To be used for economic revitalization, Westfield, after placing as a quarterfinalist in the American’s Best Communities Competition, has been given $50,000.
The city says they will use the money to flesh out the long-awaited Grand Junction Plaza project that will give the downtown area a major facelift.
“We are thrilled to receive this award as Westfield continues to move ahead with the community’s vision for downtown,” Mayor Andy Cook said. “We will make every dollar count as we build a community that residents and business owners can be proud of.”
The competition is designed to spark economic vitality in small towns, and drew 347 applications from 27 states.
“As soon as I saw this competition I knew it would be a perfect fit for the Grand Junction Plaza project,” said Ken Kingshill, a Westfield Plan Commissioner and executive director of the Downtown Westfield Association who submitted an application on behalf of the organization. “Every day we are getting closer to seeing the Grand Junction project become a reality. This funding will give us another resource we can leverage in order to preserve Westfield’s small-town identity while creating an environment where businesses can thrive.”
While the competition will not be completely finished until 2017, the city is working now – and for the next six months – to complete their comprehensive community revitalization plans that will give them a chance to be one of 15 semifinalists. If they make it to that round, another $100,000 will be awarded. In April 2017, the top three winners will be announced. The winning community will be awarded $3 million, with $2 million for second place and $1 million for third.
