Millions of Grant Dollars to Create Jobs
joe arce and tony balandran

A $50 million grant coming to Kansas City’s urban core was something for government officials to celebrate last week, but some local contractors trying to keep their businesses alive were skeptical.

“I haven’t seen it yet,” said Michael Anthony Richardson, owner of MRD Construction. “I’m one of those guys who doesn’t feel fortunate until it’s in my hands.”

Richardson was one of dozens of area contractors who attended a coalition of stakeholders gathered in Kansas City.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II organized the gathering to talk about the $50 million allocated through the federal stimulus package to make vast improvements to what is called the Green Impact Zone of Missouri.

This designated section of the city is bounded by 39th Street on the north, 51st Street on the south, Troost Avenue on the west and Prospect Avenue to 47th Street over to Swope Parkway on the east. Directly affected are the neighborhoods of Ivanhoe, Blue Hills, 49/63 and Manheim and Town Fork Creek, some of the city’ strongest neighborhood organizations.

Money will be used for significant projects, including a bus rapid transit line along Troost Avenue, bridge repair, job training, beautification work along Brush Creek, neighborhood safety programs and numerous home improvements.

Richardson said he attended the workshop at Penn Valley Community College to hear about the Green Impact Zone and about other lucrative projects available through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Small Business Administration.

Through it all, however, he was curbing his enthusiasm about the opportunities.

“I’m trying to get people back to work,” he said. “They say work is coming to Kansas City. To me, it’s candy-coated until it actually happens. Until I see it, this is nothing more to me than an information process.”

Cleaver said administration officials have told him work in the Green Impact Zone has a bright, green light.

“I understand the apprehension (among contractors),” Cleaver told Hispanic News. “People in minority communities and contractors have seen money come into the city over the years only to watch it dissipate and not participate in it at all.

“What I’m saying is that this is guaranteed. This is a new day. We have never had this kind of money spent in the urban core. And I’ve never been a congressman when opportunities surface like this. We are on top of it.”

Cleaver said the money for the projects will go through the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) instead of the state department of transportation and “that alone eliminates a lot of bureaucracy.”

“Make no mistake, contractors are going to make money off that $50 million grant, there is no question in my mind. The only question is how equipped are all the contractors to come with the bonding that is required,” he said. “Our goal is that when the weather breaks, we intend to start construction. There will not be any delays. There is no need for any delays. There won’t be any bureaucrats getting in the way.”

U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said the workshop was designed to connect prime contractors with local small enterprises looking for work.

“What we wanted to do is put every procurement person in the Department of Homeland Security in Kansas City so rather than knock on 22 doors, you have everybody in front of you.” Thompson said. “Homeland Security conducts a lot of business and this is an opportunity to spread it around.”

He said the overall message of the workshop is that the federal government is ready for business, but that the local enterprises must pursue the business and know what is required.

Area contractor Rick Gill of GC Missouri LLC said the workshop has made him realize the process to get a contract is simpler than what he thought.

Gill added that his business is a general contractor specializing in interior finishing — a business that can employ between 40 and 50 people, depending on the job.

“I’m trying to get my business back off the ground,” Gill said. “I just hope to get a small piece (of the $50 million) and I would be happy.”