The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis celebrated the opening of its Entrepreneurship and Women’s Business Center on Monday July 15, 2024, in a historic building constructed in 1920.
The history of the Women’s Business Center dates to 1999 – and Maureen E. Brinkley, SBA regional director, has been involved since its first day.
She was instrumental in founding the Grace Hill Women’s Business Center as an economic development initiative of the Grace Hill Settlement House. In 2020, the Urban League and Grace Hill merged, integrating the Women’s Business Center into its community wide service.
“We have served more than 1,000 women,” Brinkley said during the grand opening.
“This building sets us apart as a catalyst to create a safe space for women as they cultivate their journey to be successful entrepreneurs.”
The Women’s Business Center’s mission works to empower women entrepreneurs through advocacy, outreach, education, and support. It provides comprehensive training and counseling, which are offered in multiple languages. At its forefront is helping socially and economically disadvantaged women start and grow businesses.
The center is located at 4401 Natural Bridge in the former Commerce Bank Building, which was donated to the Urban League by Commerce Bank in 2022.
“We are in the heart of north St. Louis. Here, will take people’s dreams and make them realities,” said Machael P. McMillan, Urban League president and CEO.
“This center will help people take business out of their homes [and] hire more people. Small business is the backbone of the St. Louis region, and this is especially true in Black and brown communities.”
Newly refurbished in part through a Commerce Bank grant, the building donation is part of the continuing relationship between the bank and the Urban League, according to John Kemper, Commerce Bancshares president and CEO.
“This was our home; all told we have served this community for mor than 50 years,” said Kemper, noting that a new Commerce Bank location is located across Natural Bridge.
“This building will help more people own their own small businesses. We gets lost in the conversation is the importance of small businesses, especially in neighborhoods like this.”
Kemper called the Urban Lague “a cornerstone in the community,” adding the Business Center “will be an anchor in this community for years to come.
Aleta Grimes Mitchell, Center for Entrepreneurship director, recalled the words of Marc Morial, National Urban League president, when he spoke during the building donation announcement in 2022.
“He said Black entrepreneurs ‘have been locked out and shut out.’ There is a gap. We must close that gap,” she said.
“We are ready to rock and roll.”
Jared Boyd, Mayor Tishaura Jones chief of staff, said “there is no better way to help people succeed than to create their own business.’
“This is a physical manifestation where they can make their dreams come true.”
State Sen. Karla May said she envisions the center being “a huge incubator.”
“An incubator where we create millionaires and billionaires to invest in this community.”
Alderwoman Laura Keys said the Urban League Center is part of a “collective effort” to help many parts of the city return to vibrancy.
“We must all do our part. It’s a beautiful city. We just need to polish her up.”
The location is the 13th National Urban League Entrepreneurship Center.
McMillan explained that most participants utilizing the Urban League center are African American female entrepreneurs “whose businesses are at an early stage of development.”
“The Urban League Entrepreneurship Center and Women’s Business Center will be pivotal in promoting wealth building and income generation.”
McMillan noted that he would like to see minority owned small businesses continue to grow – and need larger spaces to serve customers and clients.
“And then move to the Urban League Plaza,” said McMillan said with smile.
The Plaza is located at Aubert Avenue and Page Boulevard, within the Urban League headquarters footprint on N. Kingshighway.
The Urban League is planning to expand and update the Plaza through a $750,000 federal grant secured by Congresswoman Cori Bush.
McMillan said the Plaza could add 12 tenants following renovation, is now underway. It could also be a future home to a fitness center and community gymnasium.
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