How our role on Appropriatons Committee is turning the “Show Me State” into the “Grow Me State”

By Mark Alford

This week, I’m proud to share good news for Missouri’s Fourth District. Through the Fiscal Year 2026 government funding process, our office secured nearly $23 million in targeted federal investments for communities across central and western Missouri.

These are strategic investments in infrastructure, healthcare, workforce training, agriculture, research, and public safety. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I work to make sure our district is not overlooked when decisions are made about how federal dollars are spent. When we invest wisely at the local level, the benefits stay right here at home.

Here’s what that looks like:

$6 million to expand Skyhaven Airport at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg

$6 million for a Workforce Training Center for Agriculture Advancement at State Fair Community College in Sedalia

$4.2 million for safe and reliable reactor operations at the University of Missouri

$3 million for an agriculture animal genetics facility at the University of Missouri

$1.6 million for a regional maternal health center at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton

$750,200 for the Missouri Rural Health Innovation Center in Sedalia

$750,000 for a sally port at the Missouri Law Enforcement Center in St. Clair County

$397,000 for the White Road Bridge replacement in Oak Grove

$120,000 for radios for the Peculiar Police Department

These projects were funded through the Community Project Funding process, which requires transparency and strict guidelines so taxpayers can see exactly where their money is going. The goal is simple: invest in projects that produce measurable returns in jobs, innovation, healthcare access, and long-term economic growth.