Joplin Mayor Jon Tupper acted as emcee for a ceremony unveiling Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's DREAM Initiative. Waiting to be introduced are, L-R, Gov. Blunt and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder.
Dayla Vance, 8, a student from Pryor, OK is given a piece of cake by Gov. Blunt. He accepted the chore of cutting the cake that had been provided in his honor. Dayla's father who is in charge of maintenance at the Frisco Station, said she assisted him in readying the building for the governor's appearance and was very excited over the opportunity to make the governor's acquaintance.
Gov. Matt Blunt was in Joplin today to outline a program that will help several selected Missouri communities interested in downtown revitalization. DREAM, Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri, is a program that will cut the barriers for small to mid-size communities who have a vision for improving their downtown districts but not the expertise to negotiate all the agencies needed in reaching that goal.
The DREAM Initiative is a partnership of the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Development Finance Board and the Housing Development Commission with each contributor allowing specially selected communities preferential access to programs offering technical and financial assistance.
A website has been set up which contains specific guidelines for the program as well as an application form that must be returned by August 1, 2006 in order to be part of the initial selection process. Community officials are expected to answer 10 questions that in part will reveal their commitment to downtown redevelopment.
Regarding which of the 6 to 10 communities will be chosen in September 2006 to take advantage of the DREAM Initiative for the first three year term, Blunt stressed that the primary criteria will focus on their visions and the extent of involvement of their private sectors.
In describing downtowns as being "once prosperous," the governor called attention to the "now dilapidated buildings" prevalent in many Missouri communities. With the DREAM Initiative, Blunt hopes to reestablish property values and a sense of place while creating jobs across the state. He said "not just one eyesore" should be removed but that a "comprehensive" effort should be made to improve what he called "the heart of the community".
Others speaking for downtown redevelopment included Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder and Rob O'Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce. Kinder mentioned how each downtown with a post office, town bank, newspaper office and finest restaurants has been left a shell of its former self after key anchor businesses shut down. He reiterated the importance of each community taking advantage of the new initiative to restore the downtown's character, charm and history.
O'Brian, who has worked closely with town officials to foster economic development, not only in Joplin but in surrounding areas, mentioned Neosho, Webb City and Carl Junction as local communities who would benefit from the new program.
John Joines, chief executive officer of the Economic Security Corp. of the Southwest Area, pronounced downtown Joplin, MO "alive and well" to the crowd assembled in front of the Frisco Station, a renovated building by Carlson Gardner of Springfield that created affordable housing for seniors downtown. Joines commended Joplin City Manager Mark Rohr for his leadership in making downtown Joplin's redevelopment "an example for other cities to follow."
A glimpse of a section of Main St. being redeveloped shows the narrowed sidewalks allowing for parallel parking. New better proportioned streetlights and a brick strip manufactured by Pacific Clay along the curbing also are part of the project. The facades of many storefronts have been stripped by owners wanting to take advantage of grants and tax abatements for refurbishing them in keeping with prescribed architectural criteria. Combating criticism by some seniors who'd rather see their tax dollars used differently, Rohr said that once finished the downtown area will be a comfortable place to gather. He described the sidewalks at the ends of the streets as having "truncated corners" enabling visually challenged individuals a sense of place.
PICTURES BY VINCE ROSATI
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