Partnership is formed to bring economic development to region

State Rep. Donnie Brown (standing) speaks about the need to support a regional approach to economic development with local business, education and political leaders during a recent meeting.

NEW MADRID, Mo. - To bring jobs to the Bootheel requires a team effort, Lesley Rone told New Madrid County business, education and political leaders.

According to Rone, who serves as the Southeast regional manager for the Missouri Department of Economic Development’s Regional Engagement Division, several years ago the DED restructured and developed a regional approach to economic development. The Southeast Region includes 25 counties.

The problem, she continued, is that of those 25 counties only she and six others are paid to do economic development.

Using a team approach, Sarah Ezell (standing left), and Marcie Lawson (standing right) say they want to work together to bring business to New Madrid, Mississippi and Scott counties.

She described their jobs as the boots on the ground.

“The main things we do are business expansion and retention. Eighty percent of the job growth we have comes from our existing companies’ growth, not brand new, whiz-bang things coming in,” Rone said. “While that is awesome when it happens it is much more frequent that a company that has 25 people will start another line and now they have 32 people or 35 people.”

According to Rone, those involved in regional economic development work closely with companies to ensure they have what they need to operate and grow. Also they work with area chambers of commerce, the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission, the Ozark Foothills Commission and others to determine if grants are available to assist companies grow.

Rone pointed out New Madrid and Mississippi counties need representation to promote economic development.

“There is a world of difference between these folks who have people paid to do economic development by pushing information out about your community than companies out there stumbling upon your community,’ Rone said.

When a company does request information, she continued, the request is typically very detailed and must be completed quickly. That is also the role of the economic developer.

“It is usually three pages of questions on a Thursday morning and they want a response by Friday at 5 o’clock, she said. “You have to have the connections. You have got to be out there building those connections so you can do that 36-hour turnaround.”

Also attending the meeting were Sarah Ezell (see related article), who began Oct. 1 as the New Madrid County economic development director, and Marcie Lawson, president and CEO of the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation.

Lawson spoke about the importance of having a certified site available and listed with the state of Missouri. While the process for a certified site is very detailed, she explained, it places it on a short list of areas available for industries.

“When you google New Madrid County, nothing shows up, nothing,” Lawson said. “You have got to have someone focused on it.”

Lawson added it isn’t necessary to have an economic developer in every county. However, with a regional approach and working together she said Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi counties would make better use of their resources and not duplicate efforts.

“We want to be working and putting the best site forward that works for the project and not to compete with each other,” Lawson said.

According to Lawson the Sikeston Regional Chamber and Area Economic Development Corporation is already behind the regional proposal. The Board of Directors is currently changing its by-laws to have a designated seat on it for a representative from New Madrid County and from Mississippi County.

Recently Angie Kellams was named to be the New Madrid County representative on the Board.

Bringing the meeting to a close was 149th District State Rep. Donnie Brown.

Brown pointed out in 2007, New Madrid County established a Mayors Association with the 15 towns in the county coming together to tackle issues.

“We knew we needed more economic development because nobody was doing it. So we took that on,” he said. “We have all been doing this thing voluntarily but it is too big to do as a volunteer.”

He also noted the success other areas of the state have in using the regional concept in economic development. Bringing together the counties of Scott, New Madrid and Mississippi along with the city of Sikeston would create a strong regional partnership, Brown said.

“This is just the next step to how good we want to be. We have an opportunity like no other right now. We have a governor coming in that is economic-development minded. We have a House of Representatives and senators that see the vision he has got and want to work with him. And we have a team of rock stars,” Brown said, referring to Rone, Lawson and Ezell.

Also Brown said the Mayors Association has dedicated money to help fund Ezell’s salary. However, he continued, more money is needed and asked other individuals and companies to join in funding the effort, dubbed Progress with Partnership.

“To really make this thing good we have to put our own resources into it. We have got to take this thing where we just don’t just have a person but give her the ability to go out and market it and put it out before these people where it needs to be,” he said. “We need all of us to join in so we can really push this thing and really make it happen.”

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Those interested in supporting the Progress with Partnership can send the name of their business or organization, contact information and check to Progress with Partnership, 215 N. New Madrid St., Sikeston, MO 63801.