Tower Grove CDC

What Tower Grove CDC does

Tower Grove CDC is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community development corporation headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, formed from the 2013-2014 consolidation of three legacy neighborhood CDCs (Shaw Neighborhood Housing Corporation, Grand Oak Hill Community Corporation, and Southwest Neighborhood Housing Corporation). The organization serves approximately 25,000-28,000 residents across four south St. Louis neighborhoods — Shaw, Tower Grove South, Southwest Garden, and Bevo Mill — operating an 82-unit affordable rental housing portfolio with rents ranging from $575 to $900 per month, and developing both for-sale single-family housing (Morgan Ford Homes, ~$210K per unit) and large-scale affordable multifamily projects (most notably the $22M, 64-unit EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill senior housing development completed in 2026).

The CDC's core technology assets are HomeScreen, a proprietary LIHTC/HUD-compliant tenant screening platform processing roughly 2,600-3,000 applications annually with 25% YoY growth, and ARCH by HomeScreen, a CARES Act-funded database connecting 1,007 active landlords and 4,751 units to at-risk populations including refugees via a partnership with the International Institute. Beyond the technology platform, Tower Grove CDC delivers direct real estate development, development facilitation and incentives consulting, free landlord and rehabber training programs funded through HUD CDBG, nuisance property resolution through Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, and financial coaching referrals through Prosperity Connection.

Revenue is generated from four principal streams: recurring rental income from the affordable housing portfolio (~$689K annualized at midpoint rents), transaction-based tenant screening fees, lumpy grant and donation income (HUD CDBG via the St. Louis Community Development Administration, MHDC LIHTC equity, Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, Energy Foundation, private foundation grants), and project-based real estate development proceeds. The organization's 1-10 employee footprint, board-led governance (current Board President Jason Kempf, Executive Director Sean Spencer), and deep dependence on public financing and institutional partnerships (Midwest BankCentre, EverTrue, HUD, MHDC, National Equity Fund) make it a mission-driven nonprofit rather than a venture-backed enterprise.

Name

Tower Grove CDC

Legal name

Tower Grove Community Development Corporation

Website

https://towergrovecdc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Tower Grove CDC is a nonprofit community development corporation in St. Louis that operates an 82-unit affordable housing portfolio, develops senior and family housing, and runs the HomeScreen tenant screening and ARCH housing placement platforms serving south St. Louis neighborhoods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Development

NAICS

Administration of Housing Programs (925110), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Nursing and Residential Care Facilities (623)

SIC

Operators Of Apartment Buildings (6513), Land Subdividers & Developers (No Cemeteries) (6552), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520)

akta.pro primary industry

Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tenant & Rental Background Screening (BPAKAEAB), Housing & Neighborhood Services (Local Housing Programs) (BPAIACAJ)

Keywords

• Affordable housing development
• Community development
• Tenant screening services
• Real estate development
• Neighborhood revitalization

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Rental Income: Revenue from 82-unit affordable housing rental portfolio. Units rented at $575-$900/month range. Core operational income stream.
2. HomeScreen Tenant Screening Services: Tenant screening application processing fees. Volume-based revenue with 2,617-3,000 applications processed annually.
3. Real Estate Development: Direct real estate development for sale and rental. Includes acquisition, renovation, and either sale or rental of properties.
4. Development Facilitation and Consulting: Project management and consulting services for other developers. Includes assistance with tax credits, tax abatement, market information, and development opportunities.
5. Grants and Donations: Funded by HUD Community Development Block Grant via St. Louis Community Development Administration, private donations, and foundation grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Tower Grove CDC is a nonprofit community development corporation that develops and manages affordable rental housing (82 units) and for-sale homes, operates the HomeScreen tenant screening platform, runs the ARCH by HomeScreen housing placement database for at-risk populations, and provides development facilitation consulting and free landlord training to support neighborhood revitalization in south St. Louis neighborhoods (Shaw, Tower Grove South, Southwest Garden, and Bevo Mill).

Product overview

Tower Grove CDC operates as a unified community development organization offering a portfolio of complementary services focused on neighborhood revitalization and affordable housing. The core offerings include HomeScreen, a tenant screening platform that also powers ARCH by HomeScreen—a specialized database connecting at-risk populations with housing opportunities. Supporting these digital services are Real Estate Development (for-sale and rental property development), Development Facilitation & Incentives Education, and Landlord & Rehabber Training seminars. All offerings work together to advance the organization's mission of housing stability and community opportunity in south St. Louis neighborhoods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Affordable Rental Housing Portfolio Direct rental of 82 affordable housing units across multiple properties in south St. Louis neighborhoods, with internal property management and tenant screening via HomeScreen. Rents range from $575 to $900 per month depending on unit size and income requirements.
• HomeScreen Tenant Screening Proprietary tenant screening application processing system for landlords and tenants, compliant with LIHTC and HUD requirements. Processed 2,617 applications in 2020 with 25% growth over 2019, integrated with Prosperity Connection for financial coaching referrals. Available as mobile app (iOS and Android).
• ARCH by HomeScreen Housing Placement Database platform connecting at-risk renters with housing opportunities through a landlord listing system. Features 1,007 active landlords and 4,751 active units, designed to help vulnerable populations served by nonprofit social service providers find housing.
• Targeted Real Estate Development

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and important.

