NCED reports modest job growth

Nodaway County Economic Development Director Lee Langerock's request for continued funding from the city of Maryville over the next 12 months was approved Monday by the City Council.

Following Langerock's brief presentation, the council renewed NCED's $52,000 appropriation effective Oct. 1.

In her report, Langerock described the non-profit organization's primary roles as job creation and recruitment of new business and industry. She also summarized NCED-tracked job creation for 2012, reporting that the hourly equivalent of 105 new jobs created so far this year have been offset by 62 lost positions for a net gain of 43.

That is up considerably from 2011, when the net job gain was only 19, still a marked improvement over 2009 and 2010 when Nodaway County lost the hourly equivalent of 147 jobs and 54 jobs respectively.

Asked by Councilman Jim Fall if the Maryville area is beginning to recover from the 2008-'09 recession, Langerock described the current economic climate as "a stabilization" following the worst downturn since the 1930s.

"We've all been nervous about the next step," she said. "Capital is still tight, but the economy itself has stabilized."

On other fronts, Langerock said her organization continues to provide local businesses with a variety of technical services and also works to stimulate economic growth and consumer activity through the promotion of sales tax holidays, special events and retail strategic marketing.

In addition, NCED acts as the administrator for Nodaway County's two Enhanced Enterprise Zones, which offer property tax breaks to a variety of eligible industries, such as wind farms. The office also encourages investment in downtown Maryville through a revolving loan program.  

About a third of the organization's budget comes from the city. During the current year NCED also received a $40,000 contribution from Nodaway County, and Lagerock is expected to make another appropriations request to the County Commission later this year.

The final portion of NCED's $150,000 annual budget is derived through contributions from the private sector.

In summarizing the organization's accomplishments over the past year, Langerock said NCED has provided services to 15 existing businesses and nine site developers. The office also responded to 16 recruitment prospects and nine potential project developments.

Other initiatives have included a retail benchmarking study; an Industry Week Magazine piece in partnership with the city and Northwest Missouri State University to promote the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; development of a new website at www.nodaway.biz; and helping coordinate the launch of Global Prospective Investment LLC, an "angel" investment corporation.