Whew 😮💨! We made it to another Friday, though I definitely could have used it yesterday. I knew I was inviting a looong week (and boy, did it feel long) by proclaiming how wonderfully relaxed and refreshed I felt on Monday. Those will just have to be “inside thoughts” for the time being I guess.
We have some lighter news in this edition to send you into your weekend: The International Institute is awarding $20,000 grants to two Afghan-led businesses. Business plays a key role in how we relate to where we live, and the nonprofit hopes that by supporting more Afghan ventures, the community will continue to grow. We also share an update on the bill creating an entertainment district downtown, a study examining racial and economic disparities in medical debt lawsuits, and the collapse of a deal that was supposed to create a publicly traded $6 billion company headquartered in St. Louis.
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Negina Shinwari pitches her business, Asia Lebas Mahal, during the International Institute’s Afghan Entrepreneurship Grant competition. Shinwari was awarded one of two $20,000 grants today. Photography courtesy of International Institute.
DEEP DIVE
International Institute awards grants to two Afghan immigrants’ businesses
The International Institute of St. Louis is awarding $20,000 grants to two Afghan-led businesses today as part of the nonprofit’s continued push to encourage and support Afghan immigrants launching new businesses in the region. One of today’s grants goes to Negina Shinwari to support her venture, Asia Lebas Mahal, which sources high-quality, traditional South Asian clothing.
“A lot of people are struggling to find traditional cultural clothes. Most of them are importing it from Afghanistan, Pakistan, [or] South Asian countries, which is costly,” says Hamdullah Hamdard, director of the International Institute’s Afghan Support Program. “Her idea is to create a hub for all those people, to provide them with affordable options, and have the opportunity to see the materials and then decide if they’re going to buy it or not.”
The second award goes to Kaihan Noorzad to support his J&K Auto Body Shop. “He already had a location here and competed for this [grant] to fund some machinery that is required for an auto body shop,” Hamdard says. “He’s repairing nine to 10 cars a week... [Noorzad] came [to St. Louis] a couple of years ago; now he’s a business owner and recognized among the community.”
Why it matters: The International Institute has worked hard to attract more Afghans who came to the U.S. after the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021, with a host of initiatives facilitated by attorney Jerry Schlichter, including an Afghan community center, Afghan chamber of commerce, and Afghan newspaper, in addition to help with housing and entrepreneurship. (The institute received $1.5 million from Pew Charitable Trust for those efforts and at least $1 million from local donors.) The grant program is part of that effort and designated for those newcomers, Hamdard says.
“These are the people that somehow were involved in the U.S.-implemented missions; they were working as interpreters, working for humanitarian organizations funded by the U.S. government,” he says. “Once they came to the United States, they’re starting everything from scratch.”
Hamdard understands firsthand the potential impact of these funds: His media company, Owlsion Pictures, received a grant in 2023. “We want to show that we exist. We want to take part in the economy,” he says. “We are bringing unique ideas, new tradition, new culture, and enriching the community here in St. Louis.”
And the presence of more Afghan community hubs, restaurants, markets, and other businesses also makes it easier for Hamdard and the International Institute to persuade other families in the U.S. to relocate to St. Louis.
What’s next: The International Institute still plans to award seven similar grants this year, and Hamdard expects the organization will have another announcement in a month. —Eric Schmid
A MESSAGE FROM FEED MY PEOPLE
Hit the greens at Feed My People’s 2nd annual golf tournament
Enjoy a day of golf, games, and giving to support Feed My People's food pantries.
Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs bill repealing paid sick leave (Missouri Independent): The new benefit had passed at the ballot box with 58 percent of the vote last November, but business groups lobbied against it heavily. Kehoe says the new law will defend small businesses, while House Democratic Leader Ashely Aune says it’s an attack on workers and voters.
Illinois hospitals fear massive cuts under Trump domestic policy law (Capitol News Illinois): The federal funding cuts recently passed include more than $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over the next 10 years, creating an additional burden on hospitals that serve rural areas.
