By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Federal funds totaling $2.5 million have been awarded to the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce through an Industrial Site Development Program, run by the Missouri State Department of Economic Development.
The funds will be used to help extend sewer and water lines to the EastTowne Business Park located near the intersection of Pickett Road and Riverside Road.
Vice President of Economic Development Brad Lau says it's important to get this work done as potential new businesses are always looking for ground prepared to break.
"When a company is looking at doing a project, they want a shovel ready site, they don't want the delays associated with installing the sanitary sewer infrastructure that's necessary," Lau tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post.
Lau says there are many sectors of businesses that could be interested in this land to develop.
"A lot of that is associated to unskilled light manufacturing, as well as distribution, and kind of our food clusters," Lau explains.
Lau also says that area could be used for business expansion, with Boehringer Ingelheim and Schuetz containers already expanding to that area
"So those are two businesses that needed a site to build new buildings in order to grow their businesses," Lau says.
Phase Two of the project will be located on the east side of Route AC and will add water and sewer infrastructure to the area.
The Chamber has also received a $2.7 million grant that will help with road improvements in that area through the Governors Cost Share Program.
Lau says these two pair together well because both will help prepare that area for new businesses.
"Provides a critical link now for area businesses in east town as well as Altec and those residents to have an alternate way to get to US36 Highway," Lau says. "It also provides, obviously, a much-needed roadway for other acreage in that area."
The money from the Governors Cost Share program will improve the area of Pickett Road to the east of Route AC and Ag Expo Way to U.S. Highway 36.