City of Laredo Receives Grant 2023 North Missouri Business Expo to be Held in Cameron May 23

The City of Laredo, Missouri has been awarded $470,305 by the Department of Economic Development Community Block Grant Program (CDBG).

The funds will be used to implement Wastewater Improvements to the city’s wastewater collection and treatment system. USDA Rural Development is also funding the program with a $187,000 loan to the city and $301,750 in grant funds. The city will provide $3,000 of in-kind funds. The total project cost is $962,055.

Green Hills Regional Planning Commission provided grant writing services to the city for the CDBG application.

The Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) works to create an environment that encourages economic growth by supporting Missouri’s businesses and diverse industries, strengthening our com- munities, developing a talented and skilled workforce, and maintaining a high quality of life. Through its various initiatives, DED is helping create opportunities for Missourians to prosper.

“Strong infrastructure is fundamental to the wellbeing of our state and every Missourian,” said Governor Mike Parson. “Whether through repairing roadways or improving public safety, the Community Development Block Grant program is improving lives statewide. We’re always proud to make investments that help ensure communities have solid foundations for success.”

For more information about this project or assistance with economic or community development projects, please contact Green Hills Regional Planning Commission at 660-3595636.

The 2023 North Missouri Business Expo will be held on Tuesday, May 23 at the Cameron Regional YMCA, 1903 N. Walnut St. in Cameron. The cost to attend is $20 per person and includes lunch. More information and registration can be found online at www.ncmbf.org.

This day long event is designed for people who have an idea to start a new business or to help existing small businesses grow and expand. The Business Expo is coordinated by North Central Missouri Business Facilitation and this year in partnership with the Cameron Area Chamber of Commerce, Innovation Stockyard, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.

NCMBF works with entrepreneurs in helping turn business ideas into reality and in helping small business owners to both solve business problems or to grow their business. All services provided by NCMBF are free and confidential.

The luncheon keynote will feature Seth Slayden, J.D. from Taylor, Siemens, Elliott, Creedy & Lyle P.C., who will discuss business considerations as a result of the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Breakout sessions at this year’s Expo will include:

• Social Medial Marketing, Miu Edlin, owner, Miuze Marketing

• Business Succession Planning, John Degen, owner,

Visioneers

• Legal Issues in Business, Joseph Gagnon, J.D., managing attorney, Gagnon Law Firm

• Financing Your Business (Panel), Mark Ayers, Retired Banker, The Hamilton Bank; Joseph Penning, Senior Loan Officer, Mo-Kan Regional Development, Inc.; Corinne Watts, Executive Director, Green Hills Regional Planning Commission

• Grants for Tech Businesses, Christine Zika, Venture Associate, Missouri Technology Corporation Contact Jackie Spainhower at 816-752-8662 or email facilitator.ncmbf@gmail.com with questions.

To the Great Constituents of District 2,

“The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.”

-G.K. Chesterton

G.K Chesterton’s quote has been with me this week as I continue to fight for the conservative agenda here in Jefferson City. This past week has been insane. From passing the budget, to trying to figure out what all is in the Christmas tree bills. It’s been interesting to see how many things get passed out of the Senate and House that would not be beneficial to Missouri, but get passed with very few no votes. (I was among the few no votes on some of the Christmas tree bills that seem to be okay on the outside until you read the fine print)

Here’s what happened this week:

The House and Senate have reached final agreement on a fiscally responsible state spending plan that provides record funding for K-12 education, makes major investments in the state’s infrastructure, provides strong support for law enforcement and public safety, and boosts funding for state programs that serve the state’s most vulnerable citizens. Ahead of the constitutional deadline, lawmakers gave bipartisan support to the various budget bills that make up the Fiscal Year 2024 state operating budget.

The budget as it left the House in March appropriated approximately $45.6 billion. The Senate then added several additional spending items to bring the total price tag of the plan to roughly $49.9 billion. The final version approved by the two chambers cuts the Senate total by more than $1 billion to bring the total funding allocated in the budget to nearly $48.8 billion.

House Once Again Supports Tax Relief Package (SB 247)

As the Missouri General Assembly heads into the final week of the legislative session, House members have once again given their approval to a legislative package that would reduce the tax burden on Missouri families and businesses. The House approved SB 247 with several changes that would reduce personal income tax, phase out corporate income tax, exempt social security benefits from taxation, and protect vehicle owners from excessive property tax assessments.

Final Approval and Sent to the Governor’s Desk: Show MO Act Approved to Attract Economic Activity to Missouri (SB 94)

SB 94 would establish tax credits for film projects starting at 20 percent of specified costs, with opportunities for additional credits as other criteria are met. Dubbed the “Show MO Act,” the House handler of the bill said the program is well thought out.

HB 131 allows the salaries of state employees to be paid in biweekly installments, as designated by the Commissioner of the Office of Administration. Supporters say the bill allows for flexibility in pay structure by state agencies which will be an incentive for workforce attraction. The bill is common sense and promotes fiscal responsibility, helping struggling state agencies and employees.

SCR 7 creates the America 250 Missouri Commission. The Commission's principal purpose shall be to plan, promote, and implement public celebrations and commemorations of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America.

SCR 8 designates Campbell, Missouri, as the Peach

Capital of Missouri. SB 24 creates the "Missouri First Responder Mental Health Initiative Act." The bill expands the voluntary caner benefits pool to allow other first responders, specifically emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-paramedic, and telecommunicators, to have access to benefits through the pool for exposure to a diagnosable trauma stress event, or diagnosable cumulative post-traumatic stress injury over the course of a career. The act creates new provisions relating to communications during peer support counseling programs for certain first responders. With certain exceptions, detailed in the act, a communication made by a first responder or peer support advisor in a peer support counseling session, as well as any oral or written information conveyed in the peer support counseling session, shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed by any per- son participating in the peer support counseling session or released to any person or entity.

It's a pleasure to serve and as always if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to my office at (573) 751-4285 or email me at Mazzie.Boyd@house.mo. gov

Classified Advertising Information

Phone 660-359-2212

Classified advertising rate schedule in the Republican-Times is listed below. DEADLINES:

For Newspaper: 4 p.m. the Monday before Thursday printing

For Green Hills Weekly Paper: 4 p.m. the Thursday before Tuesday printing

Ads also appear same number of days on the Internet at www.northwestmissouri.com.

The publisher reserves the right to edit or reject copy not consistent with editorial policy.

Up to 25 words - $10.00

60¢ per word for each additional word over 25 words. Blind ads should be answered by writing box numbers given in care of the Republican-Times.

BUSINESS/ SERVICES

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: "The advertisements appearing in this column may involve the offer of a security as defined by Missouri law, such as investment contracts, partnership interests, or notes. It is possible that these advertisements or the offers on which they are based may require registration with the Missouri Securities Division under Chapter 509 of the Revised Missouri Statutes.

Advertisers and potential advertisers are advised that transactions and advertisements involving securities entail certain rights and responsibilities created by the above mentioned laws. If you have any questions, call your attorney or the Missouri Securities Division at 1800-721-7996.

Anyone considering investing should be aware that all persons who sell securities and the securities they sell must be registered or exempt from registration with the Securities Division of the Secretary of State's office. To make sure the individual and the investment are registered prior to investing, call 1800-721-7996.

INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU

INVEST! Always a good policy, especially for business opportunities and franchises. Call MO Attorney General at (880) 392-8222 or the Federal Trade Commission at (877) FTC-HELP for free information. Or visit our Web site at www.ftc.gov/bizop.

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Republican-Times

122 E. 8th St. 359-2212

Fax: 660-359-4414

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