ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green released her risk assessment Wednesday for the St. Louis Development Corporation's North City Grant Program.
The program has faced scrutiny over the viability assessment, which was outsourced and found to have conditionally awarded potentially fake organizations with grant money.
In her risk assessment, Comptroller Green's recommendations include restarting the entire program.
"Out of the gate, they came out wrong," said Green. "They were wrong not to have minimum basic qualifications."
Qualifications Green recommends include requiring businesses be in operation two years prior to the 2020 pandemic, own a current business license and be up to date on city taxes
Green's recommendation comes after media reports show the program conditionally awarded grant money to potentially fake organizations or ones who falsely claimed to be located in North City. Green says she fears future federal funding could be at risk.
"We could risk receiving future federal funds," said Green. "That's a non-starter for me. We could also risk no ever getting back the public trust."
Comptroller Green also suggests the vetting and selection process be improved along with additional qualifications be required
In a statement to KMOX, Mayor Tishaura Jones said "starting over or doing nothing are not responsible options and would cause further delays."
St. Louis Development Corporation CEO Neal Richardson said in a separate statement starting over would be extremely detrimental to North City's businesses and its economic community.
Richardson adds the report was filled with errors, false allegations and said it appears to be based solely on media reports, anecdotal discussion and Comptroller Green's flawed understanding of the program.
