Downtown Ozark revitalization gets $100,000 boost

The Missouri Department of Economic Development May 26 approved a $100,000 Community Development Block Grant for the Christian County town.

The grant will help offset costs to continue street improvements; remove and replace existing sidewalks with brick pavers; replace old curbs, gutters and light fixtures; and install new parking and street crossing bump-outs.

The project is the second phase of a grant Ozark received in 2003.

That $300,000 grant was used for downtown construction during the first half of 2004.

“The first one essentially did the west half of the square and took care of some water and waste-water problems,” said Collin Quigley, Ozark’s city administrator. “This $100,000 will finish the square.”

In both phases, business owners downtown were required to match the grant amount in improvements to their own buildings.

Ozark’s City Planner Steve Childers said that he expects work to begin on Phase II in September or October.

Childers said he hopes Phase II and the forthcoming redevelopment of 47 blighted acres immediately west of the square known as the Finley River Neighborhood Redevelopment District will spur additional growth in Ozark.

Developer proposals for the mixed-use urban neighborhood project are due by 5 p.m. July 11, with presentations July 14 at Ozark City Hall.

Childers said about three proposals have been received so far.

“We may actually see even more (proposals) at the meeting,” he said.

Childers feels the CDBG and the Finley River Neighborhood projects go hand-in-hand.

“We hope the growth and the beautification is contagious,” Childers said.

While the CDBG project focuses on the square itself, Childers said city officials are thinking outside the box for future revitalization.

“The central business district right now I think has always been described somewhat as the square area, and what we need to do is expand that boundary and recognize or redefine our central business district to a much larger area,” he said.

“We’re still in the planning stages of how to branch off of the square with our improvements.”

CDBG funds are provided through federal sources and administered by the state. The CDBG program provides economic development grants and loan funds to cities with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000 to help Missouri communities address public health and safety concerns.