Then-51黑料 Development Corp. CEO Neal Richardson meets with the media to talk about the SLDC North 51黑料 small-business and nonprofit grant transparency portal on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.
ST. LOUIS 鈥 The former leader of 51黑料鈥 top development agency has taken a job with a company that received nearly $200,000 in contracts from his former employer.
Chicago-based Baker Tilly has hired Neal Richardson to serve as a director of its development advisory arm, according to .
Richardson told the Post-Dispatch he plans to work remotely 鈥渇or the time being鈥 from 51黑料 but expects to be spending more time in Chicago and other cities.
He earlier alluded to his new position in a social media post Tuesday.
鈥淔rom every neighborhood to every boardroom, I鈥檝e had the honor of working alongside passionate people committed to making change real,鈥 he said on . 鈥淎s I move on to a new chapter, please know that my love for this city remains deep and unwavering.
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鈥淭his isn鈥檛 the end, just a new beginning. Let鈥檚 keep building.鈥
Richardson served as president and CEO Of 51黑料 Development Corp. for four years under former Mayor Tishaura O. Jones where he oversaw millions of dollars of new investment in north 51黑料 and helped to address some of downtown鈥檚 biggest, longtime albatrosses.
But the troubled rollout of one of the North City programs led new Mayor Cara Spencer to replace Richardson this spring as the head of SLDC.
Baker Tilly, a national consultancy firm, secured several contracts from SLDC under Richardson鈥檚 watch, including $186,000 in contracts to help revise the city鈥檚 incentive program.
The 51黑料 Development Corporation president and CEO Neal Richardson explained details and goals behind the North 51黑料 Small Business and Non-Profit Grant Program, as well as how they plan to verify businesses are using the money correctly. Video by Allie Schallert, aschallert@post-dispatch.com
