Economic Development
Trends
The
Green Hills Regional Planning Commission is recognized by the Economic
Development Administration as an Economic Development District
charged with the responsibility to provide technical assistance
and support to economic development efforts occurring throughout
the region. During program year 2007/2008, the District was contacted
by several communities interested in renovating their downtown areas,
attracting entrepreneurs, and creating business opportunities in
the alternative fuels industry.
Economic trends throughout the global economy has
caused a pendulum swing from the ideals of traditional economic
development "attraction" to the realistic concept of growing
from within and building on existing quality of life and natural
resources which are abundant throughout the District. Many communities
are working with long-standing, locally owned, existing businesses,
which are nearing the point of selling or transferring due to the
age and/or health of the current owner. The strategy includes utilizing
resources to "match" prospective buyers with current owners
and stressing to all locally owned businesses the importance of
succession planning.
Another pendulum swing that the District is experiencing
is the desire of young adults with families to move back to their
home communities from metropolitan areas where they had applied
their educational and occupational skills. The lure of the rural
quality of life that offers families affordable living with rural
amenities, such as the support of extended family, is appealing
to this generation and many are returning to fill professional openings
or start their own business.
The natural resources within the District are serving
to provide the raw product needed for the development of ethanol,
bio-diesel, and wind energy facilities. At this time, an ethanol
plant is operational in Carroll County and a bio-diesel facility
is under construction in that same county. Wind farm sites are being
considered in several locations throughout the District and the
usage of by-products from these renewable energy sources are providing
opportunities for businesses to develop creating the setting for
an alternative fuel business cluster.
The nostalgic and eclectic attributes of the baby-boomer
generation, among other factors, are stimulating the renovation
of historic and unique downtown structures for niche market and
artisan small business ventures. Many communities are beginning
to recognize the downtown, original heart of their communities,
are "diamonds in the rough" waiting to be again appreciated
and developed into cultural gems for the enjoyment of generations
to come.
Challenges
The condition of the public infrastructure within
the District ranks as one of the top issues of importance to the
survival and future development of communities throughout the region.
Antiquated water, sewer, distribution, and waste water systems are
presenting local officials and District staff challenges in addressing
the costs associated with upgrades or new systems. In addition to
the infrastructure demands, the new EPA water quality standards
will soon be affecting District communities as well. As the water
standards become stricter, and the infrastructure needs perpetuate,
officials will have no choice but to raise water and sewer rates
and seek bonding capacity to assist with the financial burden of
upgrades or replacements.
In the Northwest and Northeast portions of the region, water supply
is an issue of great importance. District staff participate in the
Northwest
Water Coalition, a task force assembled to address the water
distribution in the Northwest corner of the state. The District
is assisting Caldwell and Sullivan Counties in the development of
two large lakes to be used as a raw water source to alleviate water
supply issues in these counties during short and long term drought
conditions.
Due
to the recent State of Missouri's emphasis on improving the Highway
systems throughout the state, the region has recently experienced
improvements to the main transportation arteries within the District.
Highway 6, from Interstate 35 to just east of Trenton has recently
been vastly improved with wider shoulders, new surfaces, and the
remediation of very narrow/hilly passage ways. Bordering the southern
edge of the District, Highway 36 will soon be a four lane state
highway from Hannibal to St. Joseph, and Highway 63 on the eastern
edge of the region, will also be renovated to four lane status.
Other improvements include work on Highway 136, on the north border
of the region and Highway 65, running north and south, will receive
surface and shoulder work soon. In addition, many bridges and culverts
have received attention, resulting in the best transportation infrastructure
the District has enjoyed in decades.
However, as available funds quickly dwindle and the
uncertainty of how the never ending transportation maintenance needs
of the state and region continue to grow, it is uncertain at this
time how the needed level of funding will be maintained. District
staff continues to work diligently with MoDOT, local officials,
and citizens to provide education regarding the impending need to
raise funds through taxes, surcharges, toll roads etc. to maintain
the recent improvements made to the system.
Show Me Ethanol
Show
Me Ethanol, located in Carroll County, completed construction
and began production in early Spring 2008. The construction price
tag of the facility was over $33 ml. and 20+ jobs have been created
at the present time. Green Hills Regional Planning Commission was
successful in obtaining an EDA infrastructure grant on behalf of
the county to assist with the construction of an access road to
the ethanol plant. The asphalt road was completed in July 2008 and
provides passage from Highway 24 to the ethanol plant. The EDA grant
provided $385,000 towards the cost of the access road, while Show
Me Ethanol contributed $430,685.00 in private investment for a project
total of $815,685.07.
Continental Fabricating
Lack
of necessary access infrastructure, in the existing Carrollton Industrial
Park, posed a hurdle for the city as they worked to attract a new
manufacturer, Continental
Fabricating, to the community. The city entered an economic
development agreement with the company in which the city provided
land and the company committed to private investment necessary to
construct a building, and purchase equipment and inventory. To assist
with the extension of the Industrial Park's access road, Planning
Commission staff, on behalf of the City, prepared a CDBG Economic
Development grant which was funded in the amount of $170,000.00.
The extension included concrete paving, curb/guttering, and storm
drains, which, when completed, provided access for the company but
also provides infrastructure that the city can build on to further
expand the available land at the Industrial Park. The project resulted
in over $1,650,000.00 in private investment and created 27 jobs
with salaries averaging $23.00 per hour, well above the average
wage of the region. The company fabricates metal pipe for the pipeline
industry and plans to expand their business in the future.
Community Strategic Planning
In
order for a community to move forward they must first lay a good
foundation which is accomplished by strategic planning, when conducted
properly, results in the development of a framework to guide a community
as they develop for the future. The City of Brunswick recognized
the need for planning for their community and utilized the services
of the Green Hills Planning Commission staff to assist them with
the process. Four community meetings were held in Brunswick where
citizens identified the community's strengths and weaknesses, identified
projects that needed to be completed and concluded with ranking
the top four areas which would be addressed first. Committees representing
the four areas were established and are meeting regularly to work
through the implementation phase. Plans call for GHRPC to visit
the community again in January 2009 to learn how the committees
are progressing and provide any assistance that may be necessary
to move the plan forward
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