December 5, 2008
The city acquired the old Delp Hotel Building. After an inspection by
city engineer King Coltrin, the alderman approved a motion to have the
building demolished. The city will now take bids for the demolition.
December
5, 2008
Alderman Eddie Cruse motioned the board to decorate the downtown area
for the Christmas season. The board approved the measure and will
purchase six foot tall snow flakes that mount on light poles. The
funding for the project is from a recent grant the city received from
the state to revitalize the downtown area. The city will purchase seven
of the snowflakes from The Den of Metal Arts in Conway, MO.
October
14, 2008
News releases from the governor’s office:
STRAFFORD – Gov. Matt Blunt today visited his DREAM Initiative’s newest
designee, Strafford, to outline how his revitalization program will help
the community create new growth and economic development opportunities.
“I created the DREAM Initiative to ensure that our small and medium-sized communities have their fair share of state support to help meet their full potential. Our DREAM initiative makes a long term investment in the heart of Missouri’s economy that works to revitalize and re-build vibrant downtowns across our state,” Gov. Blunt said. “I look forward to seeing how Strafford uses this opportunity to create economic growth and family-supporting jobs in their community.”
Strafford’s downtown history includes the railroad, Route 66, the old Wire Road and the Trail of Tears, all of which either ran through the town or nearby. Route 66 Days is a street carnival held in the downtown each September. Downtown Strafford offers a mix of professional service, retail and government services.
Strafford’s goals are to promote the downtown businesses, improve pedestrian traffic flow and do infrastructure upgrades to the downtown area.
“It is indeed an honor for Strafford to be chosen as a recipient of the DREAM Initiative,” Strafford Mayor Barb Helvey said. “This will give Strafford the opportunity to revitalize its downtown area to be more productive and inviting to prospective businesses, which will ultimately bring in additional tax revenue. It is exciting to see how Gov. Blunt’s vision for economic stimulus for Missouri communities has been realized by past recipients of the DREAM Initiative. I am confident that Strafford will also benefit greatly from this opportunity.”
KANSAS
CITY - Ten additional small and mid-sized communities in Missouri will
have new opportunities to transform their downtown areas and create new
jobs through an economic development initiative created by Governor Matt
Blunt. Governor Blunt today announced the 10 Missouri communities
selected to participate in the 2008 DREAM (Downtown Revitalization and
Economic Assistance for Missouri) Initiative.
Governor Blunt's initiative helps communities more efficiently and effectively engage in downtown redevelopment and revitalization efforts.
Boonville, Farmington, Fulton, Lamar, Lebanon, Louisiana, Macon, Strafford, Warrensburg and Webb City are the third round of communities inducted in the governor's DREAM Initiative.
"This is great news for these communities," Governor Blunt said. "Missouri relies on its local economies and the investment of Missourians who are interested in preserving a sense of place and cultural heritage in the hearts of their communities. I congratulate this year's DREAM communities and look forward to working with them to provide the tools and resources they need to enhance their downtowns and neighborhoods."
Governor Blunt unveiled the DREAM Initiative in
2006 to provide Missouri's small and mid-sized towns the same access to
economic development tools as larger communities. Selected communities
become active members of the DREAM Initiative for three-years and gain
prioritized access to state supported programs through ongoing
cooperation among several unique agencies and funding sources. Programs
include technical and financial assistance for infrastructure
improvements, historic preservation, affordable housing, community
services, business development and job creation.
"When I tasked the Department of Economic Development to evaluate our economic incentives, they found these tools were underutilized by small and medium communities because of their complexity," Governor Blunt said. "Under the old way, these communities were too often left out of economic development opportunities that larger communities enjoyed. With the DREAM initiative, we changed that system and leveled the playing field to give our small and medium sized communities the same access to downtown development tools as our largest cities."
The governor's DREAM Initiative supports a
comprehensive approach to concentrate resources and available tools to
allow communities to accomplish their broad-based and long term
revitalization
and redevelopment goals more quickly than ever before.
In addition all 26 applicants will benefit from the governor's new initiative as well. They will receive:
Technical assistance
Exclusive invitation to a series of revitalization training
Opportunities and seminars
The chance to learn about existing redevelopment programs, how they work, and how to best access the available tools
Applications were evaluated by representatives from the three DREAM Initiative partners, the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Missouri Housing Development Commission. The evaluation process included confirming applications were complete and attention to community capacity, vision, opportunity for private investment, broad community support and a comprehensive approach.
Several of this year's new DREAM communities are
also working to recover from natural disasters over the last several
months. The DREAM assistance and revitalization will be helpful as they
work to
strengthen ties to their downtowns and city centers.
Previously, Aurora, Cape Girardeau,
Caruthersville, Chillicothe, Clinton, Excelsior Springs, Hannibal,
Hermann, Kennett, Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Neosho, Poplar Bluff,
Sikeston, St. Joseph, Sedalia, Trenton, Washington, and West Plains were
named DREAM communities. Together, they have received more than $46
million in state grants to rebuild, revitalize, and rejuvenate their
downtowns.
The investment has generated impressive returns in private donations,
led to job creation, and helped breathe new life into Missouri
communities.