By MATT PIKE
Near the end of this month, the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce will welcome in local legislators during its Public Affairs Coffee.
Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn says this is an opportunity to hear from area legislators about this year's Missouri Legislative Session.
"We will have our state reps and state senators, many of which are now going to be termed out, to kind of talk about the legislative session and what their experience has been in Jefferson City, and what's next," Hawn says on the KFEQmunnity show.
Two measures that passed during this legislative session that may be discussed during the event focus on downtown revitalization efforts.
"House Bill 3231 and House Bill 3080, those passed and those are both geared towards, one historic tax credits and ability to do historic rehabs, and that one effects not just downtowns but any historic projects, so for example what's happening at the corner of Frederick and 36, the Woodson project," Hawn explains, And then House Bill 3231 is for innovation zones, so we will be able to use that in downtown for revitalization."
Hawn says House Bill 3231 gives some extra financial incentive for people to look downtown for those revitalization efforts. She says making sure downtown is a focus is important, because that's where people and new businesses tend to look when considering coming to St. Joseph.
"Because that's where your uniqueness, that's where your local shops tend to go," Hawn says. "Your chains they play a role and they're important, there are folks that do want the Chipotle's of the world, but there is something different about your local shops, and those tend to live in your main streets and your downtown."
The Public Affairs Coffee will be held on June 30th at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Cene on Tuesday, June 30th at 7:30am. You can register at StJoseph.Com by June 24th.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.