Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Applauds Neosho’s DREAM Designation
NEOSHO–Gov. Matt Blunt today visited Neosho to help celebrate their downtown’s potential. The city is one of only ten to be the first inducted into the governor’s DREAM (Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri) Initiative.
Neosho hopes to apply the DREAM Initiative to capitalize on their downtown’s proximity to Big Spring. The spring produces over a million gallons of water a day and is adjacent to downtown Neosho. The community will also work to establish more housing in and around downtown, which would increase the need for retail services in the immediate downtown area.
“DREAM gives Neosho the chance to incorporate Missouri’s abundant natural resources into their downtown renewal plans,” Blunt said. “The DREAM Initiative allows Missouri’s diverse downtowns to take advantage of their unique attributes, like Big Spring in Neosho, to redevelop and revitalize their communities.”
The DREAM Initiative will help selected communities more efficiently and effectively engage in downtown redevelopment and revitalization efforts and attract new private investment opportunities to the hearts of their communities. It provides selected communities streamlined access to available programs for infrastructure improvements, historic preservation, affordable housing, community services, business development and job creation. The initiative also offers exclusive training and seminars created to help all DREAM applicants learn more about how to access existing redevelopment programs and tools to revitalize Missouri’s historic and diverse downtowns.
Cape Girardeau, Excelsior Springs, Hannibal, Hermann, Kennett, St. Joseph, Sedalia, Washington and West Plains join Neosho as the first annual DREAM communities. Visit the DREAM Initiative Internet site, www.dream.mo.gov, for more details.
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