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The City of Columbia received a total of $25.2 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to address the public health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first half of this funding is designated for initiatives related to homelessness, community violence, behavioral crisis care mental health services, and workforce development. The City Council has requested the second half be allocated to priority areas identified by the community.
During June 2022, City employees surveyed every section of our community. Following the survey, we conducted focus groups. We wanted to hear from everyone who lives, works, or receives services in Columbia. Thanks to everyone who participated in this process.
- View the opens in a new windowfull report of the community engagement survey and focus groups.
- To learn more about the RFQ process visit opens in a new windowBeHeard.CoMo.gov.
- If you are interested in applying for funding, please complete this opens in a new windowGoogle document (external link) to receive a link to the application page along with a username and password.
- Please only request one username and password per agency.
Juneteenth History and Celebration
Juneteenth (short for “June Nineteenth”) marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. The troops’ arrival came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.
The day was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. Columbia City Council voted to approve the holiday in September 2021 and first observed the holiday in 2022.
Grant Opportunities for 2024 Juneteenth Events
Columbia has a long history of local celebrations organized by residents, including events centered on education, neighborhood BBQs and block parties, entrepreneur resource fairs, and a celebratory parade.
This year, for the first time, there is grant funding available to support these events. The City of Columbia has applied for and received grant funding from the Missouri Division of Tourism, which distributed funds to support Juneteenth celebrations across the state.
The application for funds opens PDF file is now available. This document contains general guidelines and instructions for the application. Paper applications are available at the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau (300 S. Providence Road) and the Gentry Building (1 South 7th St).
Applications opens PDF file may be emailed to [email protected]create new email or hand-delivered or mailed to the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau, 300 South Providence Road, Columbia, MO 65203. Applications are due by March 8. Applications will be reviewed by the Juneteeth Grant Evaluation Committee. Funding awards will be announced on or before March 29.
Workshop for Grant Applicants
There will be a workshop for applicants on Monday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m. at the Walton Building, 300 South Providence Rd. This workshop will provide an opportunity to ask questions regarding the application process and receive assistance in completing the process.
Juneteenth Events in our Community
If you are planning to host an event, but are not requesting grant funding, we still would like to help spread the word! Please email the following information to [email protected]create new email:
- Event name
- Event date/time
- Event location
- Organization/host name
- Brief description of the event
- Contact information
Events
- 4/23/2024
2:00 pmRFQ 76/2024 Prefabricated Shelter for Gans Creek Recreation Area - 4/23/2024
2:00 pmRFQ 39/2024 Cosmo Football Prefabricated Shelter (Materials Only) - 4/23/2024
2:00 pmRFQ 75/2024 Whitegate Prefabricated Shelter (Materials Only) - 4/23/2024
4:00 pmTransit study open house #2 - 4/24/2024
4:00 pmDowntown Columbia Leadership Council Meeting - 4/24/2024
5:00 pmRFP 184/2023 Railroad Track & Right-of-Way Maintenance - 4/24/2024
6:00 pmHome Composting 101
Select an event to view details.
RFQ 76/2024 Prefabricated Shelter for Gans Creek Recreation Area
All sealed bids are due in the purchasing office by 2pm.
When: 4/23/2024 at 2:00 pm
RFQ 39/2024 Cosmo Football Prefabricated Shelter (Materials Only)
All sealed bids are due in the purchasing office by 2pm.
When: 4/23/2024 at 2:00 pm
RFQ 75/2024 Whitegate Prefabricated Shelter (Materials Only)
All sealed bids are due in the purchasing office by 2pm.
When: 4/23/2024 at 2:00 pm
Transit study open house #2
Olsson, consultants for the City of Columbia Public Works department, are continuing to conduct a comprehensive study to identify ways to improve Go COMO, Columbia's transit provider. As part of that study, representatives from Olsson will hold a second open house meeting Tuesday, April 23, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Wabash Bus Station, 126 N. Tenth St.
This meeting provides the public with an opportunity to explore various alternatives for the future of Go COMO transit service, as presented by the consultants. A previous open house meeting was held Nov. 14, 2024, when consultants had presented an initial assessment of the system and collected feedback on opportunities, challenges and preferences for public transit service in Columbia. The presentation from the previous open house is available for download on the BeHeard site.
Like the previous meeting, this open house will have no formal presentation, allowing attendees to come and go as their schedule allows. The project team will walk participants through project materials and facilitate interactive exercises to obtain input and ideas from participants.
Goals of the study include:
Conducting a comprehensive operations analysis to identify ways to improve service efficiency, technology, staffing, facilities and other aspects of transit operations. Through community engagement, establishing the goals for public transit and metrics to track progress toward these goals over time. Determining ways to increase transit service and ridership. The evaluation of funding mechanisms and partnership opportunities. A review of policies and opportunities for transit-oriented development and integration with other modes of transportation, both locally and regionally. Addressing the potential for flexible, on-demand micro-transit services as a potential method for growth. Micro-transit refers to on-demand, flexible transportation services that typically use small vehicles to transport passengers within a localized area, often bridging the gap between public transit and personal transportation options.Multiple modes of transit will be reviewed for applicability, including fixed-route bus service, micro-transit and regional commuter services. Evaluation of potential alternatives will consider the numerous benefits and drawbacks of each and will rely heavily on feedback from stakeholders and the Columbia community.
Public comments will be accepted through the end of the day Tuesday, May 7, and can be submitted at the public open house, through the BeHeardCoMo website at BeHeard.CoMo.gov/Columbia-transit-study and by email to Shawn Strate, senior transportation planner with Olsson, at [email protected]create new email.
Olsson plans to hold a final public meeting during the summer of 2024. The transit study is expected to conclude in September.
When: 4/23/2024 at 4:00 pm
Downtown Columbia Leadership Council Meeting
Downtown Columbia Leadership Council Meeting
Regular Meeting
Download the agenda for this meeting: Meeting Agendaopens PDF file
When: 4/24/2024 at 4:00 pm
RFP 184/2023 Railroad Track & Right-of-Way Maintenance
All sealed bids are due in the purchasing office by 5pm.
When: 4/24/2024 at 5:00 pm
Home Composting 101
Learn the why, what and how of home composting. Compostables make up 34% of the materials that go into landfills. Composting is easy and rewarding, and it isn’t just for gardeners! Composting is a step everyone can take to reduce their carbon foot print. Attend a free workshop and start diverting kitchen scraps and yard waste while producing a nutrient rich soil amendment. Composting is nature’s way to recycle.
When: 4/24/2024 at 6:00 pm
For more City videos, please visit the City’s video archive.
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