Ozark, Mo. - The Missouri Department of Economic Development has awarded $1.97 million in grant funds to the City of Ozark. The funds will extend and connect 17th and 18th Streets east of Highway 65, providing improved infrastructure and transportation connectivity to residents, businesses, and users of the planned Chadwick Flyer regional trail system.
“We are thrilled with the announcement from DED and see the award in grant funds as validation of our local and regional transportation planning efforts, which have long identified transportation access in this area as a key strategic priority,” said City Administrator Eric Johnson.
These funds are awarded via the Industrial Infrastructure grant facilitated by MO DED’s Community Development Block Grant program. It provides a maximum of $2 million in funds per project. According to DED, this funding is intended to help communities develop public infrastructure that allows industries to locate new facilities, expand existing ones, and prevent the closing or relocating of facilities outside of Missouri.
“The CDBG program is proud to support the City of Ozark’s efforts to make critical improvements to its infrastructure and position itself for future growth,” said Brandon Jenson, CDBG Program Manager for the Department of Economic Development. “This project demonstrates what is possible when local, regional, state, and federal governments are aligned to address critical community needs.”
Extending and connecting 17th and 18th Streets has been featured in the following plans:
- OTO Major Thoroughfare Plan
- Ozark 25-Year Major Thoroughfare Plan
- 2016 Strategic Plan
- 2022 Longview Interchange Plan
- 2024 Corridor Plan
The road extension will cross the Chadwick Flyer Trail just south of the planned Highway 65 bike/pedestrian overpass. A portion of the grant will fund safety infrastructure for the trail crossing. The connected roads will support further development and provide transportation infrastructure for neighborhood commercial growth, benefiting trail users.
To secure the grant, Ozark partnered with three private companies—Creative Audio, Driven Fulfillment and Marketing, and Nail Supply, Inc.—marking the first time in Missouri that multiple firms have collaborated on such a project to boost private investment and job growth.
The project involved collaboration between several public and private partners:
- Ozark Special Road District: Design planning, ongoing ownership, and road maintenance.
- City of Ozark: Project coordination, fiscal oversight, and grant matching.
- Creative Audio, Driven Fulfillment and Marketing, and Nail Supply, Inc.: Private investment and job creation.
- Show Me Christian County: Grant writing and coordination with partners and the Missouri DED.
The City of Ozark thanks the Missouri Department of Economic Development and all partners for their ongoing support and collaboration. For additional information about this project, follow the city’s communications channels, including OzarkMissouri.com, its social media pages, and the monthly community newsletter.