Submitted
Dear Editor,
Congratulations to City Administrator Randy Pogue for working diligently to secure the nearly $25 million RAISE grant, and I applaud the Board of Alderman for their continued support to see it through these many years. The RAISE grant program, expanded under the 2022 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, earmarked half of the 2023 funds to go to rural areas such as Warsaw.
During the Benton County Democratic Party's June meeting, guest speaker Benton County Economic Development Director Jo Ann Lane, shared news about upcoming events and the possibility of more businesses opening in Benton County. Although she couldn't give details because they're still in the development stage, we could hear the excitement of good things to come.
It's interesting that Sen. Eric Schmitt had the extreme honor of telling the City of Warsaw they received the grant when, as MO Attorney General, he supported Sen. Josh Hawley's "NO" vote on the Bipartisan Infrastructure bill calling it the "woke agenda under the guise of infrastructure". I simply do not understand why investing in Missourians and in our rural community is considered "woke".
I do know one thing, folks. I'll be "woke" every day of the week if it means Benton County has more job opportunities, sees a boost to our local economy and a years-long wishlist of infrastructure projects comes to fruition.
Jacqueline Farr
Chair
Benton County
Democratic Party
