South Central Ozark Council of Governments

Congratulations to Darci Malam! The leadership program empowers fellows with the tools, experiences, and networks needed to address local and regional challenges. Sessions led by local, regional, and national experts cover policy areas such as infrastructure and transportation, small business and entrepreneurship, workforce development, public health, and other fields necessary to facilitate economic growth

One of three recently awarded tornado safe room projects in our seven county region. The planned multi-purpose facility at Cabool Middle School will serve as a band & music classroom and provide protection for approximately 600 students and staff during severe weather events.

Thayer, Missouri 1915. YMCA building (left) and a busy Frisco Yards & Station in the distance.

Great work by Grant Writer Sarah Callahan and Project Administrator Jessica Paulk! City street improvement was a critical need in Norwood.

Mountain Grove in southeastern Wright County became a railroad "boom town" after the Gulf Railroad came through. This colorized pic shows the town just a few years after the town began to grow rapidly.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE The Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission (OFRPC) and the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments (SCOCOG) will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 1:00 pm at the Van Buren Youth and Community Center located at 1204 D Highway, Van Buren, Missouri 63965 to discuss the submission of a multi-jurisdictional application for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Mitigation (MIT) program. OFRPC and SCOCOG are interested in ...obtaining all citizens’ input on community development needs within the region. As part of the hearing process, citizens will be asked to verbally assist in the completion of a Needs Assessment document. The document will detail what the residents feel are the strengths and weaknesses of the community. Local participation is needed in order to reflect the true desires of the region as a whole, as well as comments relating to the proposed project application. Activities that are eligible for funding include the improvement of public works, public facilities, housing rehabilitation, and others allowed by law. At least 51% of the funds must be used to benefit low-and-moderate income persons. No displacement of persons will be proposed. The Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission, the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments, along with the counties of Carter, Ripley, and Shannon, and the cities of Van Buren, Doniphan, and Eminence are requesting funds for the completion of a flood inundation study in partnership with the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The total project cost is estimated at $800,000. The CDBG portion of the project is approximately $750,000 ($125,000 per participating jurisdiction) with approximately $50,000 being proposed as match from the USGS. The project, if funded, will meet the urgent need mitigation national objective. All citizens, including those in the targeted area, are encouraged to attend in order to comment on the proposed activities. For more information on the proposed project, contact Crystal Jones, OFRPC Executive Director at 573-785-6402.

Echo Bluff State Park (located in Eminence, MO) can be enjoyed year-round with outdoor activities like fishing, swimming, and hiking in the warm months and the modern cabins and lodge to enjoy inside!

Missouri Real-Time Labor Market Summaries Real-Time Labor Market Summaries show an analysis of current job demand based on online job postings over the last 3 months. Data for this analysis has been extracted using Burning Glass Technologies, Labor/Insight tool that collects information from over 35,000 web sources, including job boards, newspapers, and large and small employer websites. ... https://meric.mo.gov//south-central-real-time-labor-market

Organizations eligible for this grant are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, excluding hospitals, schools, and animal charities. Funds can be used to cover hazard pay for direct health care workers, leasing additional space for social distancing, cost of testing, program payroll and supply expenses related to increased demand for nonprofit services, direct assistance to individuals and families, and more. The maximum grant request is initially limited to $250,000 and organizations applying must show a direct link between the COVID-19 crisis and their ability to provide services or a significant increase in demand for services by the community. Applicants must also demonstrate incurred costs or anticipated costs between March 1 and November 15, 2020.

The Missouri Development Finance Board announced the new Small Communities Operating Capital Loan Relief Program for Missouri municipalities with populations of... under 25,000. This program will help address projected fund shortfalls due to #COVID19, and will allow local governments to continue providing critical services to their citizens. Learn more: https://www.mdfb.org/Programs.html See more

BREAKING NEWS: Congress passed the Great American Outdoors Act, helping to protect and preserve our national parks & public lands. This historic legislation invests up to $6 billion in nontaxpayer funds to make repairs and upgrades to national parks. It also fully funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which provides a critical source of funding for the protection of natural resources & for outdoor recreation projects - including local parks, playgrounds, greenways, trails, urban wildlife refuges, & open spaces. Next - off to the The White House for the President to sign!

The Missouri Technology Corporation announced the new Coworking and Incubator Grant that will provide $1 million for eligible coworking and incubator facilities.... #TeamDED is excited to help these organizations safely provide their resources to #MO entrepreneurs and startups! Learn more: http://ow.ly/IAjo50AF64h See more

On July 2, the House of Representatives passed the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act, a $130 billion package for school upgrades and repairs that is part of a broad $1.5 trillion infrastructure package called the Moving Forward Act. For decades, underserved students and educators have spent nearly every day in school facilities with outdated air filtration, air conditioning, and roofing systems that endanger their health, said House Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. Bobby Scott during the floor debate of the Moving Forward Act.