PERSONNEL: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR BRPC NAMED

Tyrone Thompson has been named executive director for the Bootheel Regional Planning and Economic Development Commission (BRPC).

Thompson replaces Leon Steinbruek, who announced his intention to retire near the end of last year. Steinbruek had joined the commission in August 1990 as director of economic development and became executive director in January 1996.

The BRPC, established in 1968 to promote economic and community development in Scott, Mississippi, New Madrid, Stoddard, Pemiscot and Dunklin counties, is one of 19 metropolitan and rural regional planning commissions in Missouri and provides both assistance and advice with regional and community comprehensive development planning.

Community development programs through the BRPC have included infrastructure and transportation projects, job training, services for the elderly, solid waste and recycling programs, tourism programs and a revolving loan fund for manufacturing-warehousing type industries and micro-enterprise loans for smaller businesses.