Columbia city council members are reconsidering an unpopular resolution that gives a blight designation to a large part of their city.
The term blight is associated with empty business buildings and homes.
The council passed a blight designation resolution to become part of the state’s Enhanced Enterprise Zone Business Incentives Program, or EEZ.
The EEZ program offers tax incentives to new or expanding businesses through the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
Tonight’s proposal would change a map showing declared blighted areas of the city.
Third ward city councilman Gary Kespohl opposes the removal of the entire map because he says it would be a step back in the EEZ program application process.
Kespohl said, “If I were an unemployed person in Columbia looking for a job, I would want the EEC to forward as quickly as possible because it could create jobs for Columbia.”
Columbia’s EEZ Advisory Board is working on a new map showing declared blighted areas of the city.
A political action group is circulating petition to rescind the entire resolution passed by the council in February.
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