Our Opinion: Outlook for continued growth amid uncertainty

Monday, February 25, 2013

The outlook for Central Missouri is encouraging.

Special sections in Sunday’s News Tribune chronicled economic development and infrastructure achievements in 2012 and the outlook for continued growth.

Our community has fared better than other geographic areas and remains a solid foundation on which to build.

“If we can get momentum going, it can be a pretty good year,” said Randy Allen, president of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce.

The retail sector has been active, with new businesses opening, as well as significant expansions, relocations and improvements.

The number of building permits issued during 2012 also marked an increase from previous years, with 406 requests that translated into a total valuation of $1.6 million.

The housing market posted a marked increase over 2011. Bunnie Trickey Cotton, president of the Jefferson City Area Board of Realtors, said 2012 sales were up about 25 percent over the previous year.

Significant infrastructure improvements also were completed, including a major renovation of East McCarty Street and construction of an interchange at Missouri 179 and Mission Drive to serve a new St. Mary’s Health Center and, if voters approve, a new Jefferson City High School.

Patterns of growth largely reflect consumer confidence.

A potential stumbling block to economic momentum on both the local and state level is the inability at the national level to develop and adhere to a model for a stable and steady economic recovery.

Each failure by Congress to approve a budget, each act of procrastination and each looming sequester or fiscal cliff erodes public confidence in our collective future.

Amid this uncertainty, the significant achievements and continuing growth in Central Missouri are all the more impressive.

More like this story

JCLifer 2 months, 3 weeks ago

Where are the high-wage jobs?

More minimum wage retail jobs are OK, but this area sorely needs living wage jobs, as well as high wage jobs to improve the quality of life and standard of living for all. Minimum wage jobs are net negatives.

Strange how the tone of this editorial is so different than the very recent article outlining the shortfall of revenues that the city is receiving.

You can keep telling us things are getting better, but in reality, folks need to ask themselves if they are better off now than they were five years ago. I would bet the answer to that question would be a resounding "NO".

connor 2 months, 3 weeks ago

From my road trips around the state I have taken during 2012 I would say that yes Jefferson City and the Columbia area seem to be faring better than other areas. Markedly so compared to a few, but I wonder how much of that is a sort of micro-State level effect like they are seeing in around Washington DC.

A higher percentage of Government employees is about the only way a community is managing to fare better these days.

By the looks of things their time is coming so there be a different editorial tune playing next year.

Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting

Or login with:

OpenID

News Tribune