Blueprint for Missouri
Editor:

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Several civic and governmental leaders have been actively involved with a statewide coalition, The blueprint for Missouri, to further explore, plan and take action around the Findings of the Brookings Institution report, "Growth in the Heartland."

So the author of the Tale of Two Cities' in the Business Journal's March 26-April 1 issue need no longer wonder if local civic and political leaders are aware of the report's existence.  FOCUS St. Louis, The League of Women Voters, The Municipal League and East-West Gateway Council of Governments have joined with leadership across the state, because we agree with the editorial writer that "we must become part of a larger context and learn to grow together."

The question is how do we grow? The report points out that current growth patterns strain our transportation, housing, environmental and educational resources.

To this end, The Blueprint for Missouri coalition has decided to locus efforts on conservation and identifying and mapping natural and historic resources which are critical to the future of the state.

Christine Chadwick

Executive director

FOCUS St Louis