On Nov. 6, the City of Springfield was awarded a nearly $21 million grant. The grant is a BUILD Transportation Grant, which stands for Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development Transportation Discretionary Grants.

BUILD Grants

Last July, U.S. Senator Roy Blunt sent a letter to Elaine Chao, U.S. Secretary of Transportation, endorsing Springfield’s application for the federal grant, which totals a whopping $20,960,822. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s website, Congress has dedicated nearly $7.1 billion to BUILD Grants in the hopes of seeing “significant local or regional impact.”

BUILD has eligibility requirements that include “project sponsors at the State and local levels to obtain funding to… projects that are more difficult to support through traditional DOT programs.” This requirement made Senator Blunt’s contribution all the more meaningful to Springfield.

Roy Blunt, Official Portrait 112th Congress

On Nov. 6, Blunt tweeted that the grant “will spur economic development & boost tourism by connecting the city’s cultural destinations to the growing downtown district.”

Springfield’s Grand Avenue Parkway Project

Senator Blunt’s letter to Secretary Chao highlighted Wonders of Wildlife and Downtown Springfield, as well as Ozarks Transportation Organization’s regional trail plan.

“The City of Springfield is so excited about this transformational news. This grant will help the City take a giant step forward in carrying out the City Council priorities of Economic Vitality and Quality of Place. We are extremely grateful for the superb congressional support, which has made this grant a reality,” said Mayor Ken McClure.

The funds will go towards “an off-street pedestrian and bicycle pathway along Grant Avenue between Sunshine Street and Walnut Street, in the heart of Springfield,” according to the city website. This will open a 3.3-mile route for increased connectivity between two of Springfield’s most tourist-driven areas: Wonders of Wildlife and Downtown.

Since 1996, nearly $500 million has been invested downtown. Wonders of Wildlife has generated hundreds of thousands of visitors, many of them on overnight trips. Connecting the two with a safe, accessible walking/biking route will almost certainly bring more consumers to downtown businesses.

The City of Springfield is required to provide a $5 million match, bringing the total investment close to $26 million. The award comes just as Springfield is transitioning into a new 20-year Comprehensive Plan.

Article by Forest Swisher