Louis Business Collective hosted an opportunity for business owners to engage with business support organizations and access resources that include funding, operational support, and other services designed to help businesses grow and succeed. The event was held at Northside Economic Empowerment Center (NEEC), located at 3140 Cass Avenue Picture.
Pictured are the team from SLDC and STL Partnership
The annual Fiesta in Florissant is a vibrant two-day celebration of Hispanic culture. Organized by Hispanic Festival, Inc. the event featured Latino bands, authentic food and dancing and more!
British Airways hosted a Community Welcome Party for the launch of the non-stop service between St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and London.
In conjuction with SLDC and the Construction Forum - “Yeah I Built That” introduced students to careers in the skilled trades. The event was held at the Northside Economic Empowerment Center (NEEC).
Pictured are the team members from SLDC
Capturing the spirit of Juneteenth celebrations from the City of St. Louis to Dellwood to Florissant. Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
MO-BEST (Missouri Biotechnology Essential Skills Training) is a hands-on training initiative for young adults ages 18–24 with a high school diploma or GED, interested in bioscience and technology careers You will gain industry exposure, build job readiness skills, and receive a stipend disbursed at different points throughout the cohort.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Classes Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-6pm
Meals and transportation included
Up to $2,000 earned through classes
Job placement assistance from BIO STL upon completion
PROGRAM CREDENTIALS
Participants will gain hand-on lab experience and earn 5 BCSI micro-credentials These credentials open doors to entry-level careers in lab tech, healthcare, research, and other related fields, as well as further education
John Cochran VA Hospital
Medical Center Replacement Program CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
Keeping You Informed as We Build for Heroes
ATTENTION: STREET CLOSURE NOTICE
N.Grand Blvd will be closed to through traffic from Delmar Blvd to Page Blvd as early as September2026 for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year. This closure is necessary to relocate existing city water mains, improve reliability of service, and allow for continued infrastructure improvements on the hospital campus.
Community Impacts:
Your Safety is Our Priority!
We are committed to minimizing disruptions to the community and completing this project as quickly as possible, while maintaining a safe and quality project. Please make sure to:
• Follow all posted detour routes and traffic control signs.
• Allow extra travel time and plan alternate routes in advance.
• Reduce speed and use caution when driving near construction areas.
• Watch for workers, equipment, and changing traffic patterns.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions while traveling through the area.
• Vehicles will be detoured from N. Grand Blvd to Spring Ave between Delmar Blvd and Page Blvd
• Enright Ave will remain accessible for local Medical Center Traffic Only
• Cook Ave will remain accessible for local neighborhood traffic only
• Church’s Texas Chicken and Currency Exchange will remain open and accessible from Franklin Ave
• While pedestrian walkways along N. Grand Blvd will be accessible and detours will direct pedestrians around dangerous work zones, we recommend avoiding Grand Blvd between Delmar Blvd and Page Blvd for your safety during this time.
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