Regional Planning Commissions Provide Valuable
Resources For Economic Development
Regional planning commissions provide valuable resources to local governments,
communities and businesses throughout Missouri. Nineteen commissions
serve Missouri's 114 counties. They are known by a variety of names
including councils of government, economic development councils, coordinating
councils or regional planning commissions. Regional planning commissions
operate on a not-for-profit basis and are advisory in nature. County
and local governments hold membership on a voluntary basis. These councils
provide an effective way for local governments to work together to address
common problems and to share technical staff for problems that cross
border lines or boundaries and need a more regional approach.
While activities vary among organizations based upon local needs and
priorities, regional councils provide information including community
profiles, demographics and census and labor statistics. The organizations
also promote economic development through administration, preparation
of grant applications, industrial park development and infrastructure
planning, environmental assessments, business loan packaging and administration,
industrial recruitment, job training and marketing development. Furthermore,
they provide community development services such as floodplain management,
housing programs, mapping services, healthcare planning, solid waste
administration, zoning regulations, transportation planning and many
other activities.
Some regional planning commissions offer revolving loan funds through
funds received from the Economic Development Administration of the United
States Department of Commerce to assist businesses in providing gap
financing. These low interest loans are based on job creation and often
may make the difference in the success or failure of the business. The
commission staff also offers assistance in coordinating this program
as a package in collaboration with the primary lender, whether it is
SBA 7(a), 504, USDA or commercial lenders.
One regional planning commission with which I have had the opportunity
to work has recently initiated the Microenterprise Loan Fund Program
through the Missouri Community Development Block Grant Program, which
loans up to $25,000 to assist individuals wishing to start a small business.
In south central Missouri, we are very fortunate to have an organization
with expertise in community and economic development programs. This
group has a proven track record in providing assistance to all of the
various communities it serves.
Regional planning commission activities are based on local needs and
priorities, and all provide tremendous resources to community and economic
developers as well as to individuals that need technical assistance
in project development. Some have low-interest loan funds available
to businesses. To find out which regional planning commission serves
your location, contact the Missouri Association of Councils of Government
at (573) 634-5337 or visit the website http://macog.mala-rcf.org/.
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Authored by: Willis Mushrush, Business and Industry
Specialist, University of Missouri Extension
Source: Creating Quality Newsletter, Volume
12, Number 3, March 2003
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