By Melissa Dunson
mdunson@joplinglobe.com
Gov. Matt Blunt on Tuesday signed an economic-incentives bill after it was rewritten during last month’s special session of the General Assembly.
Among other elements, the bill increases the Quality Jobs Act’s annual cap to $40 million from $12 million, increases the enhanced enterprise zone capacity to $14 million from $7 million, and creates a state match for the federal new-markets tax credits for economically distressed areas.
The portions of House Bill 1 dealing with the Quality Jobs Act and new-market tax credits were passed with an emergency clause that puts the programs into effect immediately. Most of the other provisions will take effect Jan. 1.
The initial Quality Jobs Act of 2005 has been credited with creating more than 17,000 Missouri jobs that pay more than the average county wage and provide health insurance.
Rob O’Brian, president of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, said a number of companies in the Joplin area have applied to use the new economic-incentives package. With the governor’s signature, they now need approval from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
With the governor’s signature in place, O’Brian said: “I feel relieved. These jobs really have been hanging in the balance because the companies and the state hoped to have this resolved by the end of the regular session. I’m glad the governor called the special session.”
Spence Jackson, spokesman for the Department of Economic Development, declined to identify any of the companies that have applied to use the economic incentives because none of the applications has been approved yet, but he said the department hopes to handle the requests quickly.
“There are companies that were eagerly awaiting the results of the special session and are very glad that it passed,” Jackson said.
In a written statement, the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry applauded Blunt for signing the legislation, calling it a “shot in the arm” for Missouri’s business climate.
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, the Quality Jobs legislation played a part in the company’s decision to add lithium-ion battery production in Missouri as opposed to a plant in Pittsburg, Kan. The company is using the legislation to create 105 jobs over the next five years.
The newly signed legislation will benefit EaglePicher by providing more tax relief over a greater number of years. Currently, the company is scheduled to use the incentive from 2008 through 2011.
The LaBarge plant plans to use the Quality Jobs Act to create nearly 100 jobs over the next several years. The company already has 35 employees who qualify the company for tax credits under the program.
Melissa Dunson is the business writer for The Joplin Globe.
Costs reduced
Earlier this summer, Gov. Matt Blunt vetoed a version of the bill that he said would have cost the state as much as $200 million and would have created tax breaks for questionable causes. Lawmakers during the special session cut those costs to $51 million.
Local News
Jobs bill signed into law
- Local News
-
-
Couple 'scoop out' ice cream business from the past
When 3-year-old Brynlee Rabel tried coconut ice cream for the first time Tuesday, it was love at first taste. “She got the vanilla, but when she tasted my coconut ice cream she had to have it,” said Kayleigh Daugherty, a Joplin resident who wanted Brynlee to share the same experience she had as a little girl when she visited Anderson’s Ice Cream.
-
Missouri National Guard releases records involving soldiers who looted from Wal-Mart
The Missouri National Guard has released records confirming that four soldiers were disciplined for taking merchandise from the ruins of a Wal-Mart store in Joplin one day after the tornado that devastated the city a year ago.
-
Joplin school board awards contract to complete demolition of JHS
The Joplin Board of Education on Tuesday night accepted a bid for finishing tornado-related demolition at the high school.
-
Auditor cites, commission covers potential shortfall in Jasper County sheriff’s budget
The Jasper County Commission on Tuesday approved the transfer of $23,000 onto the Law Enforcement Sales Tax fund available to the sheriff’s office to cover a potential budget shortfall.
-
Joplin METS director requests space for additional ambulance
If all goes like METS Director Jason Smith hopes, this time next year the service will have two ambulances in Webb City, housed in their own station. At Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Smith requested that the council allow the Joplin-based Metro Emergency Transport System to rent or lease space at the former public works building, 110 E. Church St.
-
Mike Pound: Food competitions combine to make culinary heaven
It’s such a great idea, you wonder why someone didn’t think of it before. In fact, it’s such a good idea that it’s possible it came about by accident.
-
Mo. court strikes down part of 2008 harassment law
The Missouri Supreme Court has struck down part of a state harassment law enacted after the suicide of a St. Charles County teenager who was teased over the Internet.
-
Cattle rustlers strike again in SW Mo. county
The plague of cattle rustling goes on in southwest Missouri’s Greene County.
Sheriff Jim Arnott says the latest episode occurred sometime Sunday in Walnut Grove. -
Bids sought for Cherokee County water treatment plant
After many delays, construction bids are being sought for a water treatement plant and water tank for the Spring River Public Wholesale Water District No. 19.
-
Dog helps some get through the court process
Sophie, a mutt of a dog with draping ears and dotted brows, is helping people in St. Louis County court tell stories of crime to judges, investigators and attorneys.
- More Local News Headlines
-
