Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon Archives

$22 million in grants available for Missouri nonprofits responding to COVID-19

July 23, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

Gov. Mike Parson has announced a new $22 million grant program for Missouri nonprofits helping communities respond to the coronavirus. A press release from Parson’s office says the Nonprofit Relief and Recovery Grant is designed to support nonprofits in meeting critical and emergent needs as a result of COVID-19 and to help these organizations maintain their operations despite lower than average donations during the pandemic.

$22 million in grants available for Missouri nonprofits responding to COVID-19

Organizations eligible for this grant are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, excluding hospitals, schools, and animal charities. Funds can be used to cover hazard pay for direct health care workers, leasing additional space for social distancing, testing costs, payroll and supply expenses.

“Missouri nonprofits have been a lifeline for many Missourians throughout the COVID-19 crisis,” Parson says. “They have delivered critical support to our citizens, and this grant will ensure that they are able to continue helping those who need it most.”

The maximum grant request is initially limited to $250,000. Organizations applying must show a direct link between the COVID-19 crisis and their ability to provide services or a significant increase in demand for services by the community. Applicants must also demonstrate incurred costs or anticipated costs between March 1 and November 15, 2020.

“The nonprofit community has been instrumental for many Missourians in this time of uncertainty,” Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon says. “This program will help magnify those efforts, supporting these organizations even as the pandemic evolves.”

The Missouri Department of Economic Development is accepting applications online through two rounds. Round one will be taking submissions through August 14. They must be nonprofits serving disadvantaged populations whose services are substantially dedicated to addressing critical needs resulting from COVID-19 in the areas of homelessness prevention, job training, food insecurity, at-risk youth services, childcare, and educational support.

Round two will be accepted from August 19 to August 28. Those eligible to apply are nonprofits providing services not identified in round one that can demonstrate they are suffering from direct and second-order effects of the public health emergency.

CARES Act is funding new Missouri PPE retooling program

July 21, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

State officials have unveiled $50 million in new grant programs for Missouri businesses impacted by COVID-19.

Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 14, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missouri Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon tells Capitol reporters that the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted businesses in the Show-Me State.

“Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, but they have been struggling since the onset of COVID-19. Many businesses have had to rethink their operations model to work safely,” Dixon says.

Dixon says a $30 million grant program will help provide relief to small businesses and family farms, for reimbursement of business interruption costs due to the pandemic. Funds can be used for things such as facility redesign and labor, air filtration systems and workers salaries during closure or reduced hours.

DED has also announced a $20 million program that’s aimed at increasing production of personal protective equipment (PPE). Dixon says PPE supply is critical to Missouri’s health care response and to the economy’s re-opening.

“We need to bring PPE manufacturing closer to home to make sure that we’re not dependent on any other country for these vital products,” says Dixon. “So to those Missouri companies who’ve already begun making PPE, we thank you sincerely.”

Director Dixon tells Missourinet that more than 200 Missouri companies have retooled to produce PPE.

The $20 million grant program will assist Missouri manufacturers, by awarding grants to reimburse companies facing high PPE production costs.

The PPE grant program is statewide, and the number of grants per applicant is limited to one. The company must incur or have incurred costs between March 1, 2020 and December 1, 2020.

The Department of Economic Development will require a project impact report by July 2021.

Missouri now has 33,624 confirmed COVID-19 cases, up from Sunday’s number of 33,094.

Missouri DED: temporary layoffs at GM’s Wentzville plant will not impact $1.5 billion investment project

July 15, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s economic development director says there is not a COVID-19 outbreak inside GM’s massive plant in eastern Missouri’s Wentzville.

Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on July 14, 2020 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

Missourinet asked state Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon about the issue and the layoffs at the plant, during a Tuesday Capitol media briefing in Jefferson City.

“Those folks that were laid off from that shift, they eliminated a third shift temporarily, is not because of a market condition but it’s because of disruptions in their workforce, due to COVID-19,” Dixon says.

Dixon says the layoffs will be temporary. The “St. Louis Post-Dispatch” reports about 1,200 employees will be impacted. The United Auto Workers (UAW) says 23 plant employees have the coronavirus.

Director Dixon also says the decision by GM to lay off the third shift will not impact the company’s decision to invest about $1.5 billion into the plant.

“We believe that that is going to proceed. This is not connected to that, as I mentioned in particular, and we’ll continue to work with the company,” says Dixon.

Governor Mike Parson emphasized the importance of the Wentzville GM project, during his January State of the State Address. The governor told lawmakers that GM’s decision to invest in the Wentzville plant represents one of the largest single-project investments from the private sector in Missouri.

