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Booneville council approves $500,000 CDBG award for Academic Hall childcare renovation
Summary
The City Council approved a resolution authorizing a Community Development Block Grant agreement with the Missouri Department of Economic Development to provide $500,000 toward renovating Academic Hall for childcare use; councilmembers discussed project costs, funding sources and timeline.
The Booneville City Council on Feb. 3 approved a resolution authorizing an agreement with the Missouri Department of Economic Development to accept a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for renovating Academic Hall to provide childcare facilities.
City staff said the CDBG award is intended to close part of an inflation-driven funding shortfall on the project. City staff member Kate told the council the project has a roughly $2,000,000 shortfall and that the $500,000 grant “is gonna help close the gap.” She said the project’s estimated total cost is $6,300,000 and that the city plans to provide the remaining funds, roughly $5,700,000, from a mix of sources including gaming/use tax, parks, stormwater and other capital-improvement funds.
The council discussed timing and funding options. Kate said this year will likely be spent on design and that construction would not likely begin until the next fiscal year. She also said the $6,300,000 estimate has not been bid and might come down as plans are finalized.
Council members and staff noted the project responds to local childcare needs and workforce restraints. The city’s economic developer told the council that childcare availability and affordable housing are top concerns for local manufacturers and employers; the developer and staff characterized Academic Hall’s renovation as part of a longer-term effort to support workforce and community needs.
The council voted to approve the resolution. Roll-call responses recorded in the meeting transcript include: Davis — yes; Atkinson — no; Young — yes; Coward — yes; Elbert — no; Venable — yes. The motion and second were recorded before the roll call; the minutes show the resolution passed.
City staff said they will execute the grant agreement after council approval and continue refining project cost estimates and design work this year.
The grant agreement authorizes the mayor and city clerk to sign the CDBG contract with the Missouri Department of Economic Development; the council’s resolution cites the city’s previously approved application and commitment of matching funds.
