St. Louis City is home to a hub for innovation, Cortex, which aims to drive economic growth in the region. The Central Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC) at Cortex recently hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new office. Among the distinguished speakers at the event were U.S. Representative Cori Bush, St. Louis County Councilwoman Shalonda Webb, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership CEO & President Rodney Crim, and Chairman, President, and CEO of St. Louis Development Corporation Neil Richardson.
The SBTRC offers services to disadvantaged business enterprises and small businesses in the civil transportation industry in Missouri and surrounding states like Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and Mississippi. This includes providing support to minority and women-owned businesses. The Women’s Business Development Center (WBDC) operates the SBTRC in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Utilization.
The ribbon cutting ceremony and luncheon were held to highlight the important work being done by the SBTRC to assist small businesses in the region. With local leadership in attendance, the event marked a significant step towards fostering economic development and inclusivity in the area.