ST. LOUIS, Missouri — Mayor Tishaura Jones and Board of Aldermen President Megan Green are set to propose the "Transform STL Act," a highly anticipated plan to distribute nearly $277 million from the city's Rams settlement across five major spending categories.
The proposed legislation, which will be officially unveiled at a press conference Wednesday, aims to invest in infrastructure, child care, workforce development, and neighborhood revitalization based on input from over 15,000 city residents.
In broad strokes, the plan would spend $200 million on physical infrastructure like roads, water pipes, and buildings, and $77 million on child care and job training.
"We have to be investing in infrastructure, in development, and in people all at the same time," Green said at a press conference last week.
Alderwoman Alisha Sonnier (D-7th Ward) filed the proposal with the clerk's office on Tuesday afternoon. 5 On Your Side was first to obtain a copy of the legislation. The plan lists a number of priorities from the Mayor's Reparations Commission and designates more than a quarter of a billion dollars into five major buckets of money that the city could draw from for years to come as they continue to accrue interest.
The Transform STL Act outlines the following allocations:
Water Infrastructure: $40 million to improve the city’s water systems, including maintenance and emergency repairs.
Mobility Infrastructure: $60 million for streets, sidewalks, and other projects to enhance accessibility.
Affordable Housing: $70 million to support home repairs, first-time homeownership, and affordable housing initiatives.
Neighborhood Development: $30 million to assist businesses and nonprofits with redevelopment in city neighborhoods.
St. Louis Future Funds: $77 million divided into two endowments: the Children and Families Endowment Fund ($57.2 million) and the City Workforce Fund ($20 million). The former will prioritize affordable child care and access to educational opportunities, while the latter will focus on job training and professional development for city workers.
Each fund will be overseen by newly formed boards whose members will be appointed by the mayor. These funds are structured to allow public-private partnerships and matching contributions to maximize their impact. Interest accrued on the funds will enable growth over time until the money is deployed.
"You'll see a lot more specifics on how funds are being spent, who is spending them, and the mechanisms for holding those funds until they are spent," Green said.
The Rams settlement stems from a 2021 agreement between the city of St. Louis, St. Louis County, the Regional Convention and Sports Complex Authority, and Rams owner Stan Kroenke. The city’s share of the settlement totaled $280 million, of which $30 million has already been allocated to the Convention Center. The sum of $250 million swelled to more than $277 million after accruing interest.
A rival proposal backed by business and civic leaders in Greater St. Louis, Inc., would have designated the funding primarily for roads, water, and building infrastructure upgrades in downtown and the poorest neighborhoods.