STL Partnership Kicks Off Small Business Week – St. Louis Economic Development Partnership

Organization continues to help small businesses throughout St. Louis area

ST. LOUIS (April 29, 2024) – As National Small Business Week begins, St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership) is proud to continue helping new and existing small business owners throughout the St. Louis region.

STL Partnership is pleased to announce that Colleen Mulvihill, small business counselor with STL Partnership and Missouri Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), has been named a 2024 Wonder Woman by St. Louis Small Business Monthly. This distinction recognizes outstanding female professionals who use their influence to help others in St. Louis.

Since 2017, Mulvihill has guided entrepreneurs through the intricacies of starting, running and expanding their businesses. She has been instrumental in counseling hundreds of business owners through every phase, with expertise in business planning, finance connections, preparing for lender interactions, strategic growth planning and site selection. She has also attracted new tenants to four STL Partnership Business Incubators.

The STL Partnership Business Incubators have helped the renowned startup scene in the St. Louis region. The four facilities provide space to assist any startup that wants to grow. This includes the Helix Center Biotech Incubator that specializes in AgTech and Biomedical startups, plus the other centers in Wellston, Lemay and West County.

In an effort to get local businesses running, the Business Finance group of STL Partnership has offered financing options to help small business owners and entrepreneurs with their needs. These options include the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 program, internal loans, bonds and tax credit programs. These funds can be used to purchase real estate and equipment for both existing and new businesses.

The organization also supports the St. Louis Mosaic Project, a regional initiative within STL Partnership and the World Trade Center St. Louis, that aims to transform St. Louis into a major metropolitan area for immigration. Among the many ways the Mosaic Project helps immigrants, it connects immigrant entrepreneurs to resources to start and grow their small businesses and engages business leaders to hire more international talent.

“We are thrilled Colleen is receiving the recognition she deserves, and our organization is proud to help so many main street businesses and entrepreneurs around St. Louis,” said Rodney Crim, CEO and president of STL Partnership. “Through our business lending loan options to proving spaces for entrepreneurs to start up a new business, we have the resources available to keep small businesses thriving throughout the region.”