Springfield Business Journal_2021-06-07

b y Emily Cole · ecole@sbj.net After almost a year of planning, city staff presented the Renew Jordan Creek master plan to Springfield City Council during a luncheon on June 1. The plan was developed by Ols- son Inc. after a series of public comment periods to gather what residents wanted in an urban park designed around Jordan Creek. While one goal of the plan is placemaking and attracting new amenities downtown, the primary goal of Renew Jordan Creek is flood mitigation and stormwater improvements, along with day- lighting the creek, or bringing it to the surface, said Olsson project manager Jared Rasmussen. The first phase, estimated at $7 million, is funded through Springfield’s level property tax, according to past Springfield Business Journal re- porting. Construction is anticipated to begin in late summer 2022. The primary Renew Jordan Creek site is between Boonville and Main avenues, from east to west, and Mill and Water streets, north to south. Campbell Avenue runs through the middle, and Missouri State Universi- ty’s Brick City is on the northern edge across Mill Street. The area is flood-prone, and officials say planned im- provements would allow the creek to be regulated as it passes through downtown. “One of the main goals of this project is to try to get these flood elevations down to where the buildings adjacent in the down- town area are below the base flood elevation of a 100-year flow,” Ras- mussen said. “That’s what we’re working toward.” At its regular meeting on June 1, council approved the purchase of 237 W. Mill St. and 353 N. Camp- bell Ave. for about $991,000. The sites are currently parking lots owned by Missouri State Univer- sity and make up the main Renew Jordan Creek site. The plan also proposes improvements at Founders Park and further west at 404 N. Jefferson Ave., a 3.44- acre property also recently purchased by the city. by Emily Cole · ecole@sbj.net A program recently launched by the U.S. Small Business Ad- ministration will utilize community partnerships to assist the country’s smallest and most underserved businesses by distrib- uting $100 million in grants. The Community Navigator Pilot Program, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, will utilize a “hub and spoke” approach, said Ram Basnet, manager of the SBA’s Springfield branch. “The hubs are going to apply, but their application package will identify spokes,” Basnet said. “The hubs are the central or- ganizations, and the spokes are local organizations in the com- munity.” Under the model, hub organizations would design and offer small-business assistance programming with the aid of spoke organizations. The goal is to reach small, rural businesses that have been un- derserved and to boost equity in access to services, Basnet said. “We have seen that previous rounds of economic relief last year helped many small businesses stay afloat. But too many minority-owned businesses and rural businesses found themselves at the end of the line while larger, well-connect- ed businesses accessed programs right away,” Basnet said. “It’s important that the program will strengthen outreach to underserved businesses by partnering with organizations with deep roots in their communities.” Eligible organizations include nonprofits, economic develop- ment organizations, Native American tribal organizations and SBA resource partners, including Small Business Development Olsson presents city with master plan for Renew Jordan Creek project SBA establishes $100M competitive grant program A new public comment period will commence June 7 Initiative will award community hubs for distribution to small businesses C I T Y B E AT from the June 1 City Council Meeting • City staff introduces $394.6M fiscal 2022 budget. • Council considers establishing 2022 tax levy. Full City Council coverage is at SBJ.net/citybeat Plans for the main Renew Jordan Creek site, seen here looking west from Boonville Avenue and Mill Street, include urban park amenities like plaza space and observation platforms. provided by CITY OF SPRINGFIELD Ram Basnet: The Community Navigator program aims for equity of access to services. SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 3 JUNE 7-13, 2021 NEWS IN THIS ISSUE A dog park and bar that also offers boarding is open in east Springfield. PAGE 5 A pivot to fine art reproduction work saves the day at TCI Grap hics.. PAGE 6 Vol. 41 No. 46 Editorial Vice President Eric Olson welcomes back in-person events - with caution for participating businesses. OPINION PAGE 23 That’s my baby. I’m almost offended when people ask. The gym is my life , and I could not sell it.” —Audrey Pauls of Zenith Climbing Center, on questions of selling her business as she plans to move to Illinois for law school PAGE 7 QUOTE OF THE WEEK See SBA on page 17 See COUNCIL on page 25