Today, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones joined executives from MasterCard and the St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) at a local St. Louis small business to announce new initiatives to help local entrepreneurs grow their businesses by expanding their digital and e-commerce capabilities.

"Equitable development happens alongside the community, not to the community," said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. "Economic empowerment is key to my $150 million commitment to begin reversing decades of disinvestment in North St. Louis, and I appreciate SLDC and MasterCard coming together to get St. Louis small businesses the tools they need to grow and bring good jobs to our neighborhoods."

MasterCard and the City of St. Louis have partnered to launch "Digital Doors STL," a new online platform built for St. Louis entrepreneurs and small business owners, providing them with always-on content and resources to help their businesses grow. St. Louis-based small businesses interested in learning more can visit here.

Additionally, with support from MasterCard, Square, Sunrise by Lendio, and Accion Opportunity Fund, SLDC will provide education, tools and resources focused on building out an effective digital presence, accepting digital payments, growing and managing your business, gaining access to capital, and keeping your business and your customers protected. Participants in the program will also be provided a custom-curated business kit that includes solutions such as a Square Reader for Contactless & Chip along with website development software, access to bookkeeping software Sunrise by Lendio, consultation by Accion, MasterCard cybersecurity and data insight solutions and other City-provided resources.

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"MasterCard is proud to partner with Mayor Jones and the St. Louis Small Business Empowerment Center to ensure the success of St. Louis based small businesses and bring them more fully into the digital economy through our Digital Doors program," said Salah Goss, Senior Vice-President, MasterCard Center for Inclusive Growth. "We must continue to bring resources directly to underinvested neighborhoods to jumpstart an equitable recovery so small businesses can thrive online."

"The Digital Doors STL partnership with MasterCard empowers small businesses with a new platform to learn, grow, and advance their businesses long-term. Investing in our business community helps stabilize our local economy and create a more vibrant business ecosystem in St. Louis," said SLDC Chief of Staff Daffney Moore.

As part of today's announcement, MasterCard, in collaboration with the Fearless Fund's Strivers Grant Contest awarded a $10,000 grant to Jehasheba "Hoba" Smith, CEO and Creative Director of St. Louis based wedding florist Floral Play. Fearless Fund provides Black women small business owners across the country with $10,000 grants, digital tools, and mentorship to help them build, protect and sustain their business through its second annual Fearless Strivers Grant Contest.

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"Thank you to everyone responsible for making this grant possible. As the owner of Floral Play, I'm beyond grateful for your generosity and business support," said Hoba Smith, St. Louis Fearless Fund grant recipient and CEO and owner of Floral Play. "MasterCard and Fearless Fund have lightened our financial burden, allowing Floral Play to get closer to our goal of purchasing a new work vehicle; ensuring our arrangements will arrive picture-perfect for our clients. Floral Play is committed to continuing to give to others, just like you have given to us."

In Solidarity with St. Louis

Today's announcement builds on MasterCard's marked the one-year anniversary of the City's Cops and Clinicians and 911 Diversion programs, which MasterCard's has financially supported. In addition to today's press conference, MasterCard and SLDC are co-hosting programming across St. Louis to hear directly from small businesses and collaborating with City leaders to use data to drive inclusive economic growth.

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