State business marketing chief talks at First Friday Coffee

Christopher Chung, the man charged with marketing Missouri to new businesses, spoke about the mission of his organization, the Missouri Partnership, during the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce First Friday Coffee at the Show Me Center.

Missouri Partnership, a not-for-profit economic development organization, is contracted by the Missouri Department of Economic Development to be the marketing and job recruitment arm of the state.

When looking at what economic development is at a statewide level, there are three things states need to do, Chung said. They are:

* Taking care of existing businesses by helping them to continue to grow;

* Creating a business climate, including a tax structure and regulation process that is friendly to entrepreneurs looking to start and grow new companies; and

* Working to attract new businesses to the state.

"Things are getting busier. More and more companies are now looking to expand or relocate," said Chung, who has been CEO since the organization was formed three-and-a-half years ago.

In 2010, the organization helped recruit 13 new businesses to Missouri, bringing 2,273 jobs, $113.1 million in new payroll, and $86.4 million in new capital.

Missouri Partnership has a $3 million annual budget and a 10-member staff at it St. Louis office focused on promoting the benefits of operating a business in Missouri. It receives both public funding and private financial support. Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce president and CEO John Mehner sits on the organization's board of directors.

Missouri has the fifth-lowest energy cost and the seventh-best transportation system in the United States, Chung said.

In addition to recruiting new businesses, Missouri Partnership also works with lawmakers to make changes in the state's tax and regulatory structure that are business-friendly.

"We want to make sure that Missouri's business climate is as competitive as it can possibly be," Chung said.

For more information on the organization, visit www.missouripartnership.com.

mmiller@semissourian.com

388-3646

Pertinent address:

1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO