Two companies in Joplin plan to use state bill w/ list of Quality Jobs Act participants

By Melissa Dunson

mdunson@joplinglobe.com

An economic-development bill that is predicted to create thousands of jobs in Missouri is headed for Gov. Matt Blunt’s desk again.

The special legislative session that Blunt called ended Thursday afternoon as the House gave the final OK to a pared-down economic-development bill.

Local connections

Both LaBarge Inc. and EaglePicher Technologies in Joplin have used the program in the past to create jobs and influence corporate decisions to bring jobs to the area.

For EaglePicher Technologies, the Quality Jobs legislation played a part in the company’s decision to add lithium-ion battery production in Missouri as opposed to across the state line at a plant in Pittsburg, Kan. The company is using the legislation to create 105 jobs over the next five years.

The legislation passed Thursday will benefit EaglePicher by giving more tax relief over a greater number of years. Currently, the company is scheduled to use the incentive from 2008 through 2011.

The Joplin LaBarge plant will use the Quality Jobs Act to create nearly 100 new jobs over the next several years. The company already has 35 who qualify it for tax credits under the program.

Signature expected

Rep. Ron Richard, R-Joplin, said the fiscal impact of House Bill 1, an expansion of the Quality Jobs Act, remains unchanged from the House version of $51 million for the first two years and $69 million in the third year, despite an attempt in the Senate to raise the tax-credit limit from $40 million to $50 million.

The House vote was 125-19, with 84 Republicans and 41 Democrats voting “yes,” and one Republican and 18 Democrats voting “no.” Five Republicans and 11 Democrats did not vote. House members from the Joplin area all voted “yes” except for Ed Emery, R-Lamar, and Bryan Stevenson, R-Webb City, who did not vote.

Richard said he does not anticipate a problem with the revised bill, which was pared from $200 million in the regular session to the $51 million price tag during the special session, and that he thinks Blunt will sign the legislation.

“He’s so happy, he’s probably dancing on his desk,” Richard said of Blunt.

Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, echoed Richard’s sentiments. He said he doesn’t believe the Senate’s “fingerprints” on the bill will have an effect on it, and that the governor shouldn’t have any qualms about signing the final version.