Gov. Matt Blunt’s commitment to providing young Missourians with the tools they need to succeed brought him to the 16th Annual Youth Field Day hosted by Lincoln University’s Youth Development Kid’s Beat Program.

"I am honored to be here with students, parents, legislators and community leaders who share my vision for our children’s future and who, like me, believe that we must provide children the tools they need to succeed in school and in life. With the support of the General Assembly we not only stopped the old system of withholding money from Missouri schools, we significantly increased education funding by more than half a billion dollars. Missourians can be proud that their students have access to more funding resources than ever before and that programs like Kid’s Beat are working to empower our young people to meet their full potential."

In response to increasing concerns about antibiotic-resistant infections caused by the MRSA bacteria known as the superbug, Gov. Matt Blunt has directed the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services to increase its efforts to send prevention information to schools and communities.  The governor is pictured with State Health Director Jane Drummond and Eddie Hedrick.

Gov. Matt Blunt tours the Construction Careers Center and praised the Center’s efforts to help prepare students for jobs in the construction industry and college. The Construction Careers Center was established as the first charter high school in the country focused on preparing students for jobs in the construction industry and has an 88 percent employment rate for its graduates. (Bill Greenblatt)

Gov. Matt Blunt announces that $110,541 in Youth Opportunities Program tax credits over the next two years will go to the Judevine Center for Autism in St. Louis to assist Missouri children living with autism.  Approving of today’s announcement is six year old Joshua Clermont. (Bill Greenblatt)

Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that one of his budget priorities for the coming year will be to protect victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.  He plans to recommend that more than $2.3 million be available to cover medical exam costs associated with rape or sexual assault in next year’s budget.

Pictured with the governor are Sen. Michael Gibbons and Rep. Connie Johnson. Gov. Blunt recently signed bi-partisan legislation sponsored Sen. Gibbons and Rep. Johnson that enhance laws protecting women and children harmed at the hands of others, including provisions to allow the state to pay for exams following sexual assault, commonly called a “rape kit”, to gather the assailant’s DNA and archive the assault, and also protect the health of the victim.

Gov. Matt Blunt meets with Rick Sullivan, his representative on the St. Louis Transitional School Board, and receives a progress report on the board’s efforts to provide St. Louis City students access to quality education.

Gov. Matt Blunt announces that one of his budget priorities for the coming year will be to address the critical shortage of large animal veterinarians in the state by fully funding the state’s Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program.

Gov. Matt Blunt announces a new position focused on innovation in education and the workforce. Roderick Nunn will serve as the Director of Education and Workforce Innovation and will work to build on accomplishments of the governor’s METS Coalition and pre through graduate school (P-20) council.

At the St. Charles County Courthouse Gov. Matt Blunt emphasizes Missouri courthouses' significant historic role as well as their important role in downtown revitalization and new job creation. Blunt highlights a new $500,000 grant program that will emphasize historic courthouses around the state.

Gov. Matt Blunt and First Lady Melanie Blunt host a reception honoring organizations and individuals making a mark in the fight to find a cure for breast cancer.  As part of the ceremony that attracted more than 300 guests from across the state, Gov. Matt Blunt officially recognized October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in Missouri.

Gov. Matt Blunt and First Lady Melanie Blunt examine scrapbooks in the manuscript collections of the State Historical Society. 

As part of his ongoing efforts to make state government more responsive and accessible for the people of Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt proclaims Sedalia Missouri’s Capital for a Day, offering one on one and personalized access to state government.