City officially launches Zone Blitz campaign

The city of Springfield this morning officially launched its Zone Blitz campaign designed to improve the quality of life for residents in northwest Springfield.

The 18-month initiative is a partnership with over 200 organizations and 300 individuals to address concerns identified during community panels held last year in Zone 1. Officials started the campaign at 9 a.m. at Nichols Park, 1800 W. Nichols St., northwest of the Chestnut and Kansas expressways intersection, according to a news release.

“Residents in these neighborhoods knew what needed to be done and agreed to help be a major part of the process,” Springfield spokeswoman Cora Scott said in the release, referring to panels held at elementary schools.

The top three concerns were identified as chronic nuisance properties, sidewalks and infrastructure, and public safety.

As of today, 60 Zone Blitz projects have been completed, planned or started, according to the release.

During this morning’s launch, the city announced it received a $129,000 grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s workforce development division for an on-the-job early apprenticeship program. The city also partnered with CoxHealth to open a Zone 1 job center on the first floor of Cox Medical Tower at the north-side hospital.

Among projects in the works, the Springfield-Greene County Health Department, Missouri Job Center and Ozarks Food Harvest are partnering on a plan for a community food resource center in Zone 1. Officials seek to launch the food center within 18 months, but need roughly $250,000 to $500,000 in funding to start it, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

In Zone 1, the poverty rate exceeds the citywide average of 25.6 percent, according to community studies.

Zone Blitz is launching alongside The Northwest Project. Community Foundation of the Ozarks committed $500,000 toward the $1.3 million campaign, also designed to combat poverty in the district.