As we head into the fourth month of this new administration, we are feeling more and more confident about the mission for our state and how we expect to meet our targets. Missourians elected Gov. Eric Greitens for a reason—they wanted something new and someone with a new vision. 

Gov. Greitens hit the ground running by putting in place business friendly initiatives and successfully passing key pieces of legislation, including Right to Work and Tort Reform. He is also making some significant changes here in Jefferson City that will soon be felt throughout the state. He hired Drew Erdmann as Missouri’s first Chief Operating Officer, charged with cutting waste, fraud, abuse, and redundant services and programs that hinder business development and job creation.  And I can tell you after meeting with Mr. Erdmann personally and hearing him address the Hawthorn Foundation-- that he has an excellent grasp on how to lighten the load, redirect our sail, and steer the ship towards greatness. He continues to underscore the importance of building up our workforce so that we can meet businesses’ demands both now and tomorrow.

The governor is also making his schedule available at any time of the day to help our department and our partners close deals with businesses and land their expansion projects. Creating more, higher-paying private sector jobs for Missouri families was the platform he ran on and it continues to be the drum beat we march to. In just four short months, we’ve partnered with 18 companies to make expansion announcements (and dozens more are in process) throughout the state. From Harrisonville to Hazelwood and Carthage to Columbia, these companies have signed up to create more than 1,600 jobs right here in Missouri. Here is what the governor posted on facebook recently after speaking with just one of the many companies announcing expansions in the Show-Me State this year:

"We are working hard every single day to get more jobs with higher pay for Missourians—and businesses and companies across our state are taking notice of the new direction we’re taking the state.

More companies around Missouri have made plans to expand, and we know that every job they create is a life and a family’s life changed. SugarCreek Packing Co. plans to create 70 new jobs at its facility in Carthage where it will add new manufacturing. TopOPPS is a software company with plans to expand and create more than 35 jobs. ACCI Specialty Materials, a startup that manufactures chemical products for the aerospace and automotive industries, is planning to add 14 jobs at its facility in Harrisonville. And Pipkins, a software company based in Chesterfield, will add 10 good paying jobs to its community. Thank you to these companies who are investing in the state of Missouri. You sent me here to fight for you and to fight for more jobs with higher pay—and we’re going to continue to do everything we can to make sure that we put Missourians back to work." 

Despite the less than desirable budget situation and unpredictable global marketplace, we are putting our stock in the people of this state and the vision that sees them succeeding. In fact, just last week, the governor announced a new rural broadband program that will build infrastructure so that all public schools will have access to high speed internet. We are only as strong as our weakest members and by making sure kids in every corner of the state have the same tools, we are solidifying a more prosperous future for all.

As we continue to look at economic development through a new lens, I want to personally invite you to attend Gov. Greitens’ first ever conference on economic development, Not Business As Usual. Gov. Greitens plans to share his vision for the state, introduce the new leaders in state government, and unite our communities to become a part of one mission, one state. We hope to see you in St. Louis, Sept. 6-8 at the Hilton at the Ballpark. Get ready to throw out the book and start taking field notes because under Greitens, economic development is Not Business As Usual.