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Jan. 22, 2008 For Immediate Release MRPC Compliments Local Economic Development Efforts By Providing Grant Assistance, Resources - Last of a Four-Part Series St. James—When it comes to economic development in the Meramec Region, Meramec Regional Planning Commission works behind the scenes, complimenting the efforts of cities and counties and their economic development professionals. “While we market the region as a whole, at some point, when a company is making a decision to locate, it comes down to City A or City B, and we don’t want to be in a position of promoting one Meramec community over another,” explained Richard Cavender, executive director of MRPC. MRPC makes sure that certain planning documents—such as the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy—are in place to qualify cities and counties for federal and state funding. “But our real work usually begins when the company makes its decision, and the community starts looking at funding opportunities for street improvements, sewer and water extensions and other infrastructure needed to accommodate the prospective business,” Cavender added. MRPC staff writes grant applications on behalf of the community and then serves as grant administrator. Nearly every industrial park in the Meramec Region was started when one company committed to locating there, and MRPC staff assisted local governments with the grant requests to install roads, sewer, water and electric. MRPC believes that you cannot have economic development without community development. A community must be able to offer the amenities that a company and its employees will need—such as decent housing, good roads and retail opportunities. MRPC has assisted some of its communities—St. James and Hermann— in securing funds for downtown revitalization projects. MRPC is currently overseeing an economic diversification study for Pulaski County to help it identify opportunities to be less dependent on the military. Staff is also helping Crawford County and the Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone with enhanced enterprise zone applications.” “We encourage our communities to be pro-active and identify the tools and resources that can enhance their community and economic development opportunities,” Cavender said. Housing is one area where MRPC has been proactive. Somewhat unique, MRPC provides staffing for the Phelps County Public Housing Agency, the Section 8 rental subsidy provider for Phelps, Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries and Washington counties and their cities with the exception of Rolla. In 2006-2007, the PHA provided nearly $2.4 million in rental assistance to an average of 725 families monthly. The staff also performed 1,800 unit inspections to insure that homes meet minimum health and safety standards. “Contrary to some beliefs, HUD actually raises the bar for all landlords, and communities tend to have better housing because of those landlords participating in the program” explained Linda Hollandsworth, the MRPC housing manager. To help maintain housing stock, MRPC and its sister non-profit Meramec Community Enhancement Corporation have been purchasing run-down housing, renovating it and selling it at its appraised value to first-time, eligible homebuyers. In addition, MRPC and MCEC assist with down payment and closing costs as needed and provide new appliances to the home. “The program is very similar to Habitat for Humanity, only we use existing housing and homebuyers must secure their own financing, which we help them do,” Cavender said. Since 1994, 30 homes have been improved and resold. One home is currently being renovated in Cuba and will soon be ready for a new family. MRPC also administers neighborhood development and lead abatement projects where grant funds are used to renovate privately owned homes, removing hazards like lead paint. MRPC is also assisting with the renovation of senior citizen housing in Leasburg and is helping four other senior citizens housing nonprofits to secure similar grant funds. Ensuring that small businesses have access to capital to grow and expand is important to the region’s vitality, and MRPC has provided loan funds to small businesses since the mid 1980s. MRPC and its sister nonprofit, the Meramec Regional Development Corp., makes loans in partnership with local banks. MRDC is a certified Small Business Administration development corporation and offers SBA 504 loans. MRPC owns two regional revolving loan funds, known as the RLF and IRP, valued at nearly $1 million. MRPC staff prepare the SBA 504 and the RLF and IRP loans, and the MRDC board—made up of area bankers, business owners and community leaders—reviews all loans. MRDC makes all loan decision on RLF and IRP requests and makes recommendations to SBA on the 504 projects, explained Connie Willman, planning and development manager. MRPC/MRDC provide a portion of the loan funds while the participating bank and the borrower provide the balance needed for the project. “It’s always a partnership, and our loan volume has been tremendous this year,” Willman explained. “We have prepared 17 SBA requests, three RLF and seven IRP, representing total projects of nearly $8.8 million, involving some 300 jobs. MRPC provides a lot of other services to assist cities and counties with their community and economic development efforts. “You have to remember that the services we provide are typically in response to a need one city or county may have,” Cavender said. “We fill in the gaps.” For that reason, MRPC also provides floodplain management services, ordinance codification services, 501©3 application assistance, as well as asbestos and lead assessments/inspections. Staff also provides support to some locally based organizations, such as the Gasconade County IDA and the Gasconade Valley Enterprise Zone. “While we are probably best known for our grant writing, we assist local governments and real estate professionals list commercial real estate on Missouri LocationOne, and we continually update the region’s marketing website, www.missourimeramecregion.org,” Cavender said, “ and tomorrow we will probably be doing something new because one of our cities or counties needs our help.” When former Rolla Mayor Floyd Ferrell was chairman of MRPC, he was often heard saying, “What is good for one is good for all,” as he stressed the value of working together through MRPC. When one Meramec city lands a new company or a local company expands, nearby cities and counties benefit. onally,” Cavender said. “In fact, it is because of Rolla community leaders that the Wal-Mart Distribution Center, the region’s largest private employer, is in St. James. When Rolla couldn’t meet the company’s needs, Rolla leaders suggested a site in St. James, now home to the distribution center. What is good for one of our communities does tend to benefit the rest, and we are fortunate that community leaders from all across the Meramec Region are able to work together for the betterment of all. That’s what MRPC is all about, ” Cavender concluded. For more information on MRPC—or to read the complete four-part series—visit www.meramecregion.org. MRPC’s board meets the second Thursday of each month at 4 Industrial Drive in St. James. Meetings are open to the public. |