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Missouri Receives Technology Accreditation
The Missouri Small Business Development Centers (MO SBDC), a program of the University of Missouri Extension’s business development initiative, has been awarded accreditation for special assistance to high-growth and high-technology companies within Missouri. States awarded this specialized accreditation have demonstrated the ability to provide highly individualized technological assistance to businesses experiencing rapid growth. All Missouri SBDCs are now known as Small Business and Technology Development Centers.
Only four other SBDC programs (North Carolina, Michigan, Maine and Ohio) have been awarded the accreditation, which has been available since 2001. Missouri has been working toward the accreditation since 1999 by providing training to interested staff and initiating the Missouri Federal and state Technology Partnership Program, which assists entrepreneurs in obtaining Small Business Innovative Research and Small Business Technology Transfer grants from the federal government for the commercialization of innovation.
Local Enterprise Recognized Nationally
El Centro, Inc. has been recognized by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), a national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization, as its Central Region Affiliate of the Year finalist. The finalists are recognized for conducting exemplary work in serving the local community, making positive and measurable impacts on the lives of Latinos, and supporting NCLR’s policy and programmatic initiatives.
Healthcare Conference Covers Self-Funding
Employers and health plan sponsors will have an opportunity to discuss self-funding options with both carriers and brokers during a September 20-21 conference at the Overland Park Sheraton. The Savvy Self-Funding Conference and Expo for Employers will feature 50 exhibitors and dozens of speakers who will offer insights on the various facets of self-funding health insurance plans. The conference was created to provide employers an opportunity to discover resources to manage healthcare costs. Visit www.savvyemployerconference.com for more information.
Program Benefits Local Schools
The Backgrounds Division of Clarence M. Kelley and Associates (CMKA) has introduced a program called “Invest in Tomorrow,” which is designed to contribute financial resources to area schools. At the conclusion of the 2005-2006 school year, CMKA will contribute 1 percent of each district’s background check expenditures to that district’s educational foundation. This will increase by 1 percent each school year, capping out at 7 percent. CMKA also is offering to give 1 percent of other qualified area organizations’ background check expenditures to a school district of their choice as a contribution in their name.
Small Business Advocate Becomes Director of the Mint
President Bush has nominated national small business advocate Terry Neese as director of the Mint at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Neese co-founded Women Impacting Public Policy, a bi-partisan women’s business group that serves as the public policy voice for 33 business organizations. Upon Senate confirmation, Neese will serve on the President’s economic team, which is important because she will be involved in the conception of economic policy.
Missouri Rated As Top Economic Area
Expansion Management, a monthly magazine for company executives who make facility expansion and relocation decisions, has ranked Missouri as one of the leading states for having a business-friendly climate that attracts industry and new jobs. Missouri had five metro areas—Columbia, Jefferson City, Kansas City, Springfield, and St. Louis—that received the distinction “Five-Star Business Opportunity.” The magazine competition was based on seven major studies and surveys the magazine’s research department conducted over the past year that ranked communities on several characteristics important to corporate site selectors.
Study Finds Women Business Owners Savvy Risk Takers
Many women business owners, which now number 10.6 million nationwide, are willing to take substantial financial risks to ensure the success of their business, according to a study from the Center for Women’s Business Research underwritten by Wells Fargo. The report, “Women Entrepreneurs Savvy About Risk,” also says women business owners are much more willing to take risks in running their businesses than in their personal finances. Risk taking was consistent among all types of women-owned businesses in the study, regardless of company size, age of business or personal characteristics of the business owner, such as age, education or ethnicity. Visit www.womensbusinessresearch.org for more information.
Business Bargains
Missouri and Kansas are among the most inexpensive places to do business in the country, giving them an advantage in attracting new jobs and industries, according to a study conducted by the Milken Institute. The cost of doing business in Missouri is about 13 percent below the national average index calculated by the institute, which calculates the index based on wage costs, tax burden, electricity costs and the industrial and office rent costs. Out of the 50 states, Missouri ranked 36th, and Kansas ranked 33rd.
Health Care Affordability
Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius has appointed Dr. Marcia Nielsen to chair the new Kansas Health Policy Authority. The authority is tasked with finding ways to reduce the cost of health care and expand health insurance coverage for Kansas families. It also will develop and maintain a coordinated health policy agenda that combines effective purchasing and administration of health care with health promotion and public health strategies.
Missouri Exports Ahead of Last Year’s Pace
Missouri’s exports through the first half of 2005 are about half a billion dollars ahead of the record $9 billion in global sales set in 2004, according to the Missouri Department of Economic Development. Through the end of June, Missouri’s exports totaled $5.1 billion, compared to $4.6 billion at the same time last year, an 11 percent increase. Canada was Missouri’s top trading partner, with $4 billion worth of exports. Mexico was second with $946 million and Japan third with $433 million.
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