The governor and Dixon traveled to the plant in December, to announce GM’s investment and plan to retain nearly 4,000 jobs.

The plant produces the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado.

Dixon says GM’s Wentzville plant supports about 12,000 jobs across Missouri. DED says out of Missouri’s 227 automotive suppliers, 178 supply GM.

Wentzville, which is known as the “Crossroads of the Nation,” is one of Missouri’s fastest growing cities. It sits on I-70 in St. Charles County.

Its current population is about 42,000. The city’s website notes Wentzville’s population has increased from 6,896 in 2000.

Vote delayed on proposed loan program for Missouri cities struggling during coronavirus

June 16, 2020 By Alisa Nelson

The state Development Finance Board has delayed a vote on a proposed low-interest loan program for smaller Missouri cities who have experienced financial pain from the coronavirus. Executive Director Bob Miserez tells Missourinet the $5 million plan could be limited to Missouri towns with a population of 25,000 or fewer.

Vote delayed on proposed loan program for Missouri cities struggling during coronavirus

“We didn’t know how much that limited amount of funds was going to really impact and be meaningful to the largest cities in the state,” he says. “Plus, they’re a lot more sophisticated and they do have access to other programs. They’re going to be hurting also but we didn’t know that we would be meaningful and have a real impact to them.”

Miserez says all but about 29 Missouri cities could qualify.

The board is considering a loan minimum of $50,000 to a maximum $300,000 to help cover essential services like police, fire department and waste management.

“There’s a lot of programs out there that can help small businesses,” he says. “We could also, but we didn’t see that kind of assistance going to local governments and we knew that they were going to be facing budget shortfalls. When you get to a point like we got this year where the revenues just fall off the cliff, how do they then match what they’re not receiving to pay the costs that they’ve already obligated themselves to pay?”

Members are looking at a plan that could include loans between one year and four years with a stair step interest rate structure. Under the initial proposal, cities who would get a loan would be required to shell out a $1,000 deposit.

“Basically to escrow – to help us offset the costs of developing this and the legal to develop the loan documents, which are going to be fairly simple but then we’re not going to charge any loan origination fees thereafter. We were proposing that upon approval and funding of a loan that the $1,000 be rebated back to them. In effect, it would cost them nothing to apply,” says Miserez.

If approved, the program could be up and running by mid to end of July. The board could vote on the proposal later this month.

Board members include:
• Marie Carmichael, Chair
• Reuben A. Shelton, Vice Chairman
• John E. Mehner
• Matthew L. Dameron
• Kelley M. Martin
• Bradley G. Gregory
• Cliff Holekamp
• Mike Kehoe, Lieutenant Governor
• Rob Dixon, Director, Missouri Department of Economic Development
• Chris Chinn, Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture
• Carol Comer, Director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Missouri now has 24 confirmed cases of coronavirus; first death is in Columbia area

March 19, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor announced Wednesday evening in Jefferson City that there are now 24 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, and says the first recorded death has happened in the Columbia area.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson addresses Capitol reporters in Jefferson City, after he declared a state of emergency in Missouri for coronavirus (March 13, 2020 file photo courtesy of the Governor’s office)

Governor Mike Parson held two Statehouse press conferences on Wednesday. He held the first one in the afternoon, where he was joined by Columbia Mayor Brian Treece about the death. Mayor Treece says the death involves the patient who tested positive Tuesday for coronavirus, and that it’s a travel-related case.

The governor is urging you to wash your hands and to follow the advice of health professionals.

“If the people of Missouri want to protect themselves and protect their families and their loved ones, it will be through social distancing and using common sense, and taking on personal responsibilities,” Parson says.

Parson spoke at a Wednesday evening press conference outside his Capitol office, where he was joined by state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Director Dr. Randall Williams, State Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Sandy Karsten, State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon and other officials.

Governor Parson has signed an executive order, authorizing state agencies to waive regulations that interfere with Missouri’s coronavirus response. Parson says the order also expands telemedicine.

Director Karsten has announced that DPS and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are working to get hundreds of thousands of pieces of personal protective equipment to local law enforcement officers and other first responders.

She emphasizes the importance of equipment like masks and gowns.

“We expect the first orders of that to arrive March 24, and we’re already making plans to distribute those pieces to our partners,” says Karsten.

Karsten tells reporters her office is responding to requests from hospitals and first responders, adding the equipment will come from the National Strategic Stockpile.

Governor Parson and Mayor Treece note that the Columbia-area first responders who made contact with the coronavirus patient who died were wearing proper equipment.

