August 31, 2009

PERRYVILLE -- Several new contracts were announced at the August meeting of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission which was held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 25, 2009 in the Commission’s offices located at 1 West St. Joseph Street in Perryville.

The Commission received signed contracts from the City of Leadington to administer a Community Development Block Grant which will be used for a stormwater and drainage project and from the City of Perryville for utility mapping services for a three year-period. The Commission has also received a signed letter of agreement from the City of Farmington to provide services in conjunction with the City’s two Tax Increment Financing Districts.

Reports were presented concerning activities of the Commission’s Revolving Loan Funds, the recent Delta Regional Authority grant program, the Regional Homeland Security Oversight Committees, EPA non-attainment area status and the July 29th meeting of the Air Quality Committee, the availability of CDBG Disaster supplemental funding, and the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act program. There was also a discussion concerning the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program.

The Commissioners authorized the staff to contract with the City of Ste. Genevieve, if selected, to administer an Action Fund loan, with the New Bourbon Regional Port Authority and the Southeast Missouri Regional Port Authority to administer EDA grants for port development, with the City of Perryville, if selected, to provide professional assistance in planning services with the Cape Girardeau County and St. Francois County Commissions for Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program administrative services and, if selected, with the Madison County Sheltered Workshop to administer a Community Development Block Grant.

Under the State and Local Review Process, the Commissioners endorsed applications from East Missouri Action Agency to the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services for funding to operate a Compassion Capital Fund Demonstration Project in eight counties; from Southeast Missouri State University to USDA Rural Development for funding for "Beef Up Southeast Missouri," a proposal to boost beef production in the region; from the Madison County Sheltered workshop to the U. S. Department of Agriculture for funding to purchase a shrinkwrap machine; and from Cross Trails Medical Center to the Health Resources and Service Administration for funding to continue the Center’s program in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau and Stoddard Counties and surrounding area.

All meetings of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission are open to the public, and the public is welcome to attend.