Barry, Lawrence again synthesize as bi-county economic development alliance forms

Leaders suggest collaboration has local benefits
 
The first meeting of the Barry-Lawrence Economic Development Alliance offered ways that cities and counties could collaborate in mutual development. The session was held on Oct. 30 at the Monett City Park Casino.
Monett Mayor Randy Burke set the tone for the meeting. “We must learn what happens beyond the city limits. We need an alliance. We don’t agree on everything, but if we work together, we can get more done. Fifty percent of the time, a lot of problems are communication. If we can do a partnership, we can communicate.”
The meeting was attended by more than two dozen representatives from both county governments, area cities and chambers of commerce, as well as private business leaders. It was presented by the City of Monett, the Monett Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Ozarks Regional Economic Partnership. Jasmine Burks, the executive director of the Monett Area Chamber, set the stage by commenting, “I advocated for regionalism.” With that, she introduced the featured speaker, Jonas Arjes, senior vice president of economic development for the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce.
Arjes came to his current position after working for 10 years on economic development for the Branson Chamber of Commerce. Using the Springfield Business Development Corporation as a model, the Branson Chamber courted relationships with top population centers in Taney County while also engaging private businesses. In three years, he said the Chamber had 40 companies providing funding as they sought businesses to advance year-round employment, not just during tourism season.
Arjes recounted how the Springfield Economic Development Partnership lost regional support by becoming more focused on Springfield. When he came on board, Arjes moved to turn the name back into the Ozarks Regional Economic Development Partnership. The group today represents a 10-county territory, including Barry and Lawrence counties. The organization has access to detailed computer analytics that can calculate where employees come from who work in a town, where they go to shop, and how much of an impact an event like Mt. Vernon’s Apple Butter Makin’ Days has on the local economy. Those tools are available for local planners to use.
Resources also included a website, the ability to promote the use of premier sites in front of prospective businesses, with acreage and infrastructure, representing the region in marketing.
“If you have an initiative, you can call us,” he continued. “We can provide connectivity and subject matter experts, whatever we can do to further the effort. Our job is to absorb the politics and promote the deal.” he continued.
These involve overcoming the attitudes of NIMBY [Not In My Back Yard], CAVE [Citizens Against Virtually Everything], and BANANA [Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anybody].
Asked when an investor could see a return from putting money into such an effort, Arjes said the act of investing does not create a traditional return. “The return goes to the community. You’ll see it in the names on T-shirts of those supporting youth ball teams. If the private sector asks, ‘What do I get out of this?’, we’re probably not for you. The base increases if we are successful. We’re not necessarily adding new business. We’re more likely expanding the base you have.”
Brittni Bates from the Mt. Vernon Chamber asserted that keeping employers in today’s climate is a goal in itself. “When we had businesses leave to go to Springfield, we lose jobs and people. It’s not just our town that loses. If we keep people here, that’s a win,” she said.
Arjes pointed out that major companies looking to expand today will not even consider moving into a town with less than 500,000 people. Springfield, at 492,000 people, does not even qualify.
“With smaller rural communities, you need to focus on what you have. Play to your strengths – do a leakage analysis on retail, what is leaving to buy elsewhere, that level of boots-on-the-ground development.”
Robert Harrington, the new city administrator for Mt. Vernon who worked for 18 years in economic development, noted that when he entered the field, communities were “all chasing smokestacks” – manufacturing-based industries.
“Today in economic development, the quality of life piece has ticked its way to the top,” Harrington said. “Labor is such an issue. Businesses want to know if the community is attractive enough to bring people in. The CEO may be fine with the town, but what does the spouse think of it? Those little things are what you can work on.”
Harrington noted that 80 percent of job growth comes from businesses a town already has. Arjes added that in a more rural area like Barry and Lawrence counties, that number is more like 95 percent-plus.
Big issues identified for employers were housing and daycare options.
Harrington observed an employer will “tick down a list” of what’s needed for a business to thrive in a town. “Our job is to give him a list of things to sell,” he added.
Mickey Ary, Monett’s city administrator, said the city is working on building profile sheets addressing points that prospective employers want to see. He called this first gathering “a concept meeting.” The next session will be at noon on Thursday, Jan. 15, looking at a quarterly schedule, to discuss whys and how to make a successful push.
“We’re going to be better together,” Ary said. “What does that look like for our region? This area has lots of potential. We want to be in on that.”