Pierce City receives more state assistance

Pierce City has received more help from the state of Missouri to facilitate recovery projects that stem from the May 2003 tornadoes that swept through the area.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development has approved a grant of $252,300 for the Lawrence County town through the Community Development Block Grant program. The money will come from funds set aside for the CDBG disaster fund, according to a news release from the DED.

Gov. Bob Holden presented the grant to Pierce City Mayor Mark Peters in a Sept. 9 ceremony in Jefferson City.

The funds will be used to help fund a number of projects, including:

Recovery costs for the old state armory;

Additional repair of sidewalks in the downtown Pierce City area;

Completion of the new fire station;

Completion of the new senior center;

Completion of the new Barry-Lawrence Library;

Repair of the sewer system; and

Upkeep of the temporary fire station until the new one is completed.

"We are pleased to be helping Pierce City residents and officials continue the process of rebuilding after the disastrous storms hit their community," said DED Director Kelvin L. Simmons, in the release. "These funds will help fill in the gaps in a number of projects. We wish the community continued success as they move forward in the recovery process."

CDBG funds are provided by federal sources and are administered by the state of Missouri. The program provides economic development grants and loan funds to cities with populations under 50,000 and counties with populations under 200,000.