Missouri officials reject push to crack down on factory farms (stltoday): The Missouri Clean Water Commission sided with farming groups voting against tougher environmental rules for meat producers, which locals say are sidestepping rules that are supposed to govern concentrated animal-feeding operations.
Deal to create a $6 billion publicly traded St. Louis company collapses (St. Louis Business Journal): The merger would have created Evolution Metals & Technology Corp. via a SPAC acquisition of Critical Mineral Recovery. It comes after Critical Mineral Recovery’s lithium-ion battery processing and recycling plant in Fredericktown was destroyed by a fire last October.
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A new entertainment district spanning all of downtown St. Louis could impact tourism and public safety efforts for the neighborhood. Photography by Justin Barr.
Watercooler
🪩 BILL CREATING A DOWNTOWN ST. LOUIS ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT IS NOW LAW
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed legislation yesterday that creates an entertainment district covering all of downtown St. Louis, from Jefferson Avenue to the riverfront and Cole Street to Highway 40. The law is designed to beef up security and ensure event revenue but notably cannot levy taxes. Instead, the law lets the new district reach an agreement with Missouri, so a portion of tax revenue sent to the state would come back as an appropriation, with up to $2.5 million for now. Big names in the local business community had pushed for this initiative, including Bob O’Loughlin, CEO of Lodging Hospitality Management, which runs Union Station and other downtown hotspots. When SLM’s Nicholas Phillips covered this back in May, O’Loughlin told him the money flowing to the district will be used for security but also to issue bonds to guarantee minimum ticket sales (such as an insurance policy for conference, concert, and sporting event organizers). Other names in support of the bill included Jim McKelvey, Andy Taylor, Carolyn Kindle, Tom Stillman, and Bill DeWitt III. Next steps include a meeting to decide on how the district will be governed. —E.S.
🤕 STUDY ANALYZES LAWSUITS OVER UNPAID MEDICAL BILLS
A new study published yesterday in JAMA Network Open examined medical debt lawsuits filed in St. Louis by large physician groups, finding that Black and low-income people were overrepresented as defendants. The study identifies 973 lawsuits filed by Saint Louis University- and WashU-affiliated physician groups between January 2020 and May 2023. Its authors found that majority-Black ZIP codes accounted for 41 percent of the suits and 48 percent of cases ending in wage garnishments, despite majority-Black ZIP codes accounting for 22 percent of the region’s population. The study's authors leave open the question of how such institutions square community health goals with the economic burden that can come with being named in a collection lawsuit.—E.S.
🎨 COUNTERPUBLIC EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE
Some more news about the International Institute to round out the newsletter: Counterpublic, which puts on multi-year exhibitions that mix art and public life, is doubling down on its partnership and support of the International Institute. Counterpublic’s commitment includes anchoring its upcoming “Triennial” at the institute and funding a two-year community engagement fellow, which both nonprofits will share. Starting this month, Grace Murekatete, who was previously employed by the International Institute as an employment caseworker but furloughed when the nonprofit cut 60 percent of its staff after losing federal funding, will be rehired to support programming at the institute and to be a connection between it and the upcoming exhibition. Says Counterpublic co-founder/executive and artistic director James McAnally: “We saw the deepening of this partnership as both a responsibility and opportunity to invest in community, stand in solidarity, and to help build the future we want to live in.” —E.S.
CLOCK OUT
If you could have dinner with any two area business leaders, who would you choose and why?
“Andy Taylor because of the business they have built and the culture they have. Tom Stillman of the Blues has accomplished quite the turnaround, and I love the game. And Carolyn Kindle to understand the vision of how STL CITY came to fruition. I know it's three, but maybe one will be busy.”
—David Brosseau, operating principal, Keller Williams Saint Louis, Keller Williams Chesterfield, Keller Williams West
The list recognizes some of the most influential, impactful, and innovative leaders across the metro area. Submit a nomination to be considered for inclusion.
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