American Rescue Plan Act brought nearly $100 million to Joplin city projects

(From the City of Joplin)

The past several years have been historic for the City of Joplin in terms of major projects that were made possible by federal grant money awarded following the 2020 pandemic.

The three programs – the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (B.I.L.), and the Inflation Reduction Act – all provided tens of millions of dollars to the City, which it strategically used to address needs and take a “bigger and better” approach to the projects already planned.

Now, as Joplin prepares to finish the punch list of projects that will receive the final grant dollars, City officials are reflecting on the unprecedented level of major project development that has benefited citizens.

With the help of its consulting firm Guidehouse, the City spent three years aggressively applying for more than 50 grants, and proving its history of financial responsibility, legitimate project needs and workable plans for the funds. In the end, Joplin was awarded 26 of the grants it applied for, adding nearly $58 million in federal money.

Leslie Haase, the City’s director of Finance, said it was an incredible process to match up the City’s plans with potential grant awards.

“The reason we were able to capture these grants is because of the master plans developed by the departments, as well as our unfunded needs list,” Haase said. “If we had not been prepared and didn’t have those plans, we would not have been successful in getting these grants. Cities really do have to be ready because you never know when the opportunities will happen. I look back, and there have been other times when we needed to have shovel-ready projects to apply for grants. There is value in the planning.”

When adding the City’s required matching funds of nearly $34 million, the total approved project costs have been $97.3 million. To put this into perspective, it would have taken the City 12 years to raise that much through the Capital Improvement Sales tax, which was renewed by voters in April 2024. It has been a unique chapter in Joplin’s story, enabling the City to implement an unusual number and size of projects within just a few years.

All of the ARPA and B.I.L. grant-funded projects are in progress, if not completed already. Those projects include:

Projects to improve infrastructure:

Nearing Completion: Widening & improvement of 20th Street from Schifferdecker to Central City
Nearing Completion: Widening & Improvement of Zora Street from Range Line Road nearly to I-49 (Governor’s Grant)
Completed: 8 separate stormwater improvement projects to address flash flooding issues.
Completed: Extending drinking water to residents along Zora, 7th Street, and County Road 180.
Completed: Wastewater system improvements at 12th & Iowa
Completed: Sustainable Transit Structure Study

Projects to expand economic opportunities:

In Progress: Citywide Broadband Implementation
Completed: MSSU Health Science Innovation Center
Completed: Community Revitalization through down payment assistance, home repairs, and demolitions.
In Progress: Lead Remediation for residential homes
In Progress: Recycling Outreach & Education



Projects to improve public safety:

Completed: Better radio system for first responders so they can communicate efficiently with agencies across the entire state
Completed: Various improvements being made to the Justice Center building which houses our Police, Fire, 911 dispatch and municipal court
Completed: Emergency medical service equipment
Completed: Additional body cameras for Police
Completed: A second set of turnout gear for Firefighters
Completed: Cybersecurity equipment and training


Projects to improve parks, trails and beautification:
Completed: MOmentum Bike Park
In Progress: Grand Falls Trail (TAP Grant)
Completed: Tin Cup Bridge & Trail
In Progress: Parr Hill Park Improvements
Beginning Soon: Additional Trail Amenities across the city
Beginning Soon: Streetscaping on Main Street between 8th and 15th street (HUD Grant)

What’s left: Trail Improvements and Streetscaping

Two projects – the addition of trail amenities across City parks and streetscaping on Main Street between 8th and 15th Streets – are set to begin soon.

Paul Bloomberg, director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Joplin, said a Recreation Trails Grant will improve 12 Joplin parks through the addition of wayfinding signs that will be placed along the trails. Those parks will also receive 80 park benches, as well as tire fix-it stations and bicycle racks for cyclists.

The final phase of streetscaping on Joplin’s Main Street will also begin in the coming months. Over the past several years, the City completed streetscaping Downtown (1st-8th Streets) and Southtown (15th-32nd Streets). Midtown (8th-15th Streets) is the final section, and will include new sidewalks with decorative concrete, benches, trees, and other beautifications.

Rob Beachner, capital improvements project manager for Public Works, said staff have been working toward a public meeting within the next several weeks that will give business owners and citizens a chance to review plans and ask questions. Sprouls Construction will deliver the $5 million project.

While the City awaits word on its final grant application and the last stretch of projects get started, Haase said Joplin’s patience with the process and ability to be prepared have allowed the City to make incredible strides.

“We were smart throughout the process, and it has paid off for Joplin,” she said.