Contact: Ernie Blazar 202.224.7627 Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Friday, February 28, 2003

ST. LOUIS - Senator Kit Bond today announced that he has successfully secured $1 million to improve Ogden Avenue and another $500,000 for facility improvements at the Metropolitan Education and Training Center in Wellston that will allow for job training programs aimed at educating future nurses.

"This money will help make sure that Ogden Avenue remains a vital and efficient corridor that keeps pace with the economical and commercial growth in Wellston," said Bond, a senior member of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee. "In addition, some of this money will help us improve the Wellston job training facility that will be used to train nurses."

The money is contained in the fiscal 2003 Omnibus Appropriations bill which was signed into law by President Bush one week ago. Bond announced the money for Wellston during a visit to Wellston today.

The $1 million secured by Bond for Ogden Avenue is important because that street runs between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Page Avenue. It also allows access to major local employers including Federal Mogul Corporation and Ameren UE, new commercial and light industrial development, and residential neighborhoods. Ogden is at the heart of the Wellston redevelopment corridor and its improvement is vital to the success of the comprehensive redevelopment plan for the area.

The $500,000 secured by Bond will go to the Metropolitan Education and Training Center in Wellston. The Center is a regional training facility providing machining, customer service, finance, transportation, computer technology, telecommunications and diesel mechanic training. G.E.D. programs, construction prep and work readiness training are also offered. The funding announced by Bond will be used to pay for facility improvements creating space for Licensed Nurse Practitioner and life sciences training.

Bond served Missouri twice as Governor and now continues his service to the state in his third term in the United States Senate.