FERGUSON, Mo. -- QuikTrip Corp. has donated the property that was the site of a former QuikTrip convenience store in Ferguson, Mo., that looters and rioters destroyed along with other businesses in August 2014 during the protests following the controversial shooting of a black youth by police, to The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
The Urban League has announced plans to build a new job training center on the site.
To be known as the Ferguson Community Empowerment Center, the facility will be the new location for the organization's "Save Our Sons" workforce program. Announced in January, Save Our Sons offers job training and placement services for African Americans and other young men residing in Ferguson and surrounding communities.
"We want to be part of the solution, and we are not leaving Ferguson," QuikTrip board member Michael Johnson said at a news conference announcing the plan.
"We are extremely grateful to QuikTrip Corp. for the generous donation of this property to provide the site for our new Ferguson Community Empowerment Center," said Michael P. McMillan, president and CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. "This truly is a 'rising from the ashes' to demonstrate how our community can work together to bring about positive change in the wake of events that have disrupted lives, prompted community unrest and impacted the business environment."
Pat Sly, manager of the Emerson Charitable Trust, member of the Urban League board and the Ferguson Commission, said, "We were honored to work with QuikTrip on this project along with the Urban League of St. Louis."
The $500,000 project--which already has received strong community, corporate and civic support--will also offer counseling for housing, rent and utility assistance and mental health services.
After crews clear the property, the Urban League expects to break ground on the Ferguson Community Empowerment Center in the spring.
Tulsa, Okla.-based QuikTrip operates more than 700 convenience stores in 11 states: Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
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