Branson flood wall project secures $3M grant

The city of Branson was awarded more grant funding for a flood wall to be developed at its Compton Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration yesterday announced a $3 million grant for the project, according to a news release. City of Branson spokesperson Melody Pettit said the total project cost is $14.4 million.

“President [Joe] Biden is committed to helping communities impacted by natural disasters implement strategies to protect and grow their communities,” Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in the release. “This EDA investment will protect the primary wastewater treatment plant that services Branson’s popular tourism districts, preventing potential disruption and loss of jobs due to natural disasters.”

The EDA grant is being matched with $6.6 million in funds from the state of Missouri.

That includes a $5 million grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Community Development Block Grant Mitigation Program that was announced last month.

The planned 2,200-foot-long flood wall is designed to address an existing flood risk at the Compton Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is located along Lake Taneycomo.

“Protecting the Compton Drive Wastewater Treatment Plant from flooding is important to helping Branson maintain its role as a top travel and tourism destination,” Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said in the release. “This project will help ensure that families and businesses in the region are better protected from future flooding. I’m glad to see funds provided by Congress continue to support small businesses, workers and families throughout Missouri.”

The federal funding comes from the Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act of 2019, which provided the EDA with $600 million to issue assistance for disaster relief and recovery efforts, according to the release.