CDA Publishes 2020–2024 Impact Report

The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA) is proud to release its CDA Impact Report 2020–2024, a landmark publication highlighting five years of investments, accomplishments, and community partnerships across St. Louis.

The 37-page report details how CDA has administered over $400 million in federal and local funds to strengthen neighborhoods, create affordable housing opportunities, invest in social services, support small businesses, and improve public spaces across the city. These investments are leveraging more than $750 million in total development activity citywide.

“For generations, St. Louis has seen declining population trends, especially in neighborhoods that will require robust economic and housing improvements to make the city a place where everyone wants to live,” said Mayor Cara Spencer. “Investing in our neighborhoods - especially downtown and disinvested neighborhoods - is one of the greatest tools we have for turning around the population trend. I am committed to strengthening this work and investing where our dollars will make the biggest difference for all St. Louisans.”

Key highlights include:

• More than 3500 affordable housing units in development or recently completed through more than $100 million in housing funding awards.
• More than 100 nonprofit and City department partners funded to deliver education, employment training, youth services, senior services, food security programs, and more.
• More than 30 competitive funding solicitations issued since 2023 to expand access to federal resources.
• Over 100 community meetings hosted since 2020 to engage residents and stakeholders in shaping neighborhood investments.

The report showcases notable initiatives such as:

• Neighborhood Transformation Grants: ARPA and regular HUD funding to expand new housing construction and rehab on top of CDA’s Annual Housing Production funding, home repair, beautification projects, neighborhood plan implementation, proactive development across dozens of neighborhoods, and more.
• Major investments through the Choice Neighborhoods grant implementation, supporting housing revitalization, public art, and major park and infrastructure improvements across Carr Square, Columbus Square, Old North St. Louis, St. Louis Place, and JeffVanderLou—including the Preservation Square Revitalization and Carr Square reinvestments like the Enduring Currents public art sculpture, artist-designed bus stop wraps, new basketball courts, upgraded soccer fields, pickleball courts, trail expansions, new playground equipment, and extensive tree planting efforts.
• The launch of new transparency tools like the Neighborhood Transformation Investments (2021-2025) Map and a Housing and Community Development Glossary, helping residents, developers, and nonprofits learn about and navigate CDA programs.
• Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds that will support flood recovery, lot stabilization, and infrastructure improvements following major weather events, helping neighborhoods become more resilient to future disasters.

“Every investment we make is an investment in the people of St. Louis and the future of our city,” said Nahuel Fefer, Executive Director of CDA. “Over the past few years, we have expanded transparency, streamlined access to critical resources, and worked alongside residents and partners to deliver real results. This report reflects the progress we’ve made together—and the foundation we are building for even greater achievements ahead.”

The 2020–2024 Impact Report marks a historic milestone. To the best of CDA’s knowledge, this report is the agency’s first public-facing impact report in decades. It highlights how collaboration, innovation, and community-driven planning are fueling transformation across St. Louis.

While CDA annually publishes a Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) to fulfill HUD’s federal reporting requirements—with a focus on data, tables, and compliance—this 2020–2024 Impact Report takes a different approach. Designed to be accessible and engaging, it tells the story of CDA through visuals, narratives, and tangible outcomes, helping residents better understand the agency’s work and feel empowered to take part in community development efforts.

About the Community Development Administration:
The City of St. Louis Community Development Administration (CDA) administers federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local sources to invest in housing, economic development, social services, and neighborhood revitalization efforts across the City of St. Louis. Through collaboration with community partners and a commitment to transparent, community-driven processes, CDA works to ensure that every dollar spent benefits residents and neighborhoods across the city.