City leaders in Marshall, along with Missouri Valley College, are hopeful that federal funding will come through to bring about a renovation of a major hub of activity on campus.

City officials met recently with MVC President Dr Joe Parisi to revise an application, seeking funds for improvements that would allow the Burns Athletic Complex to serve as a shelter in the event a major disaster strikes Marshall. Parisi tells KMMO News that with the complex serving as the home of several Viking athletics programs and many community events, it’s an ideal location to serve as a shelter after a disaster.
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MVC and the city are seeking up to $2.2 million to fund the renovations and additional equipment needed to operate an emergency shelter.

Missouri Valley initially sought the funds on their own, but learned earlier this month that they would need a public entity to serve as a pass-through. Marshall City Administrator JD Kehrman informed the city council last week of the discussions and the college’s plans, noting that it’s not the first time that the city has sought federal funds on behalf of MVC.

Both Parisi and Kehrman note the support MVC and the City of Marshall are receiving from the congressional offices of Congressman Mark Alford and Emmanuel Cleaver for their application to fund the project.