Community development builds more robust, more resilient communities and empowers community members to create stronger and more connected communities. Community development addresses needs such as infrastructure, public facilities installation and improvements, community facilities, housing rehabilitation, public services, clearance/acquisition, code enforcement, planning, and demolition. Here at Kaysinger, we understand how vital community development is to a community’s wellbeing and greater capacity for growth. We are committed to assisting our communities in achieving their goals.
As communities in the Kaysinger region look for ways to improve and grow their resources, they often seek grant funding to support their vision. Counties, cities, and non-profit agencies in the Kaysinger region benefit day after day from Kaysinger’s dedication to ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent as funding agencies intended. KBRPC staff is here to assist in every step of that process from writing the grant application to administering the project when funds are received.
Since its inception, Kaysinger has applied for millions in grant funding and tax credits on behalf of cities, counties, and non-profit agencies. These funds translate to a number of improvements for our communities including a new community building, an expansion of walking trails, historic preservation, sidewalk improvements, and much more. Kaysinger staff continually look for ways to bring more resources into the region. To do that, Kaysinger must know what a community’s needs are. Results such as these, make Kaysinger a valuable development tool.
The City of Lowry City was awarded $342,250 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from the Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) to assist the City in renovating the Lowry City Civic Center. These funds are being matched with a $47,817 Lowe’s Hardware Charitable and Education Project grant the City of Lowry City was awarded in the Spring of 2018. This funding vastly improved the 7,910 square foot building with much-needed improvements including electrical and HVAC improvements, tuck-pointing of the mortar, new rubberized flooring in the gymnasium, installation of an ADA compliant exterior door, and soundproofing of the gym to improve the acoustics. The City of Lowry City along with the Lowry City Community Betterment Group has made many improvements over the years, but this funding will help with the larger items that the building needs. This facility fills a great need in the community and allows for greater access to services that many otherwise would not be able to utilize.
The City of Weaubleau was awarded $246,120 in Community Development Block Grant funds to construct a new Community Building along with donations from the Friends of Weaubleau Park and Missouri Foundation for Health Grant. KBRPC staff wrote the application and administered the project for the City of Weaubleau. Construction on the facility was completed this past Spring. Congratulations to the City of Weaubleau!
Gov. Jay Nixon visited the El Dorado Springs School District on August 12, 2014, to announce a new investment through Missouri Start Smart. During his visit to El Dorado Springs, the Governor announced that through the Missouri Start Smart initiative, the Missouri Department of Economic Development will authorize a competitive funding award of $988,275 for the nonprofit organization El Do Youth Inc. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding assisted the El Dorado Springs School District in constructing a new Pre-K facility that will serve an additional 20 children and allow the district to expand its current half-day Pre-K program to a full-day program. Pictured is Gov. Jay Nixon with KBRPC Community Development Administrator, Ashley Swartz, who wrote the CDBG application and administered this project.
The Calhoun Early Childhood Education Center was completed in February 2016. CDBG funding not only provided a newer building with a conducive layout but with the increase in space, they were able to increase the number of students from 80 to 100!
Dilapidated building demolition has become a very popular category for CDBG funding. Kaysinger has helped many cities obtain funding for and administer the building demolition grant. With the assistance of Kaysinger, the Cities of Butler and Appleton City were awarded funds from CDBG for demolition. The City of Appleton was awarded $230,000 to demolish over 20 residential and commercial structures citywide. The City of Butler was awarded $195,625, in CDBG funding to demolish 35 residential and 3 commercial structures citywide. Kaysinger administered and wrote both CDBG demolition grants for Appleton City and Butler. Both projects were completed ahead of schedule, and have made a huge impact in the cities.
The photo below shows the Samaritan Center located in Henry County. This project was funded by a combination of $300,000 in CDBG funding and $500,000 in NAP tax credits to build the facility. Both applications were written and administered by Kaysinger. In December 2018, Kaysinger wrote an application for the Clinton Samaritan Center and they were awarded $500,000 in NAP tax credits to increase food and clothing distribution and financial assistance to low-income families in Henry County. In the Spring of 2021, Kaysinger applied again on behalf of the Samaritan Center to continue services in the county.
The building below houses the State Fair Community College Clinton Satellite Campus and the Business Development Center in Clinton. Under the administration of Kaysinger, this project was funded by $500,000 NAP tax credits and local donations. In January of 2015, Kaysinger staff celebrated the expansion of the Clinton SFCC campus with Kaysinger Board Members, CARE Board Members, SFCC staff, the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce, the City of Clinton, SFCC students, and members of the community. This expansion adds an estimated 7,000 square feet of instructional and testing space including 5 classrooms, laboratory space, a testing center, a commons area, and four additional offices. |