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This month, we're focusing on key highlights including development news, 'Shop Where You Live' initiatives, insights from the Informed Voter Coalition, and SMCC's legislative priorities.
SMCC team also submitted over $2M in grant applications this past week. We had over 30 people/partner organizations help provide information, and we could not have done it without their help.
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Developmental News & Updates | |
In addition to our current active project list, which includes projects such as site development, business attraction, redevelopment, and expansion, SMCC is involved in various development endeavors throughout the county. Please see below for a brief update on development endeavors and discussions occurring countywide. | |
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Billings
- Local donors matched city grant funds for a new community playground. The city hopes to have the playground open this spring depending on installation timelines.
Clever
- On Clever’s behalf, SMCC submitted a grant application for federal USDA funds to assist the city with updating their comprehensive plan.
Highlandville
- On Highlandville’s behalf, SMCC submitted a grant application for federal USDA funds to assist the city with creating their first comprehensive plan.
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Ozark
- The City of Ozark adopted the 2024 Strategic Plan, prioritizing five focus areas for the next year.
- Ozark’s planning and zoning commission is currently evaluating the possibility of amending city ordinance to require a neighborhood meeting prior to certain development activities, including rezoning.
- SMCC worked with the city staff and a local business owner to apply for a $2M CDBG Industrial Grant.
Christian County
- The County Commission is currently considering an application for a planned battery storage facility.
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Nixa
- The City of Nixa is in the process of updating their Comprehensive Plan, which will serve as the community’s guiding document for planning efforts through 2045.
- Justin Orf was hired as the new Project Facilitator by the City of Nixa to work with developers to navigate the internal city processes and to manage city projects. This will be a great addition to the team to assist in development! His email is jorf@nixa.com
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Mark your calendars for our next First Tuesday meeting on April 2nd at Nixa City Hall. Your presence and input are always valued and contribute greatly to our community discussions.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who participated in our March 5th meeting. Engaging and informative discussions were held on the topic of 'housing', with diverse perspectives shared by participants including real estate professionals, school representatives, utility experts, distribution, city officials, and more.
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The next board meeting will take place at 10:00am on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024 at Nixa City Hall.
Be sure to mark your calendars. We look forward to seeing you there! Please note that this meeting is on the 4th Wednesday of the month this time instead of the 3rd Wednesday of the month because of the area's spring break calendars.
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In partnership with the Christian County Commission, county government, cities, chambers of commerce, and the dynamic business community, we're thrilled to announce the launch of the "Shop Where You Live" campaign. Designed with a dual mission, this initiative aims to spotlight the importance of supporting small businesses while encouraging residents to prioritize local spending. With the undeniable economic impact of local commerce in mind, this collaborative effort seeks to bolster job creation, fund public services, support nonprofits, and promote sustainability within our community.
We're excited to share that the campaign officially launched on February 23rd, marking the beginning of an exciting journey to strengthen our local economy and foster community resilience. At the heart of this movement lies the Shop Where You Live calendar—a valuable resource showcasing multi-vendor events that celebrate the talent and diversity of our local business ecosystem.
Together, let's make a tangible difference and celebrate the heart of our local economies.
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EASILY SHOW LOCAL SUPPORT VIA SOCIAL STORIES!
Join the movement to support local businesses in your community! Show your support by using #SWYL stickers on Instagram or Facebook. Spread the word and inspire others to get involved. It's easy - search for "#SWYL" in Instagram's sticker function or through Facebook's story feature's stickers. Select stickers and search through the GIF library to find the perfect one to share your support for local businesses.
Don't forget to tag us on social media @showmeccmo, allowing us to share your enthusiasm with our community!
IMAGE SUBMISSION*
If you would like to submit your own images that we can potentially use in the Shop Where You Live Campaign, please do so here. We would love to feature local businesses and other community events.
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*By submitting content, you grant us permission to use it in our campaign. You confirm that you have the necessary rights and release us from any claims. | |
In our 2024 Legislative Priorities & Advocacy, we're concentrating on vital issues for Christian County's economic development. These include securing funding for I-44 expansion, improving accessibility to childcare services, and opposing revenue-cutting legislation that could undermine municipal services. Additionally, we're closely monitoring annexation bills that could impact emergency services. | |
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Our efforts are further supported by FastDemocracy, a user-friendly platform that simplifies the tracking of legislation at both state and federal levels in the United States. With thousands of bills introduced annually, FastDemocracy ensures accuracy and timeliness of legislative data, empowering advocates to develop and execute effective advocacy strategies.
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