Money distributed in state for Community Revitalization Grant Program
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The state is doling out millions of dollars to help dozens of projects across Missouri.
More than $94 million from the Community Revitalization Grant Program will go to 70 projects across the state.
About a dozen of those projects are in Mid-Missouri. This grant program started in September and is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The Food Bank is getting more than $1 million to help get its new building on Business Loop 70 up and running sometime this fall.
Leaders say this money is coming at a key time.
“We are seeing the number of people who are food insecure climbing on a monthly basis, on a daily basis,” Lindsay Young Lopez, president and CEO of the Food Bank, said. “Our costs of doing business are three times greater than they were pre-COVID.”
The state also awarded $3 million to help build more affordable housing in Columbia.
The Columbia Housing Authority says it would use the money to add 10 more units to its Kinney Point Project on Sexton Road, along with a community building. It said affordable housing is a need in the community, with about 1,235 families on its wait list.
Columbia is also getting $1,745,000 for two park projects. Of that figure, $495,000 will go towards improvements at Douglass Park, which includes basketball court renovations, Douglass Family Aquatic Center renovations and expansion of the skate park. The rest will go towards building a new park on Orr Street, which includes a large area of greenspace, playground, multiple art exhibits, performance area, walkways and parking. This is the old Ameren downtown property.
SERVCE, Inc. -- a food pantry in Fulton -- is getting $645,000, while the Salvation Army in Jefferson City is getting $561,060 for its food pantry. Jefferson City also received $2,113,169.
