AARP Missouri and Missouri Main Street Connection (MMSC) are excited to announce that West Plains Downtown Revitalization Inc. has been awarded a $10,000 placemaking grant, funded by AARP Missouri. This grant opportunity, launched in September 2024 at the “Pop-Up or Permanent – Placemaking Makes a Difference” workshop that took place in Sedalia, MO. Community members representing nonprofit organizations that focused on revitalization gathered at this workshop to learn more about enhancing their community through placemaking and to learn about applying for funding to implement a creative placemaking project that would enhance their community. Following the workshop, AARP Missouri and MMSC received grant applications from 18 communities and selected the winner in December of 2024.
West Plains Downtown Revitalization Inc. will use the grant to complete a project initiated in July 2024, which involves permanently closing three one-way alleyways in the historic downtown district. The goal is to transform these alleyways into well-lit, pedestrian-friendly spaces that connect parking areas to shopping districts, enhancing community livability.
