The DREAM Initiative

Near the center of Downtown Chillicothe, Missouri, sits Silver Moon Plaza. Much like many other downtowns, Chillicothe lost a building in its square, leaving an open lot void that sticks out like a sore thumb. This area became a focal point during the development of a downtown strategic plan funded by the DREAM Initiative.

The Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) Initiative was a program that provided technical and financial assistance for communities to develop a Downtown Strategic Plan and work toward the implementation of that plan. During the 10 years of its existence, the program assisted 39 communities in reimagining their downtown areas.

Through Chillicothe’s Downtown Strategic Plan, a design to fill the void with a plaza was created by the consultant developing the plan. The community got behind the idea, and the Silver Moon Plaza was constructed. Since then, the plaza has hosted a number of activities, including the opening concert location each year for Sliced Bread Day and the Sliced Jam Bluegrass Festival. In 2020, the plaza won a Great Places Award from the Missouri Chapter of the American Planning Association.

What was the Dream Initiative?

Missouri Governor Roy Blunt created the Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) Initiative in 2006. The program was created with the intent to help communities jumpstart downtown revitalization efforts. It was a unique effort that teamed the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Development Finance Board, and the Missouri Housing Development Commission together in an effort to help communities with their downtowns.

The initiative targeted six to 10 communities to assist over a three-year period. The program shepherded cities through a comprehensive process that is targeted to logically move communities from planning to implementation. The first step the initiative takes with a community is to help develop a plan for downtown revitalization. These plans address a variety of aspects for downtowns, from business development to job creation, affordable housing, historic preservation, and infrastructure needs.

The partnership with the three different Missouri agencies opened up options for the communities involved. Each of the agencies involved had a variety of funds and technical assistance opportunities that they could bring to the table. The DREAM Initiative helped to inform communities about the availability of the programs and their applicability to make an impact on their downtown redevelopment efforts.

DREAM’s Lasting Impacts

Unfortunately, the DREAM Initiative lasted only 10 years, but it did create a lasting impact for 39 communities in Missouri.

The City of Cape Girardeau was awarded the designation in 2006. During their time as a DREAM community, they have crafted a Downtown Strategic Plan. Cape Girardeau also raised over $2.5M in grants from a variety of agencies involved. Through these 11 grants, the City was able to kickstart a variety of projects in and around its downtown. This includes the revitalization of the Fountain Street Corridor.

The City of Neosho, in southwest Missouri, became a DREAM community in 2006.  In part because of the DREAM program, the community has received a variety of grants and tax credits that have helped with several projects. One of the projects involved constructing a system of trails and walkways that connect important sites. The trail system will link destinations like the National Fish Hatchery and Hickory Creek Trout Stream.

In the City of Hermann, the program helped to find funding to renovate the Rotunda, an octagonal-shaped former exhibition hall that is on the National Register of Historic Places. The program also jump-started some streetscape improvements for this historic town along the Missouri River.

A Viable Program for Your State?

As stated before, the DREAM program ended after 10 years. It had mixed reviews, but it appears that most of the communities that were assisted appreciated the assistance for their downtowns. But is the DREAM Initiative a model for the creation of a similar program in your state? Yes, it certainly should be. The initiative helped a number of communities that were seeking help for their downtowns in Missouri.