NW Missourians to lobby for region at Capitol

Plans are moving forward for Nodaway County to take its annual place in the legislative spotlight during Great Northwest Day at the state Capitol in Jefferson City.

Public officials, economic development advocates, business people, educators and civic leaders from throughout the Maryville area will join about 350 citizens from across the 18-county region for two days of meetings and social events Feb. 5-6 with lawmakers and ranking state administrators.

This year's regional steering committee was headed by Luke Reven, executive director of the Greater Maryville Chamber of Commerce.

Reven also served as the Great Northwest Day coordinator for Nodaway County.

In both capacities, he helped create a short list of key legislative issues that the northwest Missouri contingent will lay before state senators and representatives in both group settings and one-on-one meetings.

Reven said reaching out to lawmakers and state department heads is especially important for Northwest Missourians, given the region's distance from the Capitol.

"This is about awareness," he said, "about putting the issues before legislators."

In past years, Reven said, a large majority of the 197 members of the Missouri General Assembly have attended a hotel reception featuring food, drink and live entertainment at which each county in the region, including Nodaway, has a display booth. It's a level of access rarely enjoyed by outstate residents.

"When you go before that group with a unified message, it's a powerful thing," he said.

Reven and his fellow county coordinators have been working to refine that message since October. Over the past three months, numerous meetings have taken place with county  commissions, city councils and economic development groups aimed at developing a concise list of issues in need of attention by Capitol movers and shakers.

On the Friday before the trip, those attending from Nodaway County will gather for a briefing on what to say and how to say it. Reven emphasized, however, that participants are free to bring up strictly local issues not included among the regional talking points.

This year's Great Northwest priorities include:

Drought Mitigation and Response. Northwest Missouri continues to be affected by last summer's historic drought event. The lack of rainfall hurt farmers and is beginning to threaten municipal wells. Great Northwesters plan to "encourage the Legislature to expand programs designed to provide access to affordable, abundant water."

Transportation. Good roads, members of the delegation will say, are "essential for the distribution of goods and services, increased socio-economic opportunities, improved mobility, the delivery of labor, and emergency response. ... We encourage the Missouri Legislature to consider initiatives that support these needs."

Economic development. Great Northwest is backing proposed “Compete Missouri" legislation that would provide incentives for job training and recruitment of new business and industry. This item also calls for "balanced" environmental guidelines and Enhanced Enterprise Zones empowered to offer tax breaks that make smaller communities more competitive.

Education funding. Great Northwesters will tell lawmakers that "Core and capital needs of our educational institutions are at a critical point." They will also lobby for adoption of a proposed higher education funding formula that is "fair and balanced for our local institutions."

Anyone wishing to attend this year's Great Northwest Day, which includes bus transportation to Jefferson City, should call Reven at (660) 582-8643 or go to www.greatnorthwestday.com.