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City of Sikeston, special guests celebrate receiving $9.3M in ARPA funds
SIKESTON – The community of Sikeston celebrated receiving $9.3 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds with a special event Thursday, June 29 at Legion Park in Historic Downtown Sikeston.
The event was part of the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s ARPA tour which included Missouri Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, as well as Shad Burner, director of Federal Initiatives for the Missouri Department of Economic Development; Michelle Hataway, acting director of Missouri Economic Development; and Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder.
The ARPA funds will go toward seven projects in the community.
The Workforce Training Grant Program awarded Sikeston Public Schools $3 million to expand the Sikeston Career and Technology Center.
“This will allow the career and technology center to expand and purchase the vacant building on Malone Ave,” Burner said.
Burner said another huge item of interest for the city of Sikeston is that it also received $2.5 million in Industrial Site Development Grant money to be used for the Board of Municipal Utilities’ Wastewater Expansion project.
The Grace Community Center was awarded more than $1.1 million from the Community Revitalization Grant Program to construct the Grace Youth Center at Compress and Petty.
The Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation received more than $1 million from the Community Revitalization Grant Program for the Malone Park Academy of the Arts, a community and cultural center.
Burner continued to announce the other projections at the ceremony.
“The city of Sikeston received $770,634 from the Community Revitalization Grant Program to expand Legion Park with an open-air market, portable ice-skating rink, and more,” Burner said. “So, a really exciting project right here where we are now in Legion Park.”
Burner also said the Community Revitalization Grant Program provided Southeast Missouri Food Bank with $350,000 to purchase new delivery vehicles.
Finally, the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Convention and Visitors Bureau received $484,138 from the Local Tourism Asset Development Grant Program for a visitor center and rodeo museum.
“This is the kind of change that is generational for the city of Sikeston,” Burner said.
Kehoe and Rehder also spoke at Thursday’s celebration in downtown Sikeston, expressing their pride in Sikeston.
“The variety of projects that were funded through this grant is a reflection on the people,” Kehoe said. “The things you’re doing down here to attract visitors, to maintain visitors don’t happen by accident, that happens by the community working together.”
Rehder is from Sikeston, and she said how proud she was of the city and spoke about the entire process.
“These grants are managed from the ground, and putting together the grant process is very difficult and lengthy, and it takes pulling in a lot of people,” Rehder said. “This is just a pretty dang big deal.”
Marcie Lawson, president and CEO of the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation, spoke as well, thanking the speakers.
“Without the vision of Lt. Gov. Kehoe, the passion of Sen. Rehder, and the flexibility within the department of economic development, none of this would be possible, so thank you,” Lawson said.
At the ceremony, Lawson continued to discuss her thoughts on the grant process.
“I feel like I’m coaching a team led by (college football coach) Bear Bryant,” Lawson said. “I’ve been in this new position right at a year now, but having worked for the chamber for five years before that, I can honestly say that I’m not at all surprised to be here today.”
Lawson went on to remark that it wasn’t easy and praised everyone who contributed to make this happen.
“It was the willingness of everyone to put in the work, regardless of who got the credit,” Lawson said. “That has me standing here today in front of you celebrating $9.3 million dollars coming to our community.”