By Derek Spellman
dspellman@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — Local officials and representatives from Scholastic Inc. say they soon hope to have an announcement about whether the company’s Neosho operation will return to its old quarters or move to a new location inside Neosho.
Scholastic’s local customer service call center has been operating out of the Elsie Plaster Community Center at Crowder College’s Neosho campus since flooding in late March drove it from its building, 915 W. Harmony St. The operation was relocated to Crowder over Easter weekend.
Gib Garrow, director of economic development for the Neosho Area Chamber of Commerce, said Scholastic has been in talks with a local not-for-profit organization about moving to a new site in Neosho’s Industrial Park. He said he could not yet disclose any details.
Kyle Good, public relations coordinator for Scholastic, said the company’s plans have not yet been completed. Good said much of the local operation’s equipment is still at the Harmony Street address.
“We are definitely looking at what our options are because we are interested in staying in Neosho but we haven’t gotten anything firm yet,” she said.
The Neosho City Council on May 6 voted to apply for a Community Development block grant on behalf of Scholastic to help defray the cost of the damage incurred in the flooding.
Garrow said the grant, if approved, would be for up to $500,000. The city has applied for similar grants in the past after severe flooding, he said.
The number of employees varies seasonally at the Neosho operation, ranging from 100 to 500, according to Good. The chamber’s Department of Economic Development Web site puts the peak total at 478, a figure that makes it the third largest employer in the Neosho area behind the Neosho R-5 School District with 510 and La-Z-Boy Midwest’s Neosho factory with 1,380.
Cindy Brown, director of public information for Crowder College, said that Scholastic has about 150 workstations now set up at the college.
Did you know?
Scholastic Inc. presented a $25,000 check to Crowder College Foundation to establish a “Learning Library” for area teachers at the college’s library. The college has provided space at its Elsie Plaster Community Center for use by Scholastic Inc. free of charge since March.
Business
Scholastic hopes to complete plans for Neosho operation soon
- Business
-
-
A rare gain for the Dow on hopes for China growth
The stock market is desperately looking for good news.
-
Home prices’ decline slows, according to index
An index of home prices in 20 American cities slumped in March compared to a year earlier, but the slide was the slowest since December 2010.
-
Consumer confidence down in May, survey finds
Reading the attitudes of American consumers is getting to be as complicated as divining the preferences of American voters.
-
Firm pays $1M for spills in Iowa, Neb., Kan.
The Texas-based pipeline company paying a fine of more than $1 million says it is glad to resolve concerns about three spills in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska.
-
Direct yen-yuan trading poised to begin
Japan and China will start direct trading between the yen and the yuan on the inter-bank foreign exchange markets in Tokyo and Shanghai on Friday, Japanese Finance Minister Jun Azumi said Tuesday.
-
Chesapeake shares rise as board faces pressure
Chesapeake Energy shares climbed Tuesday as some prominent shareholders called for a shake-up in the natural gas giant’s board of directors.
-
Young workers especially wary about stocks in 401ks, IRAs
The stock market has recently been back on a roller coaster — again — with the S&P 500 losing almost 4 percent in the past month. That has made many workers worried about their 401ks, IRAs and other retirement accounts.
-
Care provider ’without walls’ aims to keep seniors in homes
No one knows what tomorrow holds. But if biology is destiny, or even a major piece of it, Michael and Linda Dzuba had good reason to ponder a long future as they neared their 60th birthdays. And perhaps reason to worry just a bit.
-
More workers stand up for their health
When Citrix Systems redesigned its Fort Lauderdale, Fla., offices last fall, managers had a mission in mind: Kick-start creativity by getting employees to talk more and sit less.
-
Balancing Act: Closing the deal isn’t always easy
Michelle Wolfe of Halo Branded Solutions has good business relationships and can easily set up a meeting with South Florida hotel executives or attorneys to talk about her 300,000 promotional products.
- More Business Headlines
-
Sister Says She Reported Brother in Patz Killing
Patz Suspect's Sister: I Went to Police in 1980s
Diplomatic Expulsions Follow Fresh Syria Report
15 Dead in Northern Italy's 5.8-magnitude Quake
Angry Birds Spreading Their Wings
Witness Describes Fla. Face-chewing Attack
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
