Reinvest North County:
A Celebration of Progress
Two years, three partners, four school districts, 50 businesses and more than $ 950,000 later!
The St. Louis Regional Business Council( RBC) is pleased to recognize the progress and impact of the Reinvest North County Fund. To date, there have been 10 rounds of funding, totaling more than $ 950,000. Initially organized as an immediate business response to the August 2014 civil unrest in Ferguson and surrounding communities, the Reinvest North County Fund has proved to be a vital vehicle for providing critical support. This final allocation of funds brings the conclusion of a successful effort to make an immediate and impact-full difference when the civil unrest occurred. Not only will the RBC continue to help as part of their ongoing agenda, but a number of other initiatives are also in place to help carry this important work forward.
In partnership with North County Incorporated( NCI), the Fund was created to raise money to help numerous area small businesses and four school districts. The RBC and NCI also partnered with the Greater Saint Louis Community Foundation to provide administrative support for the Fund.
“ I could not be more proud of the collective power of the St. Louis business community, as well as individuals and foundations that stepped up to respond to a desperate situation,” said Kathy Osborn, Executive Director of the St. Louis Regional Business Council. She added,“ Supporting educational opportunities and a diverse business environment are deeply held core values, and we believe in quality of life investments that make our region a better place to live, work and grow. The Reinvest North County Fund exemplifies the kind of impact we can have when everyone understands what’ s at stake and pitches in to make a difference.”
Funding to help the children, families and staff was provided to four school districts: Riverview Gardens School District, Jennings School District, Ferguson-Florissant School District, and the Normandy Schools Collaborative. From food pantries, clothing and transportation, to robotics equipment, science books and supplies, meeting the needs in school has been top priority.
About RBC:
In 2000, the Regional Business Council was launched with 50 mid-cap business executives, the first effort in the St. Louis region to bring together the leaders of mid-cap companies. In recent years, the St. Louis region’ s business community has seen an increase in highly successful mid-cap companies that employ a large percentage of the region’ s workforce. Thus, this coalition is essential to enhancing the well-being and vitality of the region.
These companies, that are generous with their time and resources, include civic and philanthropic involvement as priorities within their companies. Brought together for the first time, these businesses can now leverage their corporate involvement and investment.
The collective effort of RBC members is dramatically expanding the breadth and depth of involvement and investment in the community. Realizing that it cannot lend its support to every worthy cause, the RBC is committed to putting its considerable talent, resources and determination behind business, civic and philanthropic priorities where RBC members can make a substantive contribution.
Fifty-five businesses received crisis assistance to repair and rebuild, as well as support for owners to attend capacity building workshops in finance, human resources, law, insurance, marketing and public relations. Fifty businesses remain in operation.
Today the RBC is composed of 100 CEOs representing some of the region’ s largest employers. These companies have a tremendous impact on the economic health of the region, employing over 120,000 people and generating over $ 65 billion in revenue annually. Most RBC companies are headquartered in the region and all have a vested interest in the development of the region’ s 16 counties.
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