Local Developer Transforms Run Down City Housing Through Community Partnerships St. Louis . Kohner Properties turned a crime-infested, dilapidated property in St. Louis, Missouri, into a thriving, affordable apartment building. More than 50 percent of the neighborhood in which Bristol Place is located was owned by the city because of tax foreclosures. Through partnership, innovation and dedication, Kohner Properties changed the environment of the eight city blocks, by not only improving their properties, but also by adding attractive fencing, signage, and renovating two playgrounds, making the area safer and economically stable, and promoting interest from other developers. Economic Growth Group Microenterprise Creation and Development Partnership Assists Start-Ups and Existing Businesses with Technical Support Kansas City .
Participants enter into a five-year partnership with the program.
The program uses a case management model to provide professional technical support in the form of financial analysis, cash management, marketing and operational systems evaluation. These business creation and development supports are supplemented with affordable business space and business services including bulk mailing, faxing, computer training, business resource library, Internet access, telephone answering and copier services. The program uses traditional and non-traditional lending sources and serves as a loan packager and intermediary for financing. The program offers participants a stipend to offset the cost of securing outside professional services. EGG relies on existing city services and programs to prevent duplication of business support.