Gov. Matt Blunt recognizes and commends the After School for All Partnership for St. Louis (ASAP), as they announce 27 new or expanded after school programs that will serve nearly 1,300 students each school day. (Bill Greenblatt)

Gov. Matt Blunt visits Shepard Elementary School where he announces $1 million in grants to expand Math & Science and Health related afterschool programs.   Gov. Blunt secured this significant funding increase to support the new grants that will benefit almost 100 schools across the state.

"Afterschool programs provide Missouri’s students a safe environment where they can grow academically, socially, physically and emotionally. I am excited to see how Shepard Elementary School and other schools across the state will use this new funding to support quality afterschool programs that focus on math and science to prepare our students for the challenges of the global economy as well as programs focused on health and wellness."

Gov.  Matt Blunt launches Insure Missouri to help Missouri's lower income, uninsured workers buy health insurance. (Bill Greenblatt)

Gov. Matt Blunt helps American George Hincapie with his winner’s jersey after winning the inaugural Tour of Missouri bike race. (Bill Greenblatt)

Gov. Matt Blunt and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder present the Stage Five winner with the Missouri Tourism Race Leader Jersey after the fifth stage of the Tour of Missouri, which took cyclists from the state capitol to St. Charles.

Gov. Matt Blunt, holding his son Branch, kickoff Stage Five of the inaugural Tour of Missouri that will take cyclists from Missouri’s Capital City, through the heart of Missouri wine country and to St. Charles.

Gov. Matt Blunt and First Lady Melanie Blunt hosts a reception in honor of former Gov. Warren Hearnes and First Lady Betty Hearnes.

Gov. Matt Blunt appoints Rod Chapel to the Administrative Hearing Commission and nominates Omar Davis as the new director of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Pictured from left to right are Denise Chapel, Rod Chapel, Gov. Blunt, Omar Davis and NaTashua Davis.

Gov. Matt Blunt asks for a moment of silence to remember the nearly 3,000 innocent Americans who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 before the start of the Tour of Missouri.

Gov. Matt Blunt visits High Pointe Elementary School, home to one of the 100 new technology classrooms in 100 Missouri schools. In Nixa the governor announced High Pointe Elementary will receive $20,529 and Nixa Junior High will receive $29,500 to enhance technology in their schools.

Gov. Matt Blunt announces that Missouri's outstanding record of support for children's services is setting the bar for national standards and has made Missouri a role model for states across the nation interested in improving services for children. Gov. Blunt presents Paula White with a Certificate of Achievement honoring the 21st Circuit of the Department of Social Services' Children’s Division for meeting all standards for accreditation by the Council on Accreditation. (Bill Greenblat)

Gov. Matt Blunt proclaims Missouri as a State of ONE in the fight against extreme global poverty. (Bill Greenblatt)

Gov. Matt Blunt signs legislation paving the way to repair or replace more than 800 Missouri bridges by 2012 as part of the Safe and Sound Bridges Program that he and transportation officials unveiled last year.  The Missouri bridge plan has become a national model for other states.

Gov. Matt Blunt honors 21 Vietnam Veterans with the first commemorative Vietnam Veterans Medallions.

"It is a great privilege to take this day to recognize the veterans of the Vietnam War who made such tremendous sacrifices while serving our nation. It was the hands of our veterans and soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines that have built America into what it is today, the greatest nation in the world, a nation that rests on a foundation of hard work, decency, and love of country and liberty. Today we award the very first Vietnam Veterans Medallions, an honor I hope acknowledges in some small way our appreciation for all our heroes have done for us and our country."

Gov. Matt Blunt signs pro-jobs, pro-growth legislation that will support the state's strong economic climate and attract and retain high quality jobs that offer health insurance for Missouri workers. House Bill 1 will build on the more than 85,000 jobs Missourians have created since the governor took office.