Joplin’s non-profit community arts agency Connect 2 Culture broke ground Monday on the 37,000 square foot Harry M. Cornell Arts and Entertainment Complex. The ceremony took place in what was the parking lot for Joplin’s Memorial Hall. The city of Joplin entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Connect 2 Culture in October of 2017 to donate the land to the organization if the non-profit raised a minimum of 14-million dollars. As of yesterday, C2C has raised over $16.3 million dollars. Director of Connect 2 Culture Emily Frankoski spoke at Monday’s event. “Joplin is in need of an arts and culture destination, an intentional place where the arts can be experienced and celebrated. The arts are worth that. Yes, they enhance and make life more vibrant. But they are also a positive and powerful economic driver.” The Cornell Complex has an anticipated completion of late 2022.