DREAM Project completes Strategic Plan

Fulton's five-year-long DREAM has reached its conclusion.

At its meeting Tuesday, the City Council heard from Andrew Murray, a representative of PGAV, the architect and planning firm that handled research for Fulton as part of the state Downtown Revitalization and Economic Assistance for Missouri (DREAM) Initiative. PGAV has completed its Strategic Plan - its last step in the process - and will soon formally submit it to the council.

Fulton was named a DREAM Community in 2008. The project was started by then-governor Matt Blunt in 2006 to provide planning and financial assistance for communities to revitalize ailing downtown districts in smaller communities.

Murray said that over the course of Fulton's involvement with the project, several agencies have provided input on residency needs downtown, tourism draws, grants and funding available, infrastructure and retail market analysis. That information has been completed and compiled for the report.

He noted Fulton has already made progress with the suggestions with the emerging success of the Brick District Association.

"Fulton is one of the most successful DREAM communities in terms of the ones I've helped with," Murray said. "The number one goal was to establish the Brick District Association as the main downtown organization. Retailers have really merged ... to improve the overall retail experience."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.