subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Thu, May 15 2008 

Published March 14, 2008 04:19 pm - MIAMI, Okla. — Despite a devastating flood last year, Miami keeps coming out on top. It was the city’s response to that disaster that caught the eye of the United States Department of Agriculture and prompted the rural development and rural enterprises division to nominate the city as one of four finalists for the Oklahoma Partnership Award.

Miami named finalist for USDA award w/ Oklahoma Partnership Award information and community-nomination form



By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

MIAMI, Okla. — Despite a devastating flood last year, Miami keeps coming out on top.

It was the city’s response to that disaster that caught the eye of the United States Department of Agriculture and prompted the rural development and rural enterprises division to nominate the city as one of four finalists for the Oklahoma Partnership Award.

The award honors an Oklahoma community for success and innovations in increasing economic opportunity and enhancing the quality of life for its residents.

In the nomination, the USDA highlighted a variety of projects Miami has tackled or is currently taking on.

The city partnered with the Miami Tribe to open a five-screen movie theater last summer to replace the community’s two-screen theater that kept getting flooded. The city paid to buy the land and put in the parking lot, and the tribe built the theater.

Last July, Larry Eller, Miami’s community development and grant coordinator, and Brian Barger, Miami director of economic development, helped marine manufacturer Boatfloater Industries move its equipment and product to higher ground only minutes before the floodwaters overtook the building.

“We closed on the new property Thursday and had them totally moved out on Monday,” Eller said. “Those folks would have been wiped out if we hadn’t gotten them out.”

The city is currently in the process of building 20 new homes outside of the floodplain for those displaced by the waters. Eller said the city is putting in water lines and working on the street. There are three families that have already qualified for loans for the homes. Two of the houses have already gone out for bid and the city is starting on the third. Eller hopes to have them completed in three to four months.

The city has also developed a $2 million downtown revitalization project. Eller said new streetlights and landscaping will go in this spring.

Miami has also developed a $1-million project to continue rehabilitating the historic Coleman Theatre. Eller said the funds will put in a warming kitchen upstairs, add onto the structure and turn the second floor into a convention and meeting space. The engineering is 90 percent complete and he said he believes the project will go out to bid this spring.

The city has secured $400,000 in housing rehabilitation funds to do work for low-income and elderly residents, and has been approved for a $120,000 grant to construct a Miami Gateway entrance sign and provide historic Route 66 signs downtown.

On Monday, the City Council will also vote on taking the lead in a regional Route 66 project that will document attractions from Carthage to Vinita.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story





monster
wheels
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
32 buy 1 get 1 free offers


Find a job! Find a Home! Find a car!
Featured Jobs

HILTON GARDEN INN
•Hiring for front desk/night audit,
•Server • Cook • Full Time Laundry
Please apply at 2644 E. 32nd Street.
...>MORE

EASY LIVING INC.
Want to make a difference in the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities? Ready for a flexible schedule and...>MORE

LOCAL DRIVER NEEDED
F F LOCAL DRIVER NEEDED F F, EXCELLENT BENEFITS. Class B CDL with air brakes, heavy lifting required, current physical. ...>MORE

SERVICE TECHNICIAN
for vending route at adult bookstores in the Joplin area. Electronics background helpful, no experience necessary. Will ...>MORE

FLAT ROOFERS
Flat roofers needed, good pay, drug test required. Joplin Roofing. (417)623-2057...>MORE

BUSY VETERINARIANS OFFICE
BUSY veterinarians office seeking receptionist/vet support for full/part time positions. Some medical experience preferr...>MORE

COORDINATOR/CHEER DANCE COACH
student Activity Center, Coordinator/Cheer-Dance Coach, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in Miami, OK is seeking candid...>MORE

CAR WASHER
CAR WASHER, part-time, 20-25 hours, afternoon and weekends.. Apply in person at Avis Rent A Car counter, Joplin Regional...>MORE

NEOSHO SCHOOL DISTRICT
NEOSHO R-5 School District has immediate openings for second shift custodial staff. For application contact: Neosho R-5 ...>MORE

