By Debbie Robinson
news@joplinglobe.com
LAMAR, Mo. — The new economic development director for Barton County urged residents to do their part to spur economic growth by volunteering to serve on committees, donate money and support existing businesses.
Robert Harrington, who was hired by the Barton County Community Development Corporation to oversee economic development, spoke Thursday night to about 100 business leaders and residents at the second Barton County Economic Summit.
Harrington, a Missouri native, assumed his new position about a month ago after serving in a similar capacity in Shelby County.
“It’s true, this community took a hard blow,” he said. “I’m here to tell you, we cannot live in the past, and we must move forward. You must have a vision.”
Figures released in December revealed that Barton County had one of the highest unemployment rates in Southwest Missouri at 10.7 percent.
The blow to the community occurred three years ago when O’Sullivan Industries closed its doors causing the loss of 700 jobs. At its zenith, the plant employed 1,250 people.
Harrington said the county must become noticeable and work to help local businesses expand.
One company, Washburn Farm and Home, recently announced an expansion and the creation of seven new jobs, he said.
Harrington also said the county’s vision needed to include building on what is already there and creating new strengths, such as the formation of the Community Development Corporation in the past year.
Another speaker at Thursday’s summit was Kevin Welch, with the Southwest Missouri Development Alliance.
His organization works to attract new business and industry to Southwest Missouri through participation in trade shows and impact trips that highlight existing sites for new development.
“Education, entrepreneurship and work force are the three key things to keeping the area prosperous and growing,” Welch said.
His organization, he said, did targeted industry studies that revealed the area was well-matched for a national warehouse and distribution industry.
“The strongest thing Lamar has going for it is its work force,” Welch said. “They’re not afraid to roll up their sleeves and get the job done.”
Although no specific details were presented, Welch said the city remains “in the running” for a new manufacturing company.
Another speaker, Chris Chung, with Missouri Partnership, discussed measures statewide and in Barton County to attract new business growth.
The state is the fourth lowest in the country for business costs and is sixth in business taxes, he said.
“At the end of the day, we’re selling a product, and that product is the state of Missouri,” Chung said.
He did acknowledge that times are tough.
“Every community has difficulties,” Chung said. “These are tough times, and as bad as you think it is here, it’s a lot worse in other places.”
One bright spot, Chung said, was a report by Moody’s Investors Service that said Missouri is one of 11 states to be digging out of the recession.
Gary Box, with the Workforce Investment Board, talked about the results of a survey of area businesses. The need for jobs led the survey.
Another potential problem area involved the wage scale for semiskilled and entry-level workers at $7.40 and $6.88 an hour respectively, Box said.
The survey revealed that area businesses are stable, strong and resilient.
“Overall, this survey shows Barton County felt the downturn in the economy, and the loss of a single employer in the county,” Box said. “The No. 1 response was the county needs more jobs, and I totally agree.”
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