City announces $30,000 military reinvestment grant; Bird scooters to end service

During the City Manager’s report, staff said the city’s application to the Missouri Department of Economic Development was awarded $30,000 in a military community reinvestment grant. The funding is intended to help pay for a military advocate to support the 130th Airlift Wing; partners on the project include the Saint Joseph Chamber of Commerce, Buchanan County, Missouri Western State University and Mosaic Life Care. The Chamber led the application, and the city served as the official applicant to meet program requirements.

City staff said they will work through the grant agreement and how the funds will be expended in the coming weeks.

Separately, staff announced that Bird, the company that provides paid shared scooters, will be discontinuing service in Saint Joseph as it winds down its operations following bankruptcy. The company has been reducing its fleet in the city and now expects to remove remaining units.

The city did not announce any new local funding tied to either item during the meeting.