Economy & Business

Rural areas are losing grocery stores to consolidation faster than their urban counterparts — but some communities have come up with innovative solutions.

In order to comply with a Pentagon mandate to electrify its nontactical vehicles, Fort Leonard Wood is working with Laclede Electric Cooperative to find the best way to add charging stations.

The BorrowSmart Access program offers up to $3,000 to help with the down payment or closing costs on a mortgage for first-time Black and Latino homebuyers.

“The sectors of the economy where people are borrowing money, those are the sectors that have seen the most immediate effects of these interest rate increases,” said a local economist.

The 5.6-mile rail corridor would run north and south between Natural Bridge and Chippewa, providing access to Union Station and the new soccer stadium, CityPark.

The Missouri General Assembly passed legislation in 2019 and 2021 to restrict counties from imposing regulations on industrial livestock operations.

Increased limits on a loan program for new farmers and expanded tax credits for small farmers could help producers as inflation continues, but more could be taking advantage of the opportunities.

The agreement will let the hospital that serves a predominantly rural area have access to the resources of a major city’s health care system without surrendering local control.

The grants and funds seek to bring economic opportunity to communities that have historically faced economic discrimination and disinvestment.

Southwestern Illinois College and St. Louis Community College will open new facilities to train people in areas such as computer-aided design. Local business leaders expect advanced manufacturing to grow into one of the region’s critical industries.