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
needed for busy attorney’s office. Legal experience preferred, but not necessary. If interested please call for an inter...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

HONDA CIVIC EX
HONDA, 2003 Civic EX, 4 door, 28,888 miles, $7795. 417-291-6926....>MORE

CHEVROLET S10
chevrolet, 1995, S10, 130,000 miles; Dune Buggy Project, $375. (417)825-5778....>MORE

FORD RANGER XLT
FORD, 2001 Ranger XLT, 4x4, V6, off road, 58,500 miles, $7495. 417-291-6926....>MORE

YAMAHA, 2007 YDR
48VOLT GOLF CAR
Excellent condition, garnet/tan, door works, canvas enclosure, light kit, fold down clear windshiel
...>MORE

HARLEY ULTRA CLASSIC
harley, 2003 Ultra Classic, silver/ black, Screamin Eagle 103, many extras. $18,000. 781-4343. Neller393@aol.com...>MORE

GMC, 2005 ENVOY XL
4x4, rear air, 3rd seat, cloth, sunroof, V6, white, warranty, excellent condition $15,500. 624-9274...>MORE

MITSUBISHI, 2000
Montero Sport, 4x4, loaded, sacrifice. $4500. (417)766-2771...>MORE

SATURN ION
saturn, 2005 ION COUPE, 45,480 miles, $7495. 417-291-6926....>MORE

FORD F-150
FORD, 2001 F150, 43,000 miles, white, short bed, $5695. 417-291-6926....>MORE

JEEP GRANDE CHEROKEE LIMITED
JEEP, 1999 Grande Cherokee Limited, Low mileage, 1 owner, loaded, new tires, new brakes, in excellent condition, $7800. ...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

RIVERTON SCHOOLS
3.5 acres, 3 br, 1 ba completely updated. 12x24 shed, 25x34 pole barn. 5571 SE 60th, $98,900. 417-540-4603....>MORE

Check Casher
Teller position available. Full time with benefits. Apply in person 1651 West 7th, Joplin. ...>MORE

MUST SELL
MUST SELL OR LEASE, Updated with 3 large bedrooms, 2.5 baths, large living room, fireplace, formal dining, eat-in kitche...>MORE

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 2-4 PM
530 North Joplin Avenue, 3 br, 1 ba, $72,500, big kitchen, original wood floors, remodeled. Must see!! (417)291-0643. ...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

POMERANIAN PUPPIES
POMERANIAN puppies, red, 10 weeks, mom cream, father party (417)472-7754....>MORE

PAIR OF BOSTON TERRIERS
pair of Boston Terriers. Male proven. (417)434-7027. ...>MORE

POULAN PRO MOWER
POULAN PRO lawn mower, 42” cut, 25 h.p., $600 or best offer. (417)529-1764....>MORE

GREAT DANE PUPPIES
GREAT DANE PUPPIES, AKC, $300. Family raised. Blacks,
grey, and spotted. 417-456-1694.
...>MORE

1 BR, NEAR HOSPITALS
1 BR, $325/$100, near hospitals, 2610 S. Pearl. (417)781-2469....>MORE

CHAPARRAL BOW RIDER
1995 CHAPARRAL 18’ BOW RIDER, Very good condition, 1830 SS, 180 h.p., 4.3 liter, V6, I/O, AlphaOne drive, less than 150 ...>MORE

WHITEOAK GARDEN CENTER
hanging baskets, 4” pots, $3.50, flowers. 3706 Virginia, (417)781-4376. ...>MORE

28x60 SHELL
28x60 SHELL, good roof, 2x6 walls, has been gutted, $10,000 or best offer.Must be moved. 417-437-0178....>MORE

2003 PRIDE MOBILITY WHEELCHAIR
2003 Pride Mobility Jet 2 HD power wheelchair from the Scooter Store, like new, never used. $1200. 417-649-7725....>MORE

LAWN MOWER
lawn Mower, from Sears, 12 hp, 42 inch cut, new battery and new drive belts. $400 or best offer. 2028 E. 17th St. Joplin...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2008. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

rc
 

 

Find A Home Find A Car Find Anything