• International InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 April 2025Partnership for 3772 Chippewa multifamily housing development providing housing opportunities for refugees and immigrant communities.
• EverTrue (Lutheran Senior Services)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 January 2023Co-developer and property manager for EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill 64-unit senior housing. Nikki Jennings served as key partner; CEO Adam Marles and leadership team joined at critical juncture. EverTrue provides on-site supportive services for residents.
• EM Harris ConstructioncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerConstruction partner for EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill project. Led build with precision and craftsmanship. Jim Davis served as superintendent.
• Rosemann & AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArchitectural design firm for EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill project. Award-worthy architectural design for the 64-unit senior housing.
• Spellman BradycoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInterior design firm for EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill project. Created warm, dignified interior design that residents are proud to call home.
• Rubicon CorporationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBuilder for Morgan Ford Homes project - four new single-family homes at 3506 Morgan Ford Road. Will handle site work and construction following rebidding and financing close.
• National Housing TrustimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Energy Efficiency for All - Missouri (EEFA-MO) initiative to capture untapped energy savings in affordable multifamily housing.
• Natural Resource Defense CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in EEFA-MO initiative for energy efficiency in affordable multifamily housing.
• Renew MissouriminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in EEFA-MO initiative for energy efficiency in affordable multifamily housing.
• Blue Hills Community ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in EEFA-MO initiative for energy efficiency in affordable multifamily housing.
• Prosperity ConnectionimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for free one-on-one financial coaching referrals. Made 378 referrals to help HomeScreen applicants access financial coaching. Partnered during COVID-19 for $32,100 rental subsidy relief distribution.
• Employment ConnectionimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerReceived CARES Act Grant through Employment Connection to create ARCH by HomeScreen database for at-risk populations housing placement.
• Legal Services of Eastern MissouriimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Neighborhood Vacancy Initiative for nuisance property lawsuits. First organization in St. Louis to successfully use Missouri's Abandoned Housing Act as revitalization tool with 3964 Parker Ave project.
• Saint Joseph Housing InitiativeimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to assist with property identification, negotiation, creating proformas, market feasibility, project management, and general development support. Assisted with six renovation projects.
• AmerenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy assessment and rebate programs for 3732-34 Bamberger project. Expected $11,000 in rebates for energy efficiency improvements including new HVAC, LED lighting, windows, and weatherization.
• EquifaximportantTechnology or IntegrationFunding support for HomeScreen software creation enabling tenant screening platform. Without their contribution, the HomeScreen platform and subsequent ARCH database would not have been possible.
• University of Missouri-St. LouisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Karl Guenther, Todd Swanstrom, and Rachel Hanks documenting the consolidation of three CDCs. Case study published on consolidation benefits.
• InvestSTLimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration through CURE racial equity training and Gravois Jefferson Neighborhood Plan implementation. Four entities committed to memorandum of understanding around defining and implementing neighborhood development actions.
• Dutchtown South Community CorporationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through InvestSTL collaboration for Gravois Jefferson Neighborhood Plan and racial equity action planning.
• Lutheran Development GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through InvestSTL collaboration for Gravois Jefferson Neighborhood Plan and racial equity action planning.
• DeSales Community DevelopmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through InvestSTL collaboration for Gravois Jefferson Neighborhood Plan and racial equity action planning.
• Better Bevo NowimportantStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood organization engaged as supportive partner for EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill project and broader Bevo Mill community.
• Newport Heights Neighborhood AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNeighborhood association engaged as supportive partner for EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill project.
• Bevo Community Improvement DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity improvement district engaged as supportive partner for EverTrue Crossroads at Bevo Mill project.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• St. Louis Housing Authority: Public housing authority operating public housing units and administering Section 8 vouchers across St. Louis City, a comparable affordable housing provider with broader scale and public-sector funding stream.
• Enterprise Community Partners: National nonprofit that develops and finances affordable housing and community development projects, providing capital, expertise, and policy leadership that frames the operating environment in which local CDCs like TGCDC execute projects.
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC): National CDFI that funds and supports local CDCs with grants, loans, and capacity-building resources, frequently partnering with organizations of TGCDC's size and mission profile on affordable housing and economic development.
• Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH): National nonprofit developer/owner of affordable rental housing managing thousands of units across multiple states, comparable in mission and the LIHTC/HUD financing approach used by TGCDC's senior housing development.

Direct peers

• DeSales Community Development: St. Louis CDC focused on affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization and nuisance property redevelopment in the neighborhood surrounding TGCDC's footprint, with overlapping mission and HUD/CDBG funding model.
• Dutchtown South Community Corporation: Adjacent St. Louis City CDC that collaborates with TGCDC through the InvestSTL Gravois Jefferson Neighborhood Plan, pursuing near-identical affordable housing development, homeownership support, and resident-led community revitalization in a neighboring neighborhood.
• InvestSTL: St. Louis collaborative of four CDCs (including TGCDC, Dutchtown South, DeSales, Lutheran Development Group) implementing the Gravois Jefferson Neighborhood Plan, sharing racial equity training and coordinated development strategy.
• National Housing Trust: National nonprofit that preserves and operates affordable multifamily housing and is an active TGCDC partner in the Energy Efficiency for All Missouri initiative, sharing the affordable housing + energy retrofit mission focus.
• Better Bevo Now: Bevo Mill neighborhood organization identified as a supportive partner on TGCDC's EverTrue Crossroads project, operating the community-level stakeholder engagement work that complements CDC development activity.
• Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis: Local Habitat affiliate building affordable single-family homeownership opportunities (such as TGCDC's Morgan Ford Homes model) using volunteer labor, donations, and below-market mortgages in the same St. Louis market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TowerGroveCDC
• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.towergrovecdc.org

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tower Grove CDC