The eConference provides business owners the change to learn what other organizations are doing to be more green while saving some “green” while networking with others who have implemented green practices or are in the process.  Citizens can gather insights about what businesses and schools are doing to go green, discover available (or new) green products, and get ideas for things to do at home.  The eConference also targets educators to incorporate green ideas in the classroom, teaching what is relevant to the real world.

As one of the eConference sponsors, the WIB is preparing a breakout session titled, Regional Trends and Hiring Activities for Local Green Jobs.  The session examines the latest employment numbers in green-oriented occupations. strategies to expand green economic development, and cross-state linkages with neighboring states in the Heartland 411 partnership.

• Official eConference Website and Registration Links
• eConference Agenda with sessions and topics (PDF)

• Video and news article from KODE-TV
• Index site for Georgetown University study

The mission of MEDC is to serve as an authoritative voice in Missouri on economic development and related issues through an effective program of professional development, public policy, marketing and communications.  MEDC is a statewide, not-for-profit association of economic development professionals and community leaders. Created in 1979 to provide a unified voice for economic development, MEDC offers its members programs in professional education, legislation and marketing.

MEDC is dedicated to enhancing economic growth through its own program initiatives and in collaboration with other economic development entities. Whether working independently or in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Economic Development, the Hawthorn Foundation, or other groups, MEDC is proud of its reputation to get the job done … effectively and professionally.

Known for expertise with integration of workforce development and economic development, Jones brings a valuable workforce perspective to MEDC’s leadership.  The board post runs through June of 2011.  The association recognized Jones as its Affiliate Member of the Year in 2008.  Jones joins Gail Noggle, director for economic development in Republic, MO, in representing more than two dozen counties of the state known as District 6 for MEDC.

KOAM interviewed Joplin mayor Gary Shaw and Chamber President Rob O’Brian on what businesses are looking for in terms of city size and the Joplin region’s current threshold that factors surrounding communities and daily traffic.   Jasen Jones at the WIB provided comments on additional grants available to communities that surpass population milestones and face new challenges related to growth.

• Freeman Health System at #6 with 109% growth
• Able Manufacturing and Assembly at #7 with 113% growth
• Crowder College at #10 with 113.5% growth

The March 22nd edition of the Journal includes profiles on these and other gazelle-growth firms.  JTSB hosted an awards ceremony March 18th.  In a column wrapping up the March 22nd edition, editor Chris Roberts cited that the twelve firms had a combined revenue over a three-year period that topped $3.67 billion.  ”The executives, managers, and even ground-level employees at these top 12 companies astound me with their sense of purpose and determination to push forward,” Roberts noted.

The journal interviewed Jasen Jones at the WIB to discuss the impact of the job creation and services being provided through the WIB and the Missouri Career Center at Monett.  While onsite comments from Miracle were not available to the journal, the article cited an October 21st press release by corporate parent Playpower, Inc., the company is consolidating its domestic manufacturing operations to a center of excellence in Monett.

While the journal is a subscription-only access, IEDC’s home page plugs the two articles with specific references to the Chamber and the Southwest Missouri WIB.   The first article is titled Survey Finds Economic-Workforce Development Collaborations Are the “New Normal”.    Economic developers see greater value in workforce development now than ever before.   That’s clear from the partnerships, activities and plans reported in this survey, even though administrative barriers and misalignments remain.

The title of the second article suggests a positive contrast:  In Southwest Missouri, Economic and Workforce Developers Achieve Results through Real Collaboration. The Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce have worked together successfully to retain and attract companies, develop a skilled workforce, secure financial resources, and position the region to compete in the global economy.  Here’s a look at how they’ve done it.

• International Economic Development Council
• Similar feature recently from Workforce Marketing Solutions magazine (PDF)

MSSU’s Robert Plaster Free Enterprise and Cornell Auditorium, Room 201 is the location for Thursday’s event, running from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.   Hosts include MSSU’s Small Business & Technology Development Center, the MSSU Center for Entrepreneurship, Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, and the Joseph Newman Innovation Center.  GovFest is part of the sponsors’ recognition of National Entrepreneurship Week, which runs February 20-27.

Representatives of more than two dozen service providers will be on hand with exhibits, brief presentations, and Q&A visits.  Business owners can discover opportunities for funding, training, research, and numerous other impact categories.   To register or obtain more information, call 417-625-3128 or use this email link.

Following a busy holiday season and kickoff for 2010, regional leaders are ready for follow-up on strategies refined at the November regional visioning summit at Bentonville. The event includes a forum on economic recovery progress to kickoff the summit. Lunch and refreshments are included at no charge to attendees.

Summit Agenda:

• Focus Group Forum on Economic Recovery Progress (in conjunction with the Southern Growth Policies Board)
• Networking Lunch
• Recap of November Summit Outcomes
• Breakout Sessions on Next Steps
• Green Sector Survey
• Summit Closing and General Announcements

Interested  attendees may register online at the link below or send their contact information by email to scloyd@joplincc.com.  Questions or ideas for the summit may be directed to Jasen Jones by calling 417-206-1717 or by email to ceo@workforcezone.net.  For interested stakeholders not able to attend the event onsite, the WIB is planning to offer a live web video stream of the summit.  Remote viewers may sign-up and select the streaming option through the same registration link below.

• Register Online
• Campus/Area Map with Meeting Location (PDF)

Background for the February Summit

Stakeholders met previously in November at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Bentonville.   Guest moderators Jason Gatz and Tom Miller facilitated group discussions on the start of a SWOT analysis and emerging themes for regional planning based on targeted phone interviews of regional leaders.  Attendees provided valuable insights through breakout sessions on regional opportunities, priorities, and possible obstacles.  The February summit is set to debut a summary report of regional efforts to date.

Leading off the summit is a focus group forum session on regional economic recovery progress.    The February 19th opening session is held in collaboration with the Southern Growth Policies Board as part of a network of other community forums across a network of thirteen other southern states.  Titled, The Road to Recovery…Making Choices for Your Community, insights from the Four-States event at NEO are factored in the overall research report to southern states Governors and business leaders later in 2010.

“CSW is not new to the field of promoting excellence in local workforce boards,” noted Jasen Jones, Executive Director of the Southwest Missouri WIB.  ”The WIB Quality Benchmarking national body of research published by CSW in 2006 helped set a baseline and chart the progress of our WIB and dozens of others across the country.”

Jones anticipates using the new CSW report as a tool to engage stakeholders in the growing work of the local WIB and the opportunities emerging for federal workforce policy reform.  As one of two Missouri representatives in CSW’s Workforce Innovators Network and the current Secretary/Treasurer for Training and Employment Administrators of Missouri, Jones is eager to expand the scope of influence for local WIBs in state and national workforce legislation and resources.

• The Critical and Emerging Role of Workforce Investment Boards:  How Federal Policy Can Incite Workforce Innovation (PDF Download)
• WIB Quality Benchmarking