Scott City officials seek state funds to help attract jobs

By MATT SANDERS

Southeast Missourian

The Scott City government will likely seek up to $200,000 in state funding to help bring in a new company that will create at least 50 new jobs over the next two years.

The city is seeking a Community Development Block Grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development to improve the city's sewer and storm water drainage systems to accommodate the needs of the new company.

A public hearing was held Monday afternoon at Scott City Hall to take public input on the application. City administrator Ron Eskew and Bootheel Regional Planning Commission Economic Development director Connie Duke were in attendance.

Eskew said the city is not yet ready to announce the name of the potential company. For the company to establish operations in Scott City the city will need approval of the block grant application, Eskew said.

Eskew said the company is a light industrial manufacturing firm that will supply materials to another manufacturer in the area. If the company comes to Scott City it will share a building with Arrowhead Steel Inc. at 503 Main St., he said.

The city needs the funds to extend sewer lines to that facility, which is currently serviced by septic tank, Eskew said. Storm water drainage improvements would be needed in the area surrounding the facility due to planned expansion, he said.

Duke said a stipulation of the funding is that 51 percent of those who benefit from the funds are low- to moderate-income. The top of the moderate income bracket as currently set by the state of Missouri is $26,000 per year for one person, Duke said. At least 51 percent of this company's employees would fit that criteria, she said.

If all application criteria are met, Duke said the city will receive the grant.

"The money is available at the state level, and this is not a competitive application process," she said.

Eskew said the city will likely match 20 percent of the overall grant.

An engineering study on the cost of the improvements is expected to be completed within the next two weeks, Eskew said. At that point the city council will need to pass a resolution granting the city permission to apply for the grant, which will happen at the council's Nov. 20 meeting, he said.

Ward 4 councilman Norman Brant said he believes the resolution will have the council's support.

msanders@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182