Farmington becomes one of 30 towns with DREAM designation

Governor's DREAM Initiative will allow Farmington access to grants, incentives

By PAULA BARR
Daily Journal Staff Writer

Farmington Mayor Jeannie Roberts envisions a downtown with sidewalk cafes, pedestrian walkways and unique shops.

City Administrator Greg Beavers wants to see second floors of downtown businesses get funding for development of apartments or renovation of existing apartments.

On Friday, the city received an official boost in achieving some or all of these goals - or others yet to be suggested. Gov. Matt Blunt was in town to officially welcome Farmington into his DREAM Initiative.

“This is one of the most beautiful communities in the state and it has a lot to offer,” Blunt told the crowd on the steps of Farmington’s City Hall.

Farmington has many Victorian-era and early 20th Century business and residential buildings in its downtown area, including a historic business district on Columbia Street and neighboring blocks.

Inclusion in the DREAM Initiative gives the city accelerated access to grants and other economic incentives, Roberts said. In November, city officials, chamber members, Downtown Development Association members and other concerned citizens will meet with a consulting firm to develop a plan for downtown redevelopment.

“This is not about fixing up a few buildings and beautifying a sidewalk,” Blunt explained. “It is a comprehensive approach to downtown rehabilitation.”

The DREAM initiative stems from a report by the director of the state’s Department of Economic Development, who evaluated available economic tools after Blunt took office.

“One of the items of his report was that we had great tools for downtown revitalization and redevelopment, but small- and medium-sized communities didn’t use them,” Blunt related. “They are often technical because of federal requirements. St. Louis City and Kansas City can hire an army of consultants and lawyers to figure it all out, but small and medium communities often found it difficult.”

The Initiative, in its third year, is designed to help communities create new growth and economic development opportunities. For three years, DREAM communities get accelerated access to the economic programs along with special attention to “level the playing field to make sure the same benefits offered to St. Louis are available to communities like Farmington,” Blunt explained.

Programs in member communities include technical and financial assistance for infrastructure improvements, historic preservation, affordable housing, community services, business development and job creation.

Roberts would like to see the downtown area take advantage of the tourism linked to the area vineyards.

“Farmington is located very close to Missouri’s newest ‘wine country’ and my goal is for our downtown to become part of the wine venue tourist’s destination for dining, shopping and lodging,” she said. “If we can bring those wine tourists into Downtown, it will help all our town. They’ll stay here in our motels and eat at our restaurants.

“This is a feather in Farmington’s cap.”

Blunt said it will be up to the new governor to decide whether to add new communities to the Initiative. He assured the crowd that commitments  made to Farmington and the other 29 communities currently in the program will be met.

“We know it’s working,” he said. “We’ve had 20 dream communities so far, and we have had $46 million of public investment that might not have gone there with out the DREAM Initiative. We’ve had over $200 million of private investment.

Cities fill out a complex application to become part of the DREAM Initiative, Beavers said.

Representatives from the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Missouri Housing Development Commission evaluate the applications individually, then discuss them as a group to choose 10 recipients. Blunt said they look for communities with a vision for their downtown areas, not communities that want someone to come in and do it for them.

For more information, go to the DREAM Initiative Web site at http://www.dream.mo.gov.

Paula Barr is a reporter for the Daily Journal and can be reached at 573-431-2010, ext. 172 or at pbarr@dailyjournalonline.com.

 

Archives Web Site Marketplace Obits Babies Jobs