VIENNA — The city of Vienna was awarded $158,408 on Jan. 5 for the demolition of residential and commercial property from the Department of Economic Development (DED) through a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). DED has awarded more than $16.7 million to 43 projects from fiscal year 2025’s competitive cycle to assist with various improvement projects.

According to City Clerk Tracy Shiver, the grant will be used to demolish seven residential properties in Vienna that have been vacant for a long time and are set to be demolished soon.

Gov. Mike Kehoe said the DED program is good for communities.

“We’re proud to support communities all across our state through the Community Development Block Grant Program,” said Kehoe. “Every grant awarded is addressing critical needs, including public safety, while making communities stronger. We look forward to the positive results that the CDBG Program helps achieve by providing more secure foundations for success.”

Funded projects include street and roadway repairs, demolition, stormwater and drainage improvements, and construction of new public facilities.

“The CDBG Program is an invaluable resource for communities and an important way we help Missourians prosper,” said Michelle Hataway, Director of the Department of Economic Development. “Each project made possible by CDBG, whether large or small, is increasing capacity for economic growth that changes lives for the better.”

In October 2025, DED announced an amendment to the 2024 CDBG Action Plan that reallocated a portion of Fiscal Year 2024 funds to support Fiscal Year 2025 Community Improvement activities. The amendment was due to decreased demand for water/wastewater, emergency, and economic development projects from fiscal year 2024 allocations and a significant increase in demand for demolition and street projects. This allowed more than $4 million to be used specifically for demolition and street projects as part of the goals in the state’s consolidated plan.

CDBG programs are designed to support the well-being of Missouri communities and create greater capacity for growth, whether by addressing local health and safety concerns or improving local facilities, such as senior centers and community centers. Grants are available in a variety of categories and can be utilized for a variety of community development initiatives.