The Board of Directors of the Moniteau County Regional Economic Development Council (MRED) approved hiring Mike Kelley as part-time economic developer at the regular monthly meeting March 8.
Kelley, who is retiring from a position with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, has been MRED board chairman for several years and has been involved with the organization since its beginning. For about a year, he has been the MRED contact person for those expressing interest in relocating to, or expanding in Moniteau County. In addition, Kelley was instrumental in obtaining U.S.D.A. grants for updating the website (www.mred.biz) and producing a promotional brochure.
The brochure provides quick facts about the county, including size, population and other information, such as available transportation, utilities and technology. The fiberoptics internet system available could be a good draw for some types of enterprises. The contract is for 20 hours a week of work. His duties are to begin May 1.
There were 18 people present at the meeting, held at Downtown Cafe, Tipton. The board set April 12 as the date for the MRED Annual Meeting, to be held at Burger Haus in California. The meeting, at which some of the MRED successes of 2016 will be celebrated, will begin at noon. The new slate of officers nominated will also be voted on. Those officers are: chairman, Calen Bestgen; vice chairman, Don Vanderfeltz; secretary, Norris Gerhart; and treasurer, Becky Lawson.
Other business discussed at the meeting included visits to local businesses to determine how the MRED might be of assistance, and workforce development ideas to assist local businesses find the employees needed. One of the problems brought up and discussed was the lack of adequate, affordable and safe housing for people moving into the community.