The push to complete the downtown Joplin streetscaping project
The City of Joplin and federal representatives are looking to finish a final phase of a multi-year effort to complete streetscaping with funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, of 2022.
United States Representative Billy Long included this project that focuses on Main Street sidewalks for the area of 8th Street to 15th Street. This seven-block stretch is the remaining stretch unfinished since work on Main Street’s original streetscaping project in 2008 and the disaster recovery efforts were completed in 2018.
“Downtown is the core of any community and serves as a magnet for a mixed-use of commercial and residential development, and Joplin is a great example of this,” said Joplin Mayor Doug Lawson. “With help from Congressman Long, the streetscaping project on Main Street is poised to take a big step forward following an award of funds from the budget. More funding is necessary for the final phase to be possible.”
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 made funding available for “grants for the Economic Development Initiative for the purposes of Community Project Funding/Congressionally Directed Spending” (PL 117-103) Awards through the Act are provided by Congressional members and administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The opportunity for federal funds was made available through the legislative process and the project meets the guidelines and criteria to receive federal funds.
“I am thrilled to have contributed to the revitalization efforts on Main Street,” said Congressman Long. “This critical investment into our community will have a lasting impact on downtown Joplin’s burgeoning hub of commerce and residential development for years to come.”
Long secured partial funding of $3 million for the Main Street project which is estimated at a total cost of $6 million. Additional funds from the City would be needed to move forward on the project.
“Commercial corridors of this magnitude are significant for a community,” said City Manager Nick Edwards. “Joplin has been well known for Route 66 since the mid-1900s, and we continue to see thousands of visitors to our city because of this historic highway. To have this stretch completed would be a huge boost to downtown and our community. I want to thank Representative Long and his District Director, Michael Ussery, for their support for Joplin.”