Gov. Matt Blunt recently announced the 10 Missouri communities selected to participate in the 2007 DREAM (Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri) Initiative. Gov. Blunt’s initiative helps communities more efficiently and effectively engage in downtown redevelopment and revitalization efforts.
Aurora, Caruthersville, Chillicothe, Clinton, Kirksville, Maryville, Mexico, Poplar Bluff, Sikeston and Trenton are the second round of communities inducted in the governor’s DREAM Initiative.
“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,” Blunt said. “I congratulate this year’s DREAM communities and look forward to working with them to provide these new resources to enhance their downtowns and neighborhoods.”Governor Blunt unveiled the DREAM Initiative last year 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,” Blunt said. “With the DREAM initiative, we 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 42 applicants will benefit from the governor’s new initiative as well. They will receive:
- technical assistance
- exclusive invitations 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 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.
Last year, Cape Girardeau, Excelsior Springs, Hannibal, Hermann, Kennett, Neosho, St. Joseph, Sedalia, Washington, and West Plains were the first communities to receive the honor of being a Missouri DREAM community. Together, they have received more than $30 million in state grants to rebuild, revitalize, and rejuvenate their downtowns.
Here are some of the 2007 DREAM communities’ visions for the future:
AURORA: Aurora’s downtown has many historic buildings. Many of these buildings are under-utilized, and redeveloping these structures into attractive, occupied businesses is a major goal of the city and Main Street Aurora. Aurora has done some upgrades to downtown infrastructure using a prior Community Development Block Grant award, but with their DREAM designation more assistance will be made available to help restore downtown Aurora to what it could be.
CARUTHERSVILLE: Caruthersville hopes that the DREAM designation will spur even more local volunteer effort and renewed vigor from its residents. Caruthersville has completed a plan that addresses the linking of the riverfront, the historic downtown, and the Casino Aztar. A walking trail along the scenic Mississippi River has been completed. The next phase is to upgrade and redevelop the streetscape along Ward Avenue all the way to the flood wall. An observation deck on the riverfront is also planned; this will be a receiving point for tourist boats on the Mississippi and be a visible reminder of Caruthersville’s river heritage which dates back to the mid-nineteenth century.
CHILLICOTHE: Chillicothe is the county seat, which brings many people to the downtown area as they conduct county business in the Courthouse. Chillicothe plans to take advantage of their DREAM status to develop vacant buildings and vacant lots in the downtown area.
CLINTON: Business retention is an important piece of the economic development puzzle in Clinton, and DREAM will help the community find ways for local groups to provide business assistance to existing businesses. Clinton hopes to utilize their new designation to redevelop the North side of their square and to promote the development of upper stories in the downtown district for commercial and residential use.
KIRKSVILLE: Kirksville feels that it is at a make or break point for its downtown and hopes the DREAM designation will facilitate state and private expertise that will keep the downtown moving forward and lead to further development and viability. The historic Traveler’s Hotel in downtown is being planned for redevelopment as an apartment building, maintaining it as a viable part of Kirksville’s downtown. Connecting downtown to Truman State University and A.T. Still University by means of a pedestrian walkway is a high priority for Kirksville.
MEXICO: Mexico understands that downtown businesses are not as convenient as the “big box” stores. They hope the DREAM initiative helps to bring the downtown back as the center of the community, unify the vision of the downtown businesses and market the downtown as an alternative shopping destination.
MARYVILLE: Maryville hopes to use their status as one of Missouri’s DREAM communities to promote a mix of commercial and residential development in their downtown. They want to complete their downtown streetscape project and establish a downtown business merchants association.
POPLAR BLUFF: There will be at least three focus areas in the implementation of the DREAM initiative in Poplar Bluff. The first focus area is a reconnection of downtown to the river. Second, an effort to create different housing opportunities in the downtown area will be a key to restoring vitality to the area. Third, the downtown area is truly a treasure trove of Poplar Bluff history and restoring and reviving those historical roots will be a great boon to the community.
SIKESTON: Sikeston’s DREAM designation will help the community reach its goal of re-establishing Downtown Sikeston as a retail and social center of their city. The community will work with the Historic Midtown Development Group in making transportation and streetscape improvements, developing programs to promote business retention and expansion, and working to preserve their historic buildings.
TRENTON: Trenton hopes their DREAM designation will assist with their downtown revitalization plan which includes a performing arts center, streetscapes, downtown parks and new street traffic flow including a roundabout. Trenton and Grundy County are currently building a new combined city/county law enforcement center on one end of downtown and North Central Missouri College is beginning work on a new $7 million health facility on the other end. With the DREAM initiative, they will be able to fulfill redevelopment between the two projects.
Visit the DREAM Initiative Internet site, www.dream.mo.gov, for more details.