Greater St. Louis, Inc. Expands SupplySTL with St. Louis Anchor Action Network to Drive Regional Economic Growth
Five-year anchor institution network finds permanent home with support from the James S. McDonnell Foundation, the University of Missouri–St. Louis, and Edward Jones
ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Anchor Action Network (STLAAN), a coalition of 16 anchor institutions that has spent five years coordinating hiring, purchasing, and investment in 22 key zip codes across the St. Louis region, is joining Greater St. Louis, Inc. to expand its mission for regional growth. The work will be integrated into SupplySTL, an initiative of Greater St. Louis, Inc., marking the evolution of a successful pilot into a permanent, scaled regional platform for inclusive economic growth.
The transition is supported by a grant from the James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF). The University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), which provided stewardship for the network from its founding, will remain an engaged partner. Edward Jones, whose co-leadership helped elevate cross-sector collaboration throughout the network’s history, is supporting the move.
STLAAN brought together major employers, health systems, universities, and civic organizations around shared commitments to local hiring, procurement from small and diverse businesses, and community investment. The network facilitated joint job fairs, connected small businesses to institutional procurement opportunities, and produced increased local economic activity.
“STLAAN proved that when anchor institutions coordinate their economic power around shared goals, the impact is real for small businesses, local talent, and the region as a whole,” said Jason Purnell, President and CEO of the James S. McDonnell Foundation. “This expansion through Greater St. Louis, Inc. is the next step. It means the work that 16 institutions built together now has a permanent home with the infrastructure to reach even further.”
SupplySTL, GSL’s small business and supplier development initiative, brings established infrastructure to the work, including a Supplier Readiness Accelerator that is doubling its capacity to serve 40 businesses annually, one-on-one business coaching reaching more than 100 companies a year, an expanded capital access pool, procurement matching that connects qualified local businesses to anchor institution contracts, and enhanced data systems for tracking regional impact.
“Greater St. Louis, Inc. is honored to serve as the new home for this important work,” said Ron Kitchens, Managing Partner of Greater St. Louis, Inc. “SupplySTL was built to connect small businesses to real opportunity. Integrating STLAAN’s anchor network gives us the scale and the relationships to expand our efforts to drive inclusive growth across the entire region.”
Under the expanded model, STLAAN’s member institutions will have opportunities to participate in SupplySTL’s partner network, access procurement support, and engage in a new Impact Investing Working Group.
The transition reflects a growing national trend of anchor institution strategies moving from pilot programs into permanent regional infrastructure, positioning St. Louis as a model for how cities can build durable, inclusive economic growth.
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Media Contact
Reeves Oyster
Communications Director, Greater St. Louis, Inc.
557.239.6166
Reeves@greaterstlinc
About the James S. McDonnell Foundation
The James S. McDonnell Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that envisions a thriving St. Louis region where inclusive growth elevates shared prosperity and quality of life. JSMF invests in organizations and initiatives focused on improving economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. Learn more at JSMF.org.
About Greater St. Louis, Inc. – We Drive Growth
Greater St. Louis, Inc. forges partnerships that empower growth across the 15-county St. Louis region. We convene and collaborate with business, governmental, and civic leaders to empower economic growth and prosperity in communities across the St. Louis metro area. Together, we act with intention to create a thriving and inclusive St. Louis that attracts and retains investment and talent for generations to come and creates more and better jobs for the region. Learn more about how we are driving growth at GreaterSTLinc.com.