MRED seeks to initiate a business startup program

The Board of Directors of the Moniteau County Regional Economic Development Council (MRED) gave a go-ahead to a new business startup program proposed by Chairman/CEO Mike Kelley. This proposal was made at the regular monthly meeting July 12, at the Old Town Cafe, Tipton.

The purpose of the program is to encourage entrepreneurs to start and keep a business in Moniteau County. It is planned to conduct events to expose local entrepreneurs to resources which can take their business idea and, hopefully turn it into an actual business. The plans are for Startup Moniteau to consist of three phases.

The first phase consists of business mixers. The plan is to have at least one of the mixers in every community in the county, which will have representatives from various organizations with resources that could help local entrepreneurs "make their business dream" a reality. The idea is that this will lead to the second phase.

The second phase planned is a startup weekend. At this event, entrepreneurs with local connections would share their stories of starting a business. Representatives from various organizations should be on hand and can hopefully help entrepreneurs find available resources. This is planned to be a once a year event.

The third phase of the program will be a "pitch competition." The idea is for local entrepreneurs to be able to present their business ideas to a panel experts from outside the county. The plan is to have enough sponsorship to be able to provide funds required to be used as seed money to start their business in Moniteau County. Kelley said there is an important question the MRED members need to ask themselves, "What is your role in the organization?" he then said, "We're all on the same team." Speaking of the need to find out who is interested in starting a business, Kelley said the way everyone can help the organization is to show up at the business mixers.

In other business, it has been arranged for Tipton and Jamestown high school juniors to attend the annual Career Fair at California High School. Related to that was the suggestion to find a way for high school students in the county, who do not plan to go to college, to have an apprenticeship program. Some may think they would like factory work, but once on the job they discover it isn't for them. According to Mark Koechner (Koechner Manufacturing) and Steven Burger (Burgers' Smokehouse), sometimes it is better to teach some types of work through apprenticeship, because there are too many bad habits picked up which have to be unlearned once on the job.

The board approved paying the dues to both the Missouri Economic Development Council and Mid-Missouri Regional Planning Commission dues. The next regular meeting date and location will be announced later.