Center city receives $3.3 mil in federal funds

The largest amount secured through a Congressional conference report that Congressman Roy Blunt worked on is the $1.65 million to help build a two-story parking garage north of Heer’s Tower. The parking structure will house a City Utilities bus transfer station on the lower level and provide parking on the second level for approximately $30 million in adjacent private entertainment projects.

“Open spaces, new recreational opportunities and economic developments are putting a new face on Springfield,” House Whip Blunt said in a news release. “Local leaders deserve much of the credit for this remarkable transformation.”

The funding is available through the Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2006 (HR 3058).

Another $1 million, secured through Blunt and Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., will add streetscapes downtown. The project will construct four blocks of new sidewalks and provide pedestrian lighting, planters, benches and other street furniture to enhance downtown's image.

Springfield City Manager Tom Finnie said in the release that those projects are consistent with community priorities established in the city’s Vision 20/20 master plan.

Additionally, the historic Gillioz Theater on Walnut received $471,200 from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust renovations. Blunt also received approval Friday for another $500,000 appropriation to Gillioz’ renovations, for which fund-raising efforts have been ongoing since 2000.

On Thursday, southwest Missouri officials got wind of other federal appropriations including:

• $2.87 million for Springfield-Branson Regional Airport replacement terminal

• $1.75 million for Nevada Airport runway rehabilitation

• $1 million for Joplin Downtown Streetscape Development

• $750,000 for equipment improvements at Students in Free Enterprise World Headquarters.