Farr recognized by Bootheel Community Development Corporation

Howardville Mayor Jim Farr was presented with a framed pictorial of the many accomplishments he has been involved with. Making the presentation was 149th State Representation Don Rone. -Scott Seal photo

Last Wednesday, August 8, members of the Bootheel Community Development Corporation in Howardville recognized Mayor Jim Farr.

He was presented with a framed pictorial of some of the many projects that Farr had a leadership role in. It was presented to him by 149th State Representative Don Rone (R) of Portageville.

The economic impact on the City of Howardville has been greater then some of the other cities in the six county region due to the leadership of Jim Farr, and the Howardville City Council. They have focused on priorities recommended by the Bootheel Community Development Corporation.

At the presentation meeting, Randy Halsey, president of the Community Development Corporation of America, Inc. said a few words about Farr.

“At one time, Farr wanted to do something with the house of Mr. Howard, the founder of Howardville, make it into a historical house, but it was out of reach at the time to do something about it.

Then, we tried to do something about the old school, but the community would not get behind it.”

“At that time, it was agreed upon to get a not-for-profit development board made and it was formed in 1996. As time went a long it was time to get another corporation in order to get funding for a grant for a new fire station. However, the corporation still needed $41,000 to get the fire station, so Tommie Fountain and Jim Farr got the needed month to get the fire station started,” said Halsey. Jim Farr has been the longest setting president thus far on the board.

The Bootheel Community Development Corporation (BCDC) is a Missouri Not-For-Profit

Corporation with a Section 501 (c) (3) status from the U.S. Department ofInternal Revenue and has been in existence since the fall of 1996.

Headquartered in Howardville, Missouri, BCD Corporation staff is committed to providing a wide range of economic, social, cultural, and educational self-help services to low income residents of the Bootheel including affordable housing, teaching basic homeowners living skills, and providing leadership in the community.

In the fall of 2000, BCDC successfully completed a three-thousand square foot skill

center and office, which was paid for with grant money from the Missouri Housing Development Commission. This facility houses the headquarters for the Corporation, office space for the City of Howardville, and meeting rooms for community organizations. This is the first new facility in the community of Howardville in 53 years and symbolizes part of the progress that has been achieved by BCDC.

According to Halsey, “Farr wanted to continue on with improvements similar to what Mr. Howard began. A five acre plot of level ground, which sets immediately adjacent to the Fred Fallen Skill Center & Office on the west side, was sold by the Howardville City Council to BCOC in 2000.”

Through a low-interest loan contract with the Missouri Housing Development Commission, BCDC staff employed local engineering and contracting firms to design a residential subdivision and install the necessary public infrastructure-streets, water, sewer, and landscaping amenities. The design plans were completed for the twenty-one lot Farr Circle Subdivision. Construction on the single-family homes began in the spring of 2000. Currently construction has been completed on 9 homes and the completion of 12 Rent-to-Own homes by RCB Development, Inc.