By Wally Kennedy

Globe Staff Writer

With Joplin's revitalized Main Street as a backdrop, Gov. Matt Blunt on Tuesday unveiled the DREAM Initiative - a program designed to help small and mid-size towns across Missouri breathe new life into the heart of their communities.

"The DREAM Initiative is a comprehensive approach to downtown revitalization," Blunt said. "It will help us restore downtowns across the state and turn them into self-sufficient, vibrant hubs of activity.

"With this initiative, we can re-establish a sense of place in the heart of these communities."

Speaking at the southeast corner of Sixth and Main streets, in front of the Frisco Station Apartments, and flanked by members of the Legislature from Southwest Missouri, Blunt said that in his travels across the state as governor, he has seen many examples where once-prosperous downtowns are struggling to survive.

"Small communities face three barriers," he said. "They do not have the means to navigate the maze of government programs. They do not have access to professional expertise, and they do not have the resources to make detailed plans of what they want to do. This initiative helps overcome all of those barriers."

The DREAM Initiative, which stands for Downtown Revitalization Economic Assistance in Missouri, is designed to give small and medium-size towns the tools needed for economic redevelopment by streamlining and simplifying the procedure at the state level.

The state Department of Economic Development, the Missouri Development Finance Board and the Missouri Housing Development Commission will work to help with rebuilding downtown communities, simplifying the procedure by making the various programs and services available in one place.

For the first wave of the program, cities must apply by Aug. 1. Six to 10 cities per year will be chosen as DREAM communities each September. The cities will participate in the program for three years. The goals are to bring new investment and jobs to the downtowns, and raise property values.

The cities would develop an overall downtown revitalization plan with the Missouri Development Finance Board, then would get help from the other agencies to upgrade infrastructure, such as streets and sewers, promote historic preservation, and create affordable housing, community services and business development.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, head of the Missouri Development Finance Board, said it is important to Missouri to preserve "the charm, character and history" of its smaller communities.

Also speaking Tuesday were Mayor Jon Tupper; Rob O'Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce; and John Joines, head of the Economic Security Corp. in Joplin, the agency that helped turn the Frisco Building into senior housing, and soon will renovate the Zahn and Ridgway apartment buildings.

O'Brian said communities such as Webb City, Carl Junction and Neosho could benefit from the DREAM Initiative.

Joines said Joplin was among the first cities in Missouri to make big things happen in its downtown district, and that it has become an example for others to follow. Praising City Manager Mark Rohr's new "streetscape" vision for downtown Joplin, Joines said, "I am here to pronounce that downtown Joplin, Mo., is alive and well."