St. Louis, MO  (KTRS)  St. Louis’ “Save The Raise” campaign continues to gain support.

During a news conference on Monday in south St. Louis, it was announced that more than 100 city owned businesses plan to keep the $10 an hour minimum wage.  Jason Deem, who owns several businesses along Cherokee Street, including “South Side Spaces”, is calling on larger companies to follow suit.

“It’s unfortunate that us as small businesses are having to leave the charge, but we’ll take that burden and we’ll prove that it works and we’ll be that case study and I think that a lot of these businesses here on Cherokee Street will be that case study. We’ll prove to our elected officials that this does work.” said Deem.

“My own employees helped me figure out areas to cut costs so that I could pay them the higher wage,” said Anna Rivera, owner of El Chico Bakery. “And I’ll keep paying everyone who works at the bakery at least $10 an hour even after the minimum wage rolls back in August.”

St. Louis’ higher minimum wage went into effect in May, but the state legislature passed a measure prohibiting cities from establishing their own minimum wages. The city’s minimum wage is set to roll back to the state’s minimum wage of $7.70 per hour on August 28th.