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Key Takeaways
- Proposal would invest $130 million in infrastructure, catalytic projects, retail activation, and improving housing stock in North and Southeast City neighborhoods, $100 million in Downtown infrastructure
- 55% of likely City voters say proposal is “a very good idea” for use of Rams funds
- Support for proposal is strong in every region of the City
- Proposal to invest Rams funds in North and Southeast City neighborhoods, Downtown is “decidedly more popular than using the money for other options,” says national polling firm
ST. LOUIS – St. Louis voters rank investing in infrastructure in underinvested neighborhoods in North and Southeast City and in Downtown as their top choice for how the City should use funds from the Rams settlement, according to a newly released poll commissioned by Greater St. Louis, Inc.
The survey of 600 St. Louis City voters who are likely to vote in the City’s April 2025 general election was conducted August 12-15 for Greater St. Louis, Inc. by nationally respected Washington, DC-based polling firm Normington, Petts, and Associates. The poll provided voters with the list of the top six proposals in the City’s portal; voters selected the proposal to invest the funds in disinvested neighborhoods and Downtown over all the other options, with 55% saying it is “a very good idea” to do so.
“A solid majority of St. Louis voters favor using the NFL settlement money to invest in improving infrastructure Downtown and in underinvested neighborhoods in North and Southeast St. Louis City,” said a memorandum from Normington, Petts, and Associates summarizing the findings of the poll. “These investments are decidedly more popular than using the money for other options, such as creating an endowment or providing universal childcare.”
The memorandum from Normington, Petts, and Associates summarizing the poll follows.
The Proposal to Invest Rams Funds in North and Southeast City, Downtown
The proposal was submitted by GSL to the City’s online portal that was set up by the Board of Aldermen to receive and track ideas on using the funds from the Rams settlement. Members of the public voted and selected the infrastructure investment plan as one of their top six choices.
“St. Louis City has pressing infrastructure needs, and we have funds available from the Rams settlement that are best suited for investment in one-time, catalytic projects. We support using these funds in North and Southeast City neighborhoods and in Downtown,” said Jason Hall, CEO of GSL. “Reestablishing the connection between Downtown – St. Louis’ largest commercial and employment center – and its neighborhoods is essential to the rejuvenation and growth of St. Louis. The time to act is now.”
The plan to invest Rams settlement funds is driven by the City’s Economic Justice Action Plan and is a critical component to delivering on the public-private partnership recently established between the City and the business community to make Downtown safe, vibrant, and beautiful. Key components of the proposal include:
- Disinvested North and Southeast City Neighborhoods. The City of St. Louis and the St. Louis Development Corporation have made great strides in implementing the Economic Justice Action Plan since the plan’s release in 2022. To catalyze and propel the Plan forward faster, an infusion of resources is needed to help bring back historically disinvested neighborhoods. At least $130 million in Rams settlement funds should be dedicated to supporting these disinvested neighborhoods with a focus on infrastructure, catalytic projects, retail activation, and improving housing stock.
- Downtown. Downtown is the economic engine of the City and the entire St. Louis metro, generating 20% of the City’s general revenue but receiving only 5% of total citywide expenditures. Furthermore, the Rams’ departure and the pandemic disproportionately impacted Downtown, its businesses, and its residents. The City and GSL recently established a partnership to make Downtown safe, vibrant, and beautiful, and to advance these efforts, $100 million should be dedicated to investments in Downtown infrastructure, including: repairing streets, sidewalks, and lighting; investing in catalytic building projects; developing retail establishments and housing.
A Board of Aldermen hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 8.
Media Contact: Tony Wyche | 314-398-9991 | Tony@GreaterSTLInc.com