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MSSU Regional Economic Development Center

Volume I, Issue 1   June 2006

REGIONAL ECONOMIC SUMMIT DATE ANNOUNCED … Mark your calendar for Friday, 20 April, 2007, for the first Regional Economic Development Summit, to be held on the campus of Missouri Southern.  Preliminary plans include major presentations by prominent experts on global development and major political figures in Missouri and Kansas.  Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the latest trends and techniques in economic development, gain a Green City certification for their community, learn about the relationship between the arts and the economy, examine the global economy and the region or focus on water issues.  The Center is joining with the Institute of Ecolonomics, the International Business Center, the Missouri Arts Council, and the Tri-State Water Resources Coalition to sponsor the Summit.  More details are coming soon on this exciting event.
 

BARRY COUNTY CITIZENS KICK-OFF PLANNING EFFORT … 42 Barry County citizens met in mid-May to kick off their community strategic planning project.  The County is a part of the Missouri-Arkansas Partnership and is engaged along with Benton County, Arkansas, and McDonald County, Missouri, in an effort to anticipate the explosive growth in our region.  Dr. Simpson, Center Director, facilitated the initial session and the Center is providing research and administrative support to the project.  The effort is spearheaded by the Barry County Commission (CHERRY WARREN, FRANK WASHBURN, and EDDIE DAVISON).
 

NEW CITY MANAGERS ASSUME POSTS IN REGION … two communities in the region have new administrative heads.  Carl Junction, Missouri hired JOHN WHISENAT as its City Administrator, and Neosho hired JAN BLASÉ as their new City Manager.
 

SW MO TOURISM ALLIANCE SETS GOALS … With tourism a major economic force in the region, members of the Alliance set their marketing goals for the year with the assistance of Dr. Simpson, Center Director.  The group’s aim to increase tourism will take real form in efforts to expose regional destinations to a wider national audience. 

UNIQUE COURSE OFFERED … Thirteen MSSU students focused on regional progress during the University’s Intersession by enrolling in Politics of Economic Development.  The students studied the region’s economic condition and the type and use of incentive programs offered by state and local governments to encourage economic development.  The course featured the opportunity to hear directly from leaders who are actively involved in building the region’s economy.  Guest speakers in the course were:  MARK ROHR (City Manager, Joplin), GIB GARROW (CEO, Neosho Chamber), LONNIE HECKMASTER (CEO, Hometown Bank), MARSHA WALLACE (Eco Dev Dir, Empire District), RICHARD McCONNELL (Gilmore & Bell), ROB O’BRIEN (CEO, Joplin Chamber), and, RON RICHARD (Missouri House of Representatives).
 

SUMMER INTERNS … NICK EDWARDS (Sr, PSc, Joplin) and GERARD GOGGINS (Sr, PSc, Webb City) begin work this week as summer interns with the Center.  Edwards will be involved with data collection while Goggins is identifying property owners in the 249 Corridor.  The Center routinely offers internship experience for MSSU students.
 

PROGRESS ON JASPER COUNTY NEEDS ASSESSMENT … Work continues on the Jasper County Needs Assessment for the SW MO United Way.  The Center undertook the assessment as a project in the Spring semester 2006 with ANNA WYMAN (Sr, Nursing, Joplin) as the lead intern.  With the material collected, the next few weeks will be spent in formatting the data and completing the narrative of the report.  The assessment is a useful tool for member agencies of the United Way in shaping their programs and in preparing funding opportunities.
 

ENV TASK FORCE TO HOLD PLANNING SESSION … Members of the Jasper-Newton Counties Environmental Task Force will gather on the MSSU campus on 23 June to plan the coming year.  The Task Force examines environmental issues in the two county area.  One of the group’s major focus areas is the 249 Corridor.  The Center provides research and administrative services for the Task Force and Dr. Simpson, Center Director, will facilitate the annual planning session. 

LOWER SHOAL CREEK GROUP TO BEGIN MEETING … Stakeholders in the Lower Shoal Creek Watershed will meet 13 June at the Newton County Courthouse to begin work on a plan for the watershed.  The group’s goal is to anticipate impacts of regional growth on water resources.  Dr. Simpson, Center Director, serves with the group.

The mission of the MSSU Regional Economic Development Center is to pool the resources of Missouri Southern State University, area cities and counties, and other private and government programs to provide a coordinated approach to assist area agencies and businesses in the growth and economic development of the entire region.  For more information, contact the Center at (417) 625-3016 or at REDC@mssu.edu, Dr. Tom Simpson, Director, at Simpson-T@mssu.edu, or Michelle Price, Center Coordinator, at Price-M@mssu.edu.