The city of Truesdale has agreed to allow an economic advisory firm to seek an estimated $1 million state grant on the city’s behalf. In exchange, the firm would be paid a small percentage of any awarded grant funding.

Truesdale is hiring MarksNelson, an agency based in Kansas City, to tap into a large pool of industrial development grant funding that Missouri has available thanks to the federal government’s 2021 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The grant funding would be used to make several street improvements that would change the city’s road layout and ultimately allow for potential expansion of the Refresco beverage factory.

Specifically, the project would rebuild and extend Smith Street and make improvements to the surrounding streets in Truesdale, in order to provide homes on the southwest side of the Refresco plant with an alternate access route. That, in turn, would allow the city to completely abandon Truesdale Avenue, a street on the southeast side of the plant, making room for a potential expansion that the company is considering.

The proposal for the grant-funded project came from Steve Etcher, an agent of MarksNelson who is also the firm’s chief coordinator for the Greater Warren County Economic Development Council. Etcher approached Truesdale city leaders in January to propose reconfiguring the city’s road network, saying the project would both remove a barrier to new development and also address streets that are in need of improvement.

Etcher has played a leading role in several recent economic development projects, including the future American Foods Group meat packing plant and two future solar farms. He also helped Refresco secure tax abatements from Truesdale late last year.

Now, Etcher says he plans to pursue about $1 million in state grant funding for Truesdale. In exchange, the MarksNelson firm would be paid 2 percent of the grant funding, or an estimated $20,000. No payment would be owed unless Truesdale receives the grant, according to an agreement approved by the city’s board of alderman on Feb. 8.

No specific plans for the new extension of Smith Street or a new connection to other nearby streets have yet been developed. However, Truesdale had already hired local engineering firm Lewis-Bade to begin planning improvements to the existing portion of Smith Street. Etcher said he would coordinate information with the engineers before submitting any grant application.

As one other facet of the grant application process, the Truesdale city government has also signed a statement promising that none of the low- or moderate-income housing in the project area will need to be demolished for future street construction.