Contact: Rob Ostrander 202-224-5721 Shana Stribling 202-224-0309
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

KANSAS CITY, MO – U.S. Senator Kit Bond today joined Mayor Kay Barnes, local officials, and business and economic leaders at this year's Kansas City Industrial Council (KCIC) meeting. At the annual awards meeting, Bond was honored for his efforts on behalf of Kansas City's priorities.

"Several years ago our industrial districts were experiencing flooding, our infrastructure was in bad need of repair, and our companies were considering moving out," said Bond. "By working together we were able to fund storm sewers, road and bridges and water projects in our industrial districts and turn the tide. By forming a strong partnership we accomplished projects in the urban core, downtown and the river bottoms that have helped bring jobs and revitalize Kansas City. It is this cooperation that will continue to make Kansas City great."

For the second time, Bond received KCIC's Brick-by-Brick award for his work to rebuild Kansas City's industrial base. Over the years, Bond has worked with both Republicans and Democrats in Kansas City on a number of different projects, including water projects in Turkey Creek and Blue Valley, downtown revitalization projects such as the river bottoms, housing projects such as the Library Lofts complex and employment projects such as the Federal Courthouse.

As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee for Housing, Veterans and Independent Agencies, Bond is able to fund key Missouri economic development, neighborhood and environmental projects.

Bond stressed the importance of these revitalization and job-building projects, such as the plans for a new IRS facility. This project will bring jobs downtown and generate millions of dollars in economic activity. Bond, who has worked on the deal for years, expects the IRS/Post Office plan to bring nearly 6,000 new jobs to the area.

In particular, Bond said that Kansas City, and the rest of Missouri, will benefit from the federal highway bill, which he called the most important economic development and job-creating bill in this session of Congress. The bill, which recently passed the U.S. Senate and is now awaiting action by the House, would substantially increase transportation dollars for Missouri. Bond, Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, is jointly responsible for the bill's re-authorization.

"Good roads mean increased access to markets, increased quality of life, increased security and increased economic impact and jobs, said Bond. "Most importantly, good roads save lives."

Bond served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service to Missourians in the United States Senate.