Two Warren County projects received grant funding from the Missouri Department of Economic Development as part of $16.7 million in funds distributed by the state.

The two local projects were $315,247 to Truesdale for street repairs and $597,007 awarded to Warren County for Faith Christian Family Church’s Share House project. The funds were distributed as part of the DED’s Community Development Block Grant Program.

Share House

The FCFC project would allow the church to construct a 60-foot by 160-foot steel frame building on the church’s campus at 17350 East Veterans Memorial Parkway, according to Boonslick Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Teresa Lee. Lee said the county was the applicant for the grant and Boonslick will be administering the grant to ensure that the project meets all of the state’s qualifications.

FCFC Outreach Ministry Director Dennis “Denny” Gladieux said in an email that the Share House will serve families, single mothers, seniors and veterans in Warren County who are experiencing crisis situations by collecting, staging and distributing essential home furnishings.

“Donations will include new or gently used furniture, small appliances, dishes, bedding and other household necessities,” Gladieux said in an email.

Gladieux said individuals and families transitioning from homelessness to permanent housing, fleeing domestic violence, recovering from disasters such as fires or facing financial hardship will be referred to the Share House through a number of community partners. These partners include AGAPE, Anchor House, Compass Health Network and local churches.

“Once referred, clients will schedule an appointment with the Share House, where they will be able to select appropriate household items based on their family size and specific situation,” Gladieux said. “Our goal is to help give them a fresh start with dignity for their lives once again.”

Once the facility is complete, Gladieux said the community is invited to donate gently used furniture and household items such as dishes, towels and bedding. He said the Share House will also need the assistance of volunteers to help clients to select and load items from the facility.

Gladieux said the church anticipates construction on the project to begin in the summer.

Truesdale road project

Truesdale Mayor Jerry Cannon said the CDBG grant funds awarded to the city will go to phase two of the Smith Street rebuilding project. Cannon said phase one consisted of taking the road to its base and rebuilding the entire road with concrete instead of asphalt. The first phase of the project started at the intersection of Smith Street and Laura Street and proceeded past Bruer Park. Cannon said phase two will begin where phase one ended and continue to the intersection with Depot Street.

Cannon explained that not only would the project include a complete overhaul of the road, but it would also be a road-widening project.

“The road had gotten to the point where two cars cannot pass each other safely," Cannon said, explaining that the sides of the road had fallen away creating a situation where widening the road makes the most sense.

Cannon said that phase one of the project was paid for using revenue from a transportation tax the city had previously passed. He said the cost of phase one was approximately $600,000 and that phase two would be a similar cost. He explained that since the grant is for $315,247, the city would be supplementing the cost of the project by using transportation tax funds.

Cannon said that phase three of the project would be from Depot Street to Water Street.