Drawing on the University’s land grant mission and role as an anchor institution, Economic & Community Development (ECD) supports the University’s commitment to engage and apply its economic and human capital to drive positive community impact and economic opportunity in North St. Louis County, the St. Louis region, Missouri and beyond.

ECD does this by leading and supporting community-university partnerships and initiatives, strengthening a culture of engagement on campus, building civic capacity for thriving communities, and fostering connections and relationships with the communities we serve.

Economic and Community Initiatives
UMSL is deeply rooted in North County and the St. Louis Region. As an anchor institution, the University partners with our local and regional community on economic development, health and education initiatives to improve well-being and opportunity in St. Louis and beyond.


Faculty, Staff, and Student Engagement
UMSL has long been a community engaged university. The University supports faculty, staff, and students developing and increasing their involvement and impact in the community through training, programming, and opportunities to participate in community life.

 

Building Civic Capacity for Thriving Communities
The University of Missouri – St. Louis (UMSL) and MU Extension are deeply committed to building civic capacity, the collective strength of people in a place, to respond to challenges and pursue thriving communities. The university supports communities across the state through the Community Development Program and Creating Whole Communities.

 
Community Connections
As a public university, UMSL is a resource and asset for the community. The University works closely with community leaders – residents, alumni, school district and government officials, and business owners – to consistently engage on key issues, lift up our community's assets, and make positive connections with university resources. 

 

Interested in connecting with UMSL? Visit our Contact Us page or email ecd@umsl.edu.