The Moniteau Regional Economic Development is making big plans for the future of Moniteau County.
Moniteau County is the eighth best place in Missouri for the best value for the money, according to an online report, which should help encourage new businesses to open here, said Mike Kelley, newly elected president and CEO of MRED.
One of the biggest developments recently has been expansions undertaken by three Moniteau County businesses, Kelley added. These are Burgers' Smokehouse, Koechner Manufacturing, and Martin Energy Services.
"These expansions, coupled with the partnership forming with California Progress Inc., will lead to great things for our county economy," he said.
These two organizations plan on helping accomplishing some mutual economic and developmental goals through projects such as, just for one example, of filling empty buildings in the county.
With workforce development in mind, one of the biggest factors to hiring and keeping employees for county businesses is the drug problem. That is why some local employers spoke out at the meeting that they are so happy with the crackdown on drugs by the sheriff in the county.
Another project involves getting more jobs and trained employees to the area.
"Developing a workforce in the area is a key issue," Kelley said. To that end, Kelley has put together a site registration form. "It's imperative we start getting this information."
MRED members have decided to take a proactive approach to workforce development and start with the future generation.
"The Workforce Development training that we have come up with is the career fair for the students," Kelley said.
High School Career day set on Oct. 17 in California. Tipton and Jamestown students will have the option have catching a ride to the event.
"I'd like to make one tract (of this application) mandatory," Kelley said. This tract is on how to properly fill out applications, as well as on how employees and employers can best work together.
"We have free training on work ethics. We teach how to get a job and then how to keep it," said Stefani Thompson, communications services specialist at Central Missouri Community Action. "We're more than just paying your electric bill. Everything we do is free."
CMCA offers a variety of services, some of which might include: community organizing, early Head Start, energy assistance, family development, foster grandparents, health insurance, housing choice vouchers, health insurance, housing development, microenterprise initiative, Missouri work assistance, mobility management, weatherization, and a Women's Business Center.
For more details on what the local office offers, stop by Central Missouri Community Action at 1116 South Oak St., Apt. 400, in California or call 573-796-3238. The fax number is: 573-340-6471.
In the future, area consumers and businesses might even be able to see this application available on the Chamber of Commerce website.
In addition, Kelley's opinion pieces on economic development also will start to be featured in the California Democrat newspaper.