MRED (Moniteau County Regional Economic Development Council) Chairman Mike Kelley spoke at the July 13 meeting, an event to announce the USDA Rural Development Grant to the MRED, scheduled for July 19. The event is to announce the grant funds approved to assist MRED in completing feasibility and marketing studies for broadband internet service.
The board was updated on the project being funded with help from the grant funds. Consultant Bob Donnelly, Missouri Technology Business Development Ecosystem, LLC, Branson, referred to the surveys being evaluated. "We expected about 15 percent to respond," Donnelly said. "So far 26 percent of the household surveys have been returned. We have a few more in hand that just came in."
He reported that 56 percent of those who responded reported that they use the internet. Of those who do not, 61 percent reported they did not have Internet. For some this is due to cost, for some no internet connection, and others use it at work or elsewhere. About a third of those who do not use internet reported that they don't know how to use it. When the survey results are compiled, a more extensive report will be presented.
Cliff Callis of Callis Integrated Marketing, Sedalia, presented preliminary work to the board on another part of the project assisted by the USDA grant. Callis presented some the planned MRED website upgrades. In addition to bringing the website up to marketing and technology standards, he is working to make administration of the site easier. The website needs to be more readable with ready access to the information on the website concerning the positive aspects of expansion in or relocation to Moniteau County. An effort is being made to obtain information on all tracts for building or existing facilities which could be of interest to business prospects. "We need to get the list in and online," said MRED Chair person Kelley. "It's impossible for us to know every 80-acre plot which could be of interest for possible development."
The website is hoped to be developed in such a way to create a market program for the region, which will help entice business to locate, relocate or expand in the Moniteau County region. Part of the work is to make it an attractive website, which the interested party will find easy to access, then will find attractive enough to continue on.
Callis is working on including county information, such as statistics and available technology and utilities, as well as quality of life , possible business assistance, industry profiles (manufacturing, agribusiness and entrepreneurial) and available sites.
Brief write-up, photographs and recent MRED news is also planned to be included on the MRED website (www.mred.biz).
Aug. 10, the day of the regular MRED board meeting, will be a special meeting at the California City Hall from 10:30 a.m to 1 p.m. with lunch provided. At that meeting, Callis & Associates will do the SWOT Analysis that will help them in development of the marketing material which will come out of the USDA grant.
"Please make every effort to be at this meeting and invite anyone you think might be interested in giving their input into the strengths and weaknesses of our county to come," Kelley said.