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Mississippi County launches economic development board and ‘Success with Supporters’ campaign
CHARLESTON, Mo. – Over three years ago, Mississippi County commissioners approached a group of local constituents in hopes of revitalizing and building a new Industrial Development Authority board.
According to Presiding Commissioner Jamie Conn, the county’s focus for a strong future depends upon economic development and recruitment.
“We (the commissioners) have been watching the success stories, like the Carlisle Company, happening all around us in Scott and New Madrid Counties as well as the City of Sikeston,” said Conn. “Our county has many strong attributes, and it’s time for us to market ourselves to potential industries and businesses to increase revenue and create jobs.”
To achieve this vision of economic prosperity, the commission appointed a seven-person board of directors to act as ambassadors and recruiters for the county. According to the by-laws of the Industrial Development Authority of the County of Mississippi, Missouri, each director shall be a duly qualified elector and taxpayer in Mississippi County. Board members serve on a rotating schedule, ultimately serving four-year terms. It is the responsibility of the board to promote the growth of new and expanding businesses along with family-sustaining job creation throughout Mississippi County.
“We re-activated the old IDA founded back in the late 1970s and selected these board members who bring a variety of expertise, leadership and commitment to the IDA,” Conn said. “The commissioners and I have watched them since 2021 start from the ground up, and we are excited about the five-year strategic plan they have drafted for economic impact and growth for the county.”
Current IDA board members include: Anna Ferrell, president; Tim Rolwing, vice president; Stephen McConkey, secretary; Jayne Ellen Ray, treasurer; and Rodney Jones, Amber Childers and Gretta Goodin Rolwing, directors.
According to Ferrell, the knowledge gleaned and shared is immeasurable; however, it sets the foundation for a major economic shift for Mississippi County.
“Through countless hours of meetings, webinars and group discussions during the past three years, the knowledge the board has gained in economic development, site certification, site selection, grant funding, public policy and tax incentives has been exponential.” Ferrell said. “We have quietly been working in the background to seek out potential land and property owners who would be interested in selling ground/buildings for large industries, distribution centers and retail establishments.”
The IDA sought out local city managers to develop active working relationships to recruit new business opportunities. These projects include building databases and site maps for available properties in their cities.
For years, those seeking to expand their operations or bring new business to Missouri, long overlooked the Bootheel, Ferrell said. However, newly formed relationships with Missouri Partnership and Missouri Department of Economic Development sprouted new seeds of hope. Between 2022 and 2023, the IDA, through the direction of Missouri Partnership and MDED, participated in three site visits with potential clients who were seeking to build or set-up operations in Southeast Missouri.
“We’ve been diligently working to capture the attention of key state agencies and organizations, and now they acknowledge Mississippi County as a serious economic development contender,” Ferrell said. “These drivers of economic growth recognize our passion, dedication and commitment to economic growth and are more than willing to direct us in a path that leads to prosperity for our area. The board’s philosophy is, ‘If we keep casting our net, we will catch something,’ and we firmly believe we will.”
During the site visits with national and international companies, the IDA highlighted Mississippi County’s abundant water supply, easy access to two major U.S. interstates, affordable land, low cost of living, small-town quality of life and a port that features the northern-most ice-free area of the Mississippi River.
“To think we are selling Mississippi County to CEOs, CFOs and site consultants from global companies is exciting and overwhelming. It is a true privilege to tell others why we choose to call this place home and how we could help their operation thrive if they choose to come here,” Ferrell said.
Many local residents may be asking, “Why hasn’t this been done before?” The short answer is money, Ferrell said.
“Most of our neighboring counties have full-time, paid economic development staff,” she said. “The sole function of these employees is to recruit new business, support existing business and seek out grant opportunities to further growth within their county. At this time, Mississippi County lacks the additional revenue stream to fund a full-time position.”
However, the county commissioners, through the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, federal funds grant, allocated $50,000 in 2023 and $50,000 in 2024 to serve as seed money for the IDA. This grant enabled the IDA to hire a part-time executive director, Bree Hileman. Hileman is a native of Southern Illinois and brings over 21 years of experience from the Southern Illinois Electric Cooperative.
“Bree is a tremendous asset for the economic development office,” Ferrell said. “Her organizational skills are exceptional and her willingness to jump right in and hit the ground running is something we knew we needed.”
According to Hileman, she was looking for a challenge and a way to give back to an area that is near and dear to her heart.
“I have lots of family and friend connections between both Southern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, and am thrilled to be a part of this new venture,” Hileman said.
Hileman gives her family credit for teaching her the importance of hard work and giving back to the local community. “Most people are familiar with my family who owned Mack’s in Cairo, Illinois. My parents were the hardest-working people I have ever known. As a small-business owner, I saw firsthand how important small business is to the local economy,” Hileman said. “We need a mix of small businesses and larger industries to stimulate our local economy and keep people working and living here in Mississippi County.”
With Hileman leading the charge, the board is ready to hit the ground running with a new website, social media and marketing campaigns that launched in July along with a special “Success with Supporters” drive.
“To keep up with our neighboring counties and states, we need financial support, buildable sites and community support if we want to see Mississippi County become the true crossroads of America that we know it can be,” Ferrell said.
The board would like to thank all those who have supported and encouraged the IDA to this point including Mississippi County commissioners; Lesley Rone, Missouri Department of Economic Development; Missouri Partnership, Bootheel Regional Planning Commission; Marcie Lawson and Kathy Medley, Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development; Matt Huber, Liberty Utilities; Loyd Rice, SEMO Electric; Phil Halter and Greg Luehmann, Charleston city managers; East Prairie Mayor Kevin Mainord; and Colin Cecil, City of East Prairie.
Soon, the IDA will be reaching out to county business leaders and residents to participate in the upcoming Success with Supporters campaign. According to Ferrell, the future success of the board and economic development depends upon local participation financially and collaboratively.
“Our board needs to operate with investors who support economic development on an annual basis,” Ferrell said. “Our local investors will meet annually with the board for progress updates on all projects and provide feedback for future growth.”
The board plans to host engagement sessions with local businesses and community investors to discuss the Success with Supporters project in the next couple of months.
The board also invites the public to stop by the IDA office in the Mississippi County Courthouse in Charleston to met Hileman, ask questions and provide constructive feedback for the economic growth of Mississippi County. Regular office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday.