Missouri's governor Bob Holden was in Springfield to sign two economic development bills. KSMU's Missy Shelton was there and files this report.
Read HB 289, The Missouri Downtown Economic Stimulus Act
Read SB 504, the Springfield enterprise zone legislation
IT'S CALLED THE MISSOURI DOWNTOWN ECONOMIC STIMULUS ACT OR MODESA.
THE BILL IS DESIGNED TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR TOWNS OF ALL SIZES TO ACCESS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE FOR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECTS.
GOVERNOR BOB HOLDEN TRAVELED TO HANNIBAL, SPRINGFIELD AND KANSAS CITY FOR BILL SIGNING CEREMONIES.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JOE DRISKILL TRAVELED WITH THE GOVERNOR.
HE EXPLAINS HOW THIS PROGRAM WILL WORK. SPRINGFIELD MAYOR TOM CARLSON SAYS HE'S PLEASED LAWMAKERS APPROVED THIS LEGISLATION.
HE EXPLAINED THE BENEFITS OF THE BILL TO A ROOM FULL OF COMMUNITY LEADERS GATHERED AT THE DISCOVERY CENTER FOR THE BILL SIGNING CEREMONY.THIS LEGISLATION HAS BI-PARTISAN SUPPORT AND THE FINAL VERSION OF THE BILL PASSED THE HOUSE AND SENATE UNANIMOUSLY.
BUT NOT ALL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS ENJOY SUCH WIDESPREAD SUPPORT'SOME LAWMAKERS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT CERTAIN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES, LIKE THE HISTORIC TAX CREDIT PROGRAM HAVE BECOME A DRAIN ON STATE DOLLARS.
DURING HIS STOP IN SPRINGFIELD, THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CONTAINING THE COST OF THIS NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM. BILL SPONSOR, REPUBLICAN SENATOR SARA STEELMAN SAYS SHE HOPES THE BILL WILL GIVE SMALLER COMMUNITIES THE CHANCE TO COMPETE AGAINST LARGE CITIES.
SHE SAYS ALL AREAS OF THE STATE SHOULD HAVE EQUAL ACCESS TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS. WHILE IN SPRINGFIELD, THE GOVERNOR ALSO SIGNED A BILL THAT ENABLES THE CITY OF SPRINGFIELD TO SET UP A SATELLITE ENTERPRISE ZONE.
CITY LEADERS SAY THIS WILL LEAD TO MORE JOBS AND A STRONGER LOCAL ECONOMY.
I'M MISSY SHELTON FOR KSMU NEWS.
