Newsletter · The Commission
GHRPC Newsletter, Issue #5, First Quarter 2024
All 11 counties
The text of this document
The Regional Report January—March 2024 STAY TUNED... •
End of Fiscal year 23-24
RISE
Code Enforcement
CDBG
WIOA
TAC
Solid Waste District B
What’s Inside: Code Enforcement RISE Meeting
WIOA News SW-District B News CDBG News Transportation HMP
GREEN HILLS REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION
Executive Director’s Column: April 2024
On March 1, 2024, I celebrated my 3rd work anniversary with Green Hills Regional Planning Commission. It has been such a remarkable experience learning about the organization and the communities we serve. Celebrating a work anniversary is a good time to reflect on accomplishments, but also to plan goals for the future. My focus this year is to support downtown revitalization across the region. As an Economic Development District (EDD) we GHRPC is engaging in downtown revitalization in many ways. Our work with local communities follows a variety of pathways, including assisting Main Street Efforts, facilitation, funding, and implementation. Below are a few areas I will focus on in the upcoming months and years. Downtown Planning: We engage with our communities through downtown planning. We recognize that vibrant and active downtown areas are essential for entrepreneurship, placemaking, and enhancements of cultural amenities; however, many of our communities have suffered from disinvestment and vacancies in the streetscape. Focusing on engaging residents and stakeholders, collecting data, and performing retail visioning is essential to our work. Facilitation: As an EDD, GHRPC is a connector, building social capital by bringing communities, businesses, and institutions together. Facilitating discussion around downtown development is a key role for EDDs. Funding and Implementation: One of the major ways we invest time in energy is assisting our communities with the funding required to make projects happen. To be honest, I could dedicated 100% of GHRPC staff time to this, and we would still not have enough staff to do all the work that our communities need. We assist in funding and implementation of a wide variety of downtown projects from redevelopment of downtown buildings to assisting with matching funds for façade improvement programs.
GHRPC plays an important role in our communities, and we have a broad view of the larger region. We look forward to contributing to downtown redevelopment in a variety of ways that make sense given our strengths.
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Code Enforcement Program 2023 was definitely a successful year for GHRPC's new Code Enforcement Program, but I'd say 2024 will be even better! Just in January - March of this year, I, Code Enforcement Officer Carly Taul, met with 10 cities and more than half chose to contract with us and let me begin enforcing their municipal codes. I can't speak for those communities, but I can say that the feedback that I get back is usually very positive and these cities have really began noticing a change in the looks of their communities. I foresee this program growing and possibly other RPC's borrowing the idea and creating their own Code Enforcement Programs. If your community is interested in this program and has not been contacted yet, I definitely encourage reaching out so we can meet and make plans to get your community cleaned up!
RISE— 3/19 Meeting The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission proudly celebrated National Agriculture Day with a momentous gathering at the Chillicothe Sliced Bread Innovation Center on March 19, 2024. Teaming up with MOSourceLink, we orchestrated a dynamic workshop aimed at fortifying agricultural-related enterprises through collaboration with our esteemed resource partners. This event served as a pivotal platform for tackling challenges and devising strategic solutions to bolster small businesses in the sector. Aligned with the Show Me Jobs and Rural Innovation Stronger Economy (RISE) program, our initiative is meticulously crafted to cultivate job growth, amplify sales, nurture startup ventures, and foster a cascade of positive economic outcomes. By emphasizing value-added agriculture and empowering local entrepreneurs, we are dedicated to propelling rural innovation and paving the way for a flourishing agricultural landscape in our region.
WIOA News: Grand River Welding Institute Lunch On Friday March 8th the Trenton, Chillicothe, and Kirksville WIOA Staff were invited to attend a luncheon and tour at the Grand River Welding Institute in Brookfield. WIOA Staff took photos and shared some insight into the Grand River Welding Institute. They went on a tour after the luncheon and was shown the new addition to the school. “Grand River Welding Institute is a post-secondary trade school in Missouri that has an emphasis on stainless steel pipe welding. GRWl’s welding program consist of four major welding procedures to become a certified pipe welder. Students will be instructed by field-experienced personnel qualified by GRWl’s weld testing and field knowledge experience.” The WIOA program assists individuals in attending the Institute and have a good partnership with Grand River Welding Institute.
