July 2009 Promote the Positive
- The United States Tennis Association has selected Springfield as one of its “Top 10 Tennis Towns” in the United States. Springfield stands to win up to $100,000 to support community tennis programs if the city beats out nine other finalist cities during a 10-day Web-based vote for America's "Best Tennis Town". Voting ends at midnight on Sunday, July 26. Vote for Springfield as the “Top Tennis Town” at www.besttennistown.com.
- New home construction in Greene County is seeing signs of recovery. The County issued 30 single-family building permits in June of 2008. Last month, 49 were issued. The YTD in June 2008 was 185 and in 2009, it is 129.
- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has given Heer's building developer Blue Urban LLC the formal go-ahead to apply for an $11.8 million loan for the renovation project. Construction could begin as soon as January 2010 and be completed within a year.
- Airport passengers at Springfield-Branson National Airport for June were up 12% from June 2008. YTD passengers are up 1% over 2008.
- The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission has approved the contract for the widening of U.S. Highway 65 to six lanes in Springfield. The $26.9 million project is scheduled to begin in September.
