Having the opportunity to work, earn, and live comfortably in a community you love is a piece of the American dream. The Perry County Economic Development Authority recently signed a partnership agreement with the Southern Missouri Innovation Network (Innovate SOMO) that will bring important educational and employment opportunities to the southeastern Missouri region.
“When entrepreneurs and small business owners gain access to opportunities, support resources and skilled talent, they trigger a chain reaction of job creation, revenue growth and community improvement,” said Dr. James Stapleton, co-founder of Codefi.
Innovate SOMO was founded by Codefi, an organization headquartered in Cape Girardeau with regional offices in Springfield, and efactory at Missouri State University, two of Missouri's most successful innovation centers. Innovate SOMO's mission is to realize the full potential of entrepreneurship and innovation to transform communities in the southernmost 47 counties in Missouri.
“We believe strongly in the power of a network and that by working together we can all succeed,” said Rachel Anderson, Managing Director of efactory. “Community connectors and collaboration will continue to make southern Missouri the best place to start and grow a business.”
The initiative includes over two dozen partner communities.
“Working with entrepreneurship support organizations like efactory in Springfield and Codefi in Cape Girardeau is an incredible opportunity for our local Perry County businesses,” said Crystal Jones, executive director of the Perry County Economic Development Authority. “We are excited to work together as a community collaborator and see how our companies leverage the resources available to help them grow and thrive here at home.”
The network's founders have successfully raised nearly $10 million in state and federal competitive grants and private contributions. These funds will support the expansion of programs and resources delivered through the network, connecting digital workers to training, entrepreneurs to resources, and employers to talent.
We only have one goal in mind: driving economic growth and prosperity in the region.
The Innovate SOMO network is expected to:
Providing programs and services to nearly 1,200 business owners and workers.
Help build more than 60 new companies.
Create over 500 new high-quality jobs.
The annual economic impact of these efforts is expected to be more than $37 million.
Since 2013, Innovate SOMO's founders have achieved outstanding economic impact in their original service areas, as evidenced by the support they continue to receive from federal and state partners while competing with the best development organizations across the country.
“We are excited to expand the reach of our work into more of our neighboring communities and to partner with outstanding local organizations like the Perry County Economic Development Authority to continue their work and make the communities they serve better.” Places to work and live,” Stapleton added.
For more information about local availability of these programs or services, contact the Perry County Economic Development Authority at 573-547-1097 or Executive Director Crystal Jones at [email protected].
To learn more about the Innovate SOMO network, visit InnovateSOMO.org.
Comments are closed.