Brief History of CDA from 2020-2024 Impact Report

This article first appeared in the CDA 202-2024 Impact Report (April 2025), a comprehensive look at five years of housing, community development, and neighborhood revitalization efforts in St. Louis. To learn more about CDA’s programs, investments, and impact citywide, read the full report here.

History of CDA

Founded in 1974 to oversee HUD’s newly createdCommunity Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, the Community Development Administration (CDA) emerged from the consolidation of the Planning Commission, Office of Business Development, Beautification Commission, and Model Cities Corporation.

As St. Louis’ development landscape evolved, new development agencies were spun off from CDA, including the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) in 1988 as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, the Planning and Urban Design Agency (PDA) in 1999 (Ord. No. 64687), and the Affordable Housing Commission (AHC) in 2001 (Ord. No. 65132) to manage local housing funds. CDA remains the agency responsible for applying for and administering HUD-funded entitlement programs in the City of St. Louis, including CDBG, HOME Investment Partnerships, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS (HOPWA). Together, these agencies collaborate to drive equitable development in St. Louis, each with a distinct yet complementary role.

CDA ensures federal funds support affordable housing, public services, and neighborhood revitalization; SLDC leads business development and economic growth; PDA oversees long-term planning, zoning, and urban design; and AHC deploys local tax funds for affordable housing and supportive services. Through strategic coordination, these entities maximize the impact of public investments, aligning resources with the Economic Justice Action Plan to foster sustainable growth and economic opportunity across the city.

Following a 2012 HUD monitoring visit, CDA implemented reforms to reduce aldermanic influence and ensure open, competitive, rated funding processes. Today, CDA continues to adapt to changing regulations and funding landscapes, modernizing its grant management systems and strengthening community partnerships to ensure equitable, impactful investments across St. Louis, supporting public, nonprofit, and private partners who deliver public services, affordable housing, blight eradication, and community development activities.

About CDA

Mission

CDA serves as a clearinghouse for a variety of federal, state and local funds for the City of St. Louis. CDA is working to implement the City's economic justice action plan by funding a wide range of public and nonprofit entities to provide public services, build affordable housing, and conduct neighborhood transformation activities in accordance with the CDA’s Citizen Participation Plan.

CDA is made up of forty five staff across three operating divisions who collectively manage over $250M in federal and other funds.

The Fiscal Team

CDA’s accounting and audit team reviews financial reports, invoices, personnel schedules, and other supporting documentation in order to submit pay requests to the comptroller's office and financial reports to HUD and Treasury.

The Compliance Team

CDA’s grant administrators each manage a portfolio of grants. They score applications, draft contractual outputs and criteria, provide technical assistance, and monitor performance in order to ensure compliance. They also lead CDA’s reporting to HUD.

The Housing Team

CDA’s housing team is made up of engineers, analysts and community development specialists who manage over 100 development projects as well as CDA’s home repair program. They score applications, help draft legal agreements, process draw requests, and monitor construction to ensure high quality standards.