Cape gets $370,000 DREAM grant for parking lot

Gov. Matt Blunt today announced that the city of Cape Girardeau has been approved for a $370,800 Community Development Block Grant.

"I am pleased we are able to help the Cape Girardeau community with this important effort to enhance its quality of life," Gov. Blunt said. "We continue to actively assist Cape Girardeau and other DREAM communities that are working diligently to build on their strengths and seek new opportunities to revitalize their downtown business centers to create and retain jobs."

The grant is intended to add a parking lot to the northern side of the downtown area, with ADA accessible spaces; restrooms in the downtown area and landscaping.

Marla Mills, executive director for Old Town Cape, said the grant is a perfect example of what can happen with community organizations work with the city. She said matching funds from the city and other agencies will bring the project's total cost to nearly $500,000. The parking lot will add "45 to 50" spaces, she said, but the final number depends on the lot design.

Gov. Blunt launched the DREAM initiative to help small and mid-sized Missouri communities navigate through the various downtown revitalization, business development and residential resources available through state government to further help those communities with downtown revitalization and job creation efforts.

The grant is from the Missouri Department of Economic Development , which works closely with the Missouri Housing Development Commission and the Missouri Development Finance Board to provide close assistance to the selected communities.

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