The Bourbon Economic Development Group (BEDG) is partnering with the city of Bourbon and the community to build the Bourbon Business-Community Development Center.

BEDG President Chuck Ray attended the Nov. 25 Bourbon Board of Aldermen meeting and requested the use of 15 Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MPRC) membership grant hours for funding to help build the center. The request was made with the intent of using those hours to help offset the cost of a $2,000 application associated with a Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) tax credit. The board approved the request with a 3-0 vote. 

Ray recently gave a progress update about the center. 

“The plan is to get the tax credit approved (through the Missouri Department of Economic Development) this month,” said Ray.

They are working with Kelly Sink, MRPC grant writer, to write the application for the NAP tax credit. 

The plan is to build the center on one acre of property located at 169 Old State Route 66, directly across from Dollar General. 

Ray also noticed that the community is getting involved in supporting the project. 

BEDG received a $200 donation going toward the project from Half-Crocked Antiques, a retailer located in Bourbon. 

“A lot of people are interested (locally), and there’s interest from people who are outside of the community that have connections and are doing memorial gifts. It’s just really exciting,” said Ray.