~ City Council to Consider Purchase of Boonville Building for Workforce Development

The City Council is set to review a proposal for the purchase of a new building for workforce development services on Thursday, June 20. The proposal will then go before the City Council for a first reading on June 24, with an anticipated second reading and vote on July 8.

According to staff, the proposed location for the new building is at 1661 and 1660 North Boonville Avenue. This property, previously used as offices for Convoy of Hope, is situated along the Boonville Corridor, just south of Commercial Street and near other institutional facilities. The proposal also includes the purchase of current furnishings within the building.

Ericka Schmeeckle, interim director of the Department of Workforce Development, stated that this new location in Zone 1 will help remove barriers to employment within the community by providing better access to skill attainment.

The acquisition of this property will allow for a relocation from a leased space on east Sunshine to a City-owned facility that is closer to public transit and other public services. This will result in more efficient use of resources and improved delivery of services.

More on Missouriar

• Join Springfield Police for Annual Coffee with A Cop
• Springfield: SPD Honors Four Officers Retiring After 25 Years of Service
• Springfield: Coffee with Police Chief Paul Williams
• Springfield Police Department Celebrates Promotions
• Springfield Police Warn of Scam Calls

The recently appraised value of the property is $3,950,000 and the owner has agreed to sell it at a purchase price of $3,693,975. Additional costs for improvements are estimated at $2.6 million and include roof repairs, HVAC replacement, building envelope repairs, windows and exterior door replacements, elevator improvements, networking, ADA improvements, pavement and sidewalks, security measures, signage, furniture and environmental abatement.

The proposed $6.3 million Workforce Development Building Project will be funded by $4.4 million from General Fund carryover and $1.9 million from bond proceeds. If approved by City Council, the property and its contents will become assets of the City of Springfield.

Under the proposed plan, the Workforce Development Department will lease the building from the City and share costs with any other partner entities or agencies housed within the facility through an agreed-upon legal mechanism.

The building will also have space to accommodate the consolidation of the Workforce Development and Economic Development departments, which is also up for a vote at the June 24 meeting.

For more information on this proposal, interested parties can contact Cora Scott, Director of Public Information and Civic Engagement at 417-380-3352, or Katherine Proctor, Communications Coordinator at 417-880-6306.

---

Show All News | Report Violation