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.