Three south-central Missouri communities will share in funding to spur economic development for their towns, the Delta Regional Authority announced. The funds also be used for workforce training and job creation.
Here are the projects in the area:
Second floor renovation of OzSBI, West Plains: Restoration of 9,180 square feet of the second floor of the Ozarks Small Business Incubator (OzSBI) into workspace and larger offices for clients with up to 15 employees, including seven to 10 new offices, four restrooms, a meeting room, utility room, mechanical rooms and circulation (29 jobs to be created and 53 jobs to be retained). DRA investment: $150,000; leveraged public investment: $921,450; private capital investment: $1 million.
Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, West Plains: Rehabilitation and renovation of an existing 16,000 square-foot building owned by the City of West Plains to be converted into a new advanced manufacturing training center to bring shop/lab training and classroom instructional opportunities to high school graduates from regional high schools and dislocated workers (100 people to be trained). DRA investment: $225,746; leveraged public investment: $599,502.
St. James Industrial Park Infrastruture, St. James: Infrastructure improvements and access road expansion in the St. James Industrial Park to assist with the major expansion of Cohn Architectural Woodworking (eight jobs to be created). DRA investment: $206,060; Leveraged Public Investment: $93,357; private capital investment, $820,000.
The investments are made through the DRA States’ Economic Development Assistance Program, the agency’s main federal funding program that invests in public infrastructure, transportation needs, workforce development, small business and entrepreneurship and health access in the 252 counties and parishes of the eight-state Delta region.
“These investments strategically leverage funding for projects that will help to address the infrastructure, training and public service needs of our communities while driving economic development and growing small businesses and entrepreneurs,” said Chris Masingill, Delta Regional Authority Federal Co-Chair Chris Masingill.