ST. LOUIS (Feb. 1, 2022) – Ameren Corporation is announcing a major gift worth half a million dollars over five years to support the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’ Restoring Hope capital campaign. The campaign will help establish a hub in North St. Louis for critical programs and services that foster continual self-improvement, vibrant neighborhoods and equitable opportunity for all. In addition, the Urban League received more than $185,000 in energy efficiency incentives from the Ameren Missouri BizSavers Program.
“Ameren has been a longtime partner of the Urban League, and we’re grateful for the company's continued support as we set forth to create a transformational space that will house more than 50 human services programs; support children, families and seniors; foster meaningful partnerships; build community; and serve as a symbol of change for the region,” said Michael McMillan, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Inc.
The Urban League’s new resource center is located in the old Sears building on North Kingshighway. The massive 205,000-square foot facility has long been integral to the social and commercial lives of the African Ameren community and others. The renovated structure will provide space for education, basic needs fulfillment, financial services, health care services and events.
The building also will include the Ameren Energy Efficiency Center of the Urban League Regional Headquarters, a space where community members can get help with utility bills and apply for assistance programs.
“Over the years, Ameren has partnered with the Urban League to assist people in managing their energy bills to achieve greater economic self-sufficiency, and we have been inspired by the way the Urban League has created resources and opportunities for so many in our community,” said Michael Moehn, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Ameren Corporation, and board member for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. “We believe transforming this space will spark more economic development in an area that is ripe for investment and ready for expanded services to create a new hub integral to empowering the community and creating a more equitable region.”
Ameren Missouri’s BizSavers Program provides incentives that were part of recent upgrades made at seven other Urban League locations. Those included installing LED lighting and replacing HVAC systems with more energy-efficient models. In addition to saving 265,780 kWh in annual energy (representing approximately $20,000 in Ameren annual bill savings), the incentives from Ameren Missouri paid 100 percent of the cost for Urban League’s LED lighting upgrades. To learn more about energy efficiency incentives for businesses, visit AmerenMissouri.com/BizSavers.
The Urban League contracted with TD4 Electrical, a St. Louis-based minority-owned firm, for more than $150,000 in upgrades to their facilities. Discussions on solar panel installations have begun and plans are underway to upgrade existing HVAC and electrical systems at the new hub to achieve long-term savings and reduce operating costs.
A check presentation with Urban League and Ameren officials was held on Friday, Jan. 21, to commemorate the donation and BizSavers incentives.
About Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis
The largest Urban League chapter in the nation, the St. Louis League and its programs benefit more than 100,000 individuals each year. The organization focuses on empowering African Americans in metropolitan St. Louis through educational excellence, economic opportunity, community empowerment and advocacy. To support these efforts through the Restoring Hope campaign, visit ulstl.com/restoring-hope.
About Ameren Corporation
St. Louis-based Ameren Corporation powers the quality of life for 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area through its Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois rate-regulated utility subsidiaries. Ameren Illinois provides electric transmission and distribution service and natural gas distribution service. Ameren Missouri provides electric generation, transmission and distribution services, as well as natural gas distribution service. Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois operates a rate-regulated electric transmission business in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. For more information, visit Ameren.com, or follow us on Twitter at @AmerenCorp, Facebook.com/AmerenCorp, or LinkedIn.com/company/Ameren.
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