Solid Waste—District B
District B is holding their 2nd annual Earth Day Poster contest. The theme is “Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle” For more detailed information and an application please see our website at www.ghrpc.org. Thank you!
T-Mobile Hometown Grants https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants
The application for T-Mobile Hometown Gants now open! Through T-Mobile Hometown Grants, towns with a population of 50,000 or less can get up to $50,000 to bring your community projects to life. The program will help fund projects to build, rebuild, or refresh community spaces that help foster local connections in your town. For example, a historic building, an outdoor park, a ball field, or a library – every town has places where friends and neighbors connect. The current grant cycle is now open and will close on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
CDBG NEWS CDBG Application Cycle Opens April 8, 2024 GHRPC staff are currently working with several communities to develop competitive applications. Please contact us at 660-359-5636 or frontdesk@ghrpc.org if you have any questions or have a project to discuss. CDBG is accepting applications for the following categories:
Community Facilities This program helps Missouri communities construct facilities that will serve a large portion of the public with a variety of services. With education and health/well-being programs taking priority, communities can utilize this program to construct senior centers, day care centers, rural health clinics, telecommunications, and 911 services, among others. Maximum Award: $500,000 General Infrastructure This program helps Missouri communities strengthen their local economy by improving local public infrastructure, streets, drainage, and bridges. Reliable and sustainable infrastructure helps support the business community as well as residents. Maximum Award: $500,000 Demolition
These grants help Missouri communities with demolition of vacant, dilapidated structures (primarily residential) in blighted areas and that present safety hazards. Maximum Award: $200,000 residential only or $300,000 with commercial structures. Municipalities that have received previous demolition grants CAN apply again.
Transportation
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Advisory Committee News MoDOT is currently taking applications for projects to be funded using Rural Statewide Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funds. This program will award $18.3 million in federal TAP funds. TAP focuses on non-traditional transportation projects like sidewalks, walking trails, biking trails, as well as safetyrelated infrastructure projects. The deadline for application submittal is April 26th, 2024. Please contact Lisa Colson or Amanda George for more information about this program.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan that is currently in development is for Chariton County. The first
Hazard Mitigation Planning News
draft of this plan will be submitted on or before
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission has completed the Hazard Mitigation Plan for Mercer County. It has been approved by SEMA and has been forwarded to FEMA for final approval. Once a plan is approved by FEMA, the county will be eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants.
January 25, 2025.
810 Washington St Trenton, MO 64683 Phone: 660-359-5636 Fax: 660-776-3900
The Green Hills Regional Planning Commission (GHRPC), located in Trenton, MO, is one of nineteen organizations operating as a sub-state planning and development agency serving the State of Missouri. The Commission is organized as a voluntary association of local governments. The GHRPC retains a staff of professionals who work on projects intended to foster improved quality of life throughout the 11 county “Green Hills” region, which include: Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Putnam, and Sullivan counties.
Email: corinne@ghrpc.org
Mission Statement: Partner with rural communities to implement plans that promote a strong workforce and economic development by providing more housing, transportation and infrastructure choices, and protect natural resources for our region. Vision Statement: Improve social and economic climate and well-being of our region.
GHRPC ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES GHRPC’S organizational values are the guiding principles of our work. These values give us purpose and direction when interacting with our counties, cities, and community members: Innovation—Creating something new or improving existing programs and ideas. Teamwork—Work cooperatively as a group, team, and community. Excellence—Striving for the highest level of quality and performance.
Collaboration—Working as a region towards a common goal. Empowerment—Giving individuals and communities the tools and confidence needed to grow.
We’re on the web!! www.ghrpc.org
