Jefferson City puts together community development action plan for 2017

Jefferson City is working to put together an action plan for how it can improve the community in 2017.

Each year, the federal government gives the city funds to address community development needs of low and moderate income residents.

City officials expect to get about $263,000 in 2017 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The city started collecting input from residents this summer on ways to best improve the community. One of the biggest requests was sidewalk improvements, according to Neighborhood Services Coordinator Jayme Abbott.

A little over 30 percent of the funds will go toward public facility and infrastructure improvements, including sidewalk improvements.

One project planned for 2017 is sidewalk installation along the east side of the 900 Block of Broadway, which is right down the road from South Elementary School.

“There’s currently no sidewalk there,” Abbott said. “And so, it’s really for the safety of the kids, keeping them from crossing the street which has a pretty big hill there and so it keeps them from crossing the street in mid-block.”

Another 28 percent of the funds will be used for homeowner rehabilitation and down payment assistance, or affordable housing.

Remaining funds will go toward support services for residents with low income or special needs, economic opportunities and more.

The money can also be used for demolition assistance. One project includes plans to help Habitat for Humanity demolish and rebuild a home on East Dunklin Street.

“All of those programs benefit the community with-by removing slum and blight, especially on homes where the code deficiencies would never have been able to been rectified,” Abbott said.

The city is accepting public comment for the action plan until Oct. 28.

The city council is set to approve the plan at its next meeting on Nov. 7 before it is due to the federal government in mid-November.

You can view the full Community Development Block Grant 2017 Annual Action Plan here.