The Grant

The Lake Springfield Plan project will be funded by a one-time $800,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), and $200,000 from the Hatch Foundation, City Utilities of Springfield and the City of Springfield’s Environmental Services Department. The EDA grant was made possible by the American Rescue Plan and EDA’s $300 million Coal Communities Commitment. It was the first competitive American Rescue Plan grant to be awarded in the region.

A plan and vision that will include hydrological studies of Lake Springfield and the corresponding James River, a planning study with recommendations regarding the recreational, economic and transportation opportunities in the study area to guide future project implementation must be complete by the end of the grant period, Aug. 10, 2024.

The Hatch Foundation is helping to provide funds for the required local contribution.

This project will build upon the regional planning efforts led by the Southwest Missouri Council of Governments (SMCOG). EDA funds in cooperation with City of Springfield Departments of Economic Vitality, Environmental Services, Springfield-Greene County Parks, City Utilities and the Hatch Foundation will bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.

This project is funded under EDA’s American Rescue Plan Economic Adjustment Assistance program, which makes $500 million in Economic Adjustment Assistance grants available to American communities. The Economic Adjustment Assistance program is EDA’s most flexible program, and grants made under this program will help hundreds of communities across the nation plan, build, innovate, and put people back to work through construction or non-construction projects designed to meet local needs.  

EDA’s Coal Communities Commitment allocates $300 million of EDA’s $3 billion American Rescue Plan appropriation to support coal communities as they recover from the pandemic and to help them create new jobs and opportunities, including through the creation or expansion of a new industry sector. Specifically, EDA has dedicated $100 million of its Build Back Better Regional Challenge funds and $200 million of its Economic Adjustment Assistance funds to directly support coal communities. 

“President Biden’s American Rescue Plan provides direct support to American communities as they build back better from the pandemic and address a changing economy,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This project is part of EDA’s Coal Communities Commitment and will provide support as the local economy transitions from the coal industry to new fields.”