Anyone who commutes along Gretna Road just off 76 Country Blvd. in Branson has likely noticed lots of activity and equipment. Elevate Branson is excited to announce that infrastructure is being put in place for Elevate Community, a tiny home development to help meet the huge need for affordable housing in Branson.
The process leading to actual construction has not been a quick or easy one. Grant approvals were initially announced in 2020-2021, including federal funding through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and a Community Block Development Grant (CBDG) from the Missouri Department of Economic Development for infrastructure such as water, sewer and roads. The state funds must be distributed through a municipality such as a city or county, and there are strict HUD guidelines as well. All these levels of approval help ensure accountability for use of the funds, but also take time. “It’s not as simple as the grantor cutting a check and the nonprofit organization spending it,” said Elevate Branson CEO Bryan Stallings.
The project has experienced numerous delays, some due to COVID 19-related supply chain issues but also as additional requirements and roadblocks have been encountered, and Stallings recently shared some of those with Globe staff; there is also a detailed timeline of updates on the Elevate website.
A required site check by the Missouri Department of Conservation revealed concerns about an endangered bat species, requiring carefully timed tree clearing, not only as needed for the building project but also to allow habitat relocation. Earth-moving for infrastructure also requires a cultural review and notifying five Native American tribes known to have lived in the area, allowing them to conduct an artifact search if they desire, and one tribe did so.
After completing those steps, engineering review for block grant distribution was delayed at the city level due to elections and new staff. Once completed and an engineering firm selected, that review showed potential sewer easement issues with the adjoining property, and purchasing the additional property was deemed the most effective way to avoid future problems, thus re-starting the Conservation and Native American cultural review processes. However, there was some good news during that delay, which took most of 2023: approval of state ARPA funds for additional tiny homes. Missouri State University’s Southwest Missouri Council of Governments serves as a liaison between the state and municipality for administering state grant funds.
Once the bid process could officially start, bids came in over budget due to inflation during the delay period, meaning a new allocation of grant funds for a new budget and bid process. With all those considerations, it’s easy to see why Stallings says the Elevate leadership team has learned a lot about the entire process; but they are excited to see visible progress, happening at a good pace once Flat Creek Excavating, the winning bidder, was actually able to begin.
In the meantime, work has also been progressing on the tiny homes themselves, with 18 currently completed. Bryan and Amy Stallings recently shared via Facebook Live while visiting the factory where the homes are being built. Elevate leadership is looking forward to some big construction updates soon, and being able to announce a date for groundbreaking.
Elevate Community is just one part of Elevate Branson’s overall commitment to empowering neighbors to reach their potential and find meaningful employment. Grantors responded positively to hearing about the programs and services offered, including workforce skills training and transportation. Elevate Community’s proximity to the main Elevate Branson campus will help residents access those programs and provide a sense of community and accountability.
Local sponsorships are still an important part of the project, as some infrastructure cost is not covered by public access grants, and state funds must be matched. Visit the Elevate Community page at www.ElevateBranson.org to learn more about sponsorship levels of for the tiny homes, to cover different parts of the project or provide details such as landscaping or furnishings.
Want to learn more or become a sponsor? Visit the website to read more details about the information given here. You can also ask questions and get acquainted with staff and friends of Elevate by stopping by for lunch or coffee at Neighbors Hub, or by participating in a Trivia Night scheduled for Friday, February 21; see the website or Facebook page for details.
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