Jefferson City is getting more than $2.5 million in state funding to support two community development projects.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development on Wednesday announced it awarded Cole County EMS $2 million to build a new station downtown and Transformation Housing $575,760 to renovate 101 Jackson St. into apartments for temporary housing.
"It's huge," Transformational Housing Vice President Mark Kiekhaefer said. "Huge!"
Transformational Housing is using the complete grant from the state to renovate the building at 101 Jackson St., which the nonprofit took ownership of in April.
Kiekhaefer said he's expecting an 18- to 24-month renovation process to turn the historic building into two three- bedroom apartments and three two- bedroom apartments for a total of five new housing units. The nonprofit is also looking to create a parking lot at 504 E. State St. to provide off-street parking for the apartments. The exterior of 101 Jackson St. will be repaired to maintain the historic nature of the neighborhood, according to applications to the city.
The apartments will be used as transitional housing for low-income people moving to more stable living conditions. The renovation process and resulting apartments will be similar to what Transformation Housing did at 203 Cherry St., Kiekhaefer said.
The nonprofit is also receiving a grant from United Way on Thursday, which Kiekhaefer said will be used to complete the first step of repairing and securing the roof on 101 Jackson St. Leaks in the roof after the 2019 tornado caused water damage, he said.
"It'll be a little more time consuming than our work at 203 Cherry, but again we're thrilled to have this grant money," Kiekhaefer said.
Transformational Housing spent roughly $325,000 renovating the building on Cherry Street and relied on donations from local churches, individuals and banks to do it. Kiekhaefer said the project costs at 101 Jackson St. will be close to the amount of funding the nonprofit is receiving in grants to complete it.
The nonprofit is still looking for volunteers to help with some renovation work and coaching the transitional residents that will be staying in the apartments once complete.
"Our project fits what the goal of those monies were to be used for, so we feel that we're right in line with what they wanted that money used for," Kiekhaefer said.
Transformational Housing was one of 41 projects the Missouri Department of Economic Development funded with 41.2 million in Community Development Block Grants. Funding for the grants came from the state's regular Community Development Block Grant program, said Amy Berendzen, communications director for the department. Berendzen said the department will be releasing guidelines for Community Revitalization Grants funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars shortly.
Cole County EMS is also receiving a Community Development Block Grant from the state, city and county officials announced in April.
The Missouri Department of Economic Development approved a $2 million grant to fund construction of a new EMS station across from the county jail on Adams Street.
Jefferson City applied for the grant because the new station will be located within the city, and it received the full amount allowed under the grant program.
The projected $2.8 million construction project will be largely covered by the grant. Remaining costs will be covered by the half-cent sales tax for the EMS service.
The 11,250-square-foot facility will be a two-level station with three bays and allow Cole County EMS to have two ambulances operating in Jefferson City's downtown area around the clock.
EMS Chief Eric Hoy said he hopes to break ground on the facility by the end of the year.