Sikeston chamber director offers to help Scott County with economic development

BENTON, Mo. -- A local chamber of commerce director has a solution to Scott County not being able to afford an in-house economic developer: outsource.

Missy Marshall, executive director for Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce, proposed during the regular county commission meeting Tuesday that she handle the county's economic development.

The county's former county developer, Joel Evans, resigned in December to take another position.

When speaking to company officials seeking a location for their business, Marshall said, she would like to be able to say, "I'm representing the Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce -- and I'm representing Scott County."

Marshall said she can provide the county with a range of services including "having a presence at very specific trade shows" as well as "very focused marketing" and "an electronic presence."

The contract would include developing print and online marketing materials for the county to "boost the county's presence without spending a fortune."

Marshall said the county needs marketing materials to distinguish itself at economic development functions -- specifically a "one-piece," which she explained is a single sheet of paper, printed on front and back, with information about the county.

While the contract would "take some stress away from this commission," Marshall said she would need at least one commissioner "to represent the county commission with authority" at some meetings.

Marshall proposed a one-year contract for $9,000 that could be renewed the following year.

"I thought this might be a good fit for you right now," she said.

Other business

In other business during Tuesday's meeting, representatives from the Scott County University of Missouri Extension office presented their annual report and budget request.

The amount requested was $37,440, according to Commissioner Donnie Kiefer.

"It's the same as 2010 appropriations were," Kiefer said.

David Reinbott, agriculture business specialist and county program director for the Scott County University of Missouri Extension, briefly discussed several of the programs offered to county residents through the extension.

Reinbott said they have been seeing more participation in the 4-H program and an increased interest in gardening programs.

"Everybody has a yard, and lot of people have a garden," Reinbott said.

Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn said with the economy still recovering, he would think a lot more people are trying to grow some of their own produce.

"Everyone wants to eat healthy," Ziegenhorn said.

Maude Harris, nutrition/health education specialist, said the community garden project in Sikeston was a success.

"We figured out that we averaged about 10 pounds of vegetables per day," Harris said. "We had tomatoes, okra, cabbage, green beans, peppers, cantaloupes and watermelons. We also had greens for the fall."

Strawberry plants were established as well "hopefully for a harvest this year," she added.

Harris described it as "a people's garden" with produce going to local residents.

"We will be doing it again," she said. "We will probably plant corn and sweet potatoes this time along with what we did last year."

The project was coordinated by Open Door Fellowship Ministries with assistance from the extension office and Darin Gant, district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.

"We're looking for other groups that would like to start one this year," Harris said.

Pertinent address:

Benton, MO

Sikeston, MO