Still, it is likely the final round of the administration’s Choice Neighborhoods grant program, a prestigious designation that has been awarded to a handful of cities and housing authorities since 2010. It’s designed to concentrate resources in impoverished areas to spur actual change rather than just rebuilding subsidized urban housing. St. Louis is expected to be one of at least four cities awarded the grant Monday.

To be considered, St. Louis had to win commitments from other partners to fund education, health and job training services, and its application beat out 29 other cities. According to the city’s application, it expects to leverage $75 million or more worth of services on top of the federal money.

“This Choice Neighborhoods program, it provides a carrot,” Mayor Francis Slay said. “It provides a carrot of $30 million if the local community pulls together a coalition of anchor institutions and government in the area to put together a real plan to invest not just in brick and mortar, but in people.”

The program centers around the 675-unit Preservation Square (formerly known as O’Fallon Place) subsidized housing complex, owned by McCormack Baron Salazar. McCormack Baron along with St. Louis Public Schools and social services coordination firm Urban Strategies, partnered with the city on the grant application.