Simmons appointed economic development director

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- State utility regulator Kelvin Simmons was named Thursday by Gov. Bob Holden as the next director of the state Department of Economic Development.

Simmons, who has long been active in Democratic politics, was presumed to be the party's candidate for state treasurer next year until he announced in late September that he was not running and was relinquishing the chairmanship of the Public Service Commission.

Since then, Simmons has remained a member of the PSC, which is a part of the Economic Development Department.

The appointment comes just one day after current department director Joe Driskill said he was resigning Jan. 1 after spending a decade at the helm of the agency.

Driskill is taking a job as executive director of the Missouri Technology Corp., a nonprofit entity created by state law to promote the link between university research and new business technologies.

Simmons, 40, was appointed to the Public Service Commission by Gov. Mel Carnahan in June 2000, and previously served as a Kansas City councilman for nearly four years.

'Jobs, jobs and jobs'

"My goals at the department will be threefold -- jobs, jobs and jobs," Simmons said at a news conference announcing his appointment.

Holden said Simmons' top priority will be to recommend and implement immediate job-producing strategies and to redirect existing department resources to those efforts. Simmons cited one possibility as an emphasis on cities and counties using infrastructure improvements to create economic development.

Simmons' appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate, which convenes Jan. 7.

One of Simmons' duties will be to oversee an ongoing review of the state's tax credit programs, which Holden ordered after allegations of fraud and abuse in one incentive program intended to encourage high-tech businesses to expand or locate in low-income areas.

Holden and Driskill both said the troubles in the Rebuilding Communities program had nothing to do with Driskill's departure, which had been in the works for months.

Holden had asked the Legislature to eliminate the program earlier this year, before the problems came to light, and has included that request again in a proposal that would restructure some of the state's tax credit programs and provide department staff more tools to make sure the tax credits are being used correctly. Simmons said he would push for Holden's legislative proposals.

The Economic Development Department oversees a wide range of duties, including the administration of various business incentive and promotion programs and an economic research center.

The department also includes the state's tourism division, professional registration programs, the arts council, utility regulatory agency and some of the state's welfare-to-work programs.

------

On the Net

Economic Development Department: www.missouridevelopment.org