Number 236 August 18, 2023 St. Louis
JP Team Members Meet with HUD at Preservation Square
On Wednesday, August 18th Justine PETERSEN colleagues, Shawna Collier (pictured far-right) and Franchot Cunningham (pictured second from left) met with members from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The group, along with members from Urban Strategies, convened at Preservation Square, a residential development in the Carr Square neighbhorhood of St. Louis, adjacent to Downtown. JP currently offers the Choice Microenterprise Microloan Program exclusively for residents of Preservation Square. The program provides loans of up to $10,000 for entrepreneurs within Preservation Square that come without fees, interest, or collateral requirements. Along with being a resident of Preservation Square, qualified applicants for the Choice Microlaon are able to show their household is under 80% of median income (based on family size), and have a history of established credit with a bank account. Those residents interested in applying can begin the application process here.
JP Introduces Eric Osterberg as Resource Development Manager
Justine PETERSEN has a new friendly face on the first floor: Resource Development Manager, Eric Osterberg! Eric came ready to get things done, which perfectly fits the needs of JP’s always bustling Development team. In addition to managing data process, grant applications and reporting, and external partner communications, Eric is currently working on launching JP’s investment database. Prior to landing at JP, Eric came from an eight year career in local government management, focusing on strategic planning & performances measurements, municipal lobbying and tax initiatives, and municipal economic development. Eric recieved his graduate degree in Public Policy and Administration, after studying Economics and Political Science as an undergradate in Colorado. What interests him most about becoming part of JP is “that we make a positive and transformative impact on underserved, underrepresented, and predominantly Black communities. Bring back Black Wall Street!” When Eric is not finding the stories behind the data, he enjoys visiting some favorite Black-owned Ferguson neighborhood business: Hive Café and Bejuiced.
SLDC Highlights JP Client for Black Business Month
As part of St. Louis Development Corporation’s celebration of Black Business Month, Jeanetta Hawkins of Personal Touches by Jeanetta was featured for her success and resiliency as a Black business owner. Jeanetta became a JP small business client in 2010, and in the years since we’ve been proud to see Personal Touches by Jeanetta grow and flourish as a top-ranked event production company. Read and watch more of Jeanetta’s story here.
Credit Cue: New Tradelines
Contributed by Asset Building Manager, Tatiana Gillum
New tradelines (i.e. credit cards, car loans) are something you should spend time considering and be mindful of before opening. Early on, a new tradeline will cause your credit score to see a slight decrease. However, when making the monthly payments on them your credit score will ultimately benefit. Especially when keeping the balances on them under 19% utilization. In other words, if your credit card has a $500 limit, ensure the balance is below $95 on each monthly statement. If consistently making the monthly payments and maintaining low utilization, within six months your score will increase. Looking to better monitor your credit score? Setup time to meet with Asset Building Manager, Tatiana Gillum.
Next Weekend Is Delmar Black Business Expo
Next Saturday, August 26th is Delmar Main Street’s Delmar Black Business Expo. Come out and support Black-owned businesses while enjoying great food and live entertainment.
Grants Available for North St. Louis Small Business and Non-Profits
Applications are now open for the North St. Louis Small Business and Non-Profit Grant Program. The program, through St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) intends to reverse the the impact of disinvestment in this particular geographic area by disbursing $37 million of Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds (SLFRF). Interested applicants should visit this website.
Resources Available for Missouri Tenants
Mortgage Assistance for Illinois Homeowners
As a HUD certified counseling agency, Justine PETERSEN is here to support. We encourage anyone interested in learning more about mortgage assistance and the application process to contact us by emailing JPHomeTeam@justinepetersen.org. More information can also be found here.
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Justine Petersen Housing and Reinvestment Corporation · 1023 N Grand Blvd · Saint Louis, MO 63106-1641 · USA