Kahoka Awarded $127,269 Grant For Downtown Beautification
Kahoka Awarded $127,269 Grant For Downtown Beautification
HANNIBAL, MO — The City of Kahoka will receive $127,269 in federal enhancement funds for the Downtown Enhancement and Beautification project. This project is one of 8 funded through a program that provided more than $1.18 million in dedicated funds to MoDOT’s Northeast District for scenic beautification and other local projects that enhance transportation.
The City of Kahoka Downtown Enhancement and Beautification Project will remove and replace the existing sidewalks along the Kahoka City Square in the downtown area. The City of Kahoka will share in the cost of the project.
"The transportation enhancement program has made many improvements possible that wouldn’t have otherwise been funded," said Bob Manzke, MoDOT transportation planning specialist.
MoDOT allocates transportation enhancement funds to each area of the state based on population. The money is provided under federal transportation law requiring ten percent of federal Surface Transportation Program funds be used for local transportation enhancement projects. MoDOT has worked with communities to fund more than 200 enhancement projects in the last two years.
“We did not get the complete grant we applied for,” City Assistant Jim Sherwood told the council. “The grant is for sidewalk work on the east and west sides of the square, and through the park.”
The grant application included a welcome center building to be constructed in the city-owned vacant lot on the north side of the square.
“I think its pretty well known that I’m not upset that the welcome center was removed,” added Mayor Pro-Tem Jerry Webber, who favors selling the lot for commercial development, which he hopes will generate tax and utility revenue for the city.
“The next step will be to select an engineer, and to get the project plans developed,” Sherwood said. That process, and MoDOT approval of the plans, mean the project could take anywhere from 18-24 before it starts.