The governor also discussed the economy on Wednesday evening. He is warning that thousands of Missourians will lose their jobs because of coronavirus, and says his top priorities continue to be public health and public safety.

Missourinet asked Governor Parson if he’ll need to tap into the state’s Rainy Day Fund.

“I am not worried about the funding source of it right now, to be honest about it,” Parson says. “I believe we will have the money, we’ll put the money wherever it needs to be. It’s going to be tremendously expensive to get through this next year or two, however long it might be.”

The governor also emphasizes he put $100 million into the state budget for emergencies, saying that will help.

Thousands of Missouri autoworkers at the General Motors and Ford plants in Wentzville and Claycomo will be heading home soon, as the plants close temporarily over coronavirus concerns.

Director Dixon tells Missourinet the Big Three automakers and the UAW reached an agreement, to do that.

Governor Parson’s next scheduled press conference about the coronavirus is set for Thursday afternoon at 3 at the Capitol.

More than 2,300 applicants aim for 250 positions at rural Missouri steel plant (AUDIO)

August 28, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

SEDALIA, Mo.- About 500 construction workers are building a massive $400 million steel plant in west-central Missouri’s Sedalia. The plant, which is being built near Highway 65, will be the anchor tenant of Sedalia’s new rail industrial park.

About 500 construction workers are building the $400 million Nucor steel plant in Sedalia (August 2019 photo courtesy of Charlotte-based Nucor)

State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon says the Nucor plant is expected to open in November.

“If you’re coming into Sedalia from the north (on Highway 65), you’ll see it coming out of the ground. There’s cranes up, there’s construction underway, there’s people being hired,” Dixon says.

The steel rebar manufacturing plant is one of the largest projects Missouri has landed in the past decade.

Sedalia-Pettis County economic development executive director Jessica Craig tells Missourinet about 2,300 people have applied for 250 jobs, primarily steelworker positions. She says 153 employees have already been hired.

The average salary for a Nucor steelworker is about $65,000.

State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon tells Missourinet training is underway.

“We’re working with State Fair Community College, the state Department of Economic Development and Nucor to try to get some folks trained and ready to go on day one,” says Dixon.

Charlotte-based Nucor has been training the new Sedalia steelworkers at their plants in Alabama, Mississippi and Texas.

Dixon emphasizes that Nucor is still hiring. He says applicants can visit nucor.com or the DED website.

Jessica Craig says some of the steelworkers who’ve been hired in Sedalia are driving from as far away as Columbia and Kansas City. She also tells Missourinet about 50 of the new employees are Nucor transfers from other plants, moving to the Sedalia area.

She says Nucor’s decision is a game changer for Sedalia, which has about 70 other manufacturers. Craig says the project will be “transformative” for Sedalia.

U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R) and U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, announced in February that the U.S. Department of Transportation had awarded Sedalia a $10 million grant to extend its existing railroad tracks to the new Sedalia rail industrial park.

Senator Blunt says the facility is on track to become the largest, exclusive rail-served industrial park in the Midwest.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon, which was recorded on August 15, 2019 at the State Fair in Sedalia:

Missouri officials confident about GM Wentzville plant expansion (AUDIO)

August 21, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

The state’s economic development director remains optimistic about landing a $1 billion expansion at the sprawling General Motors (GM) plant in eastern Missouri’s Wentzville.

The General Motors plant in Wentzville has about 4,600 employees, according to GM’s website (photo courtesy of GM website)

State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon tells Missourinet that expansion would ensure that production stays in Wentzville long-term.

“GM is still looking at a possible $1 billion capitol investment in their plant in Wentzville,” Dixon says. “We’re in day-to-day conversations with General Motors. We are still under negotiations with them right now.”

Dixon spoke to Missourinet at the State Fair in Sedalia on Thursday. He’s optimistic.

“You know if we can get this done, we’d be confident that General Motors is going to be in Wentzville for a very long time and folks are going to have a place to work there. So that’s what it’s all about,” says Dixon.

Dixon says nothing has been finalized, adding that DED is confident “that we’re going to get there soon.”

GM’s Wentzville plant has about 4,600 employees. The plant produces vehicles such as the GMC Canyon and the Chevrolet Colorado.

Governor Mike Parson says GM has 178 suppliers across Missouri, with the plant supporting more than 12,000 jobs statewide.

Legislation aimed at attracting the expansion has been signed by the governor. It would provide $5 million per year in tax credits over ten years to automakers that invest at least $750 million in plant upgrades.

Wentzville, which is known as the “Crossroads of the Nation”, is one of Missouri’s fastest-growing cities. It sits on I-70 in St. Charles County.

Its current population is about 40,000. The city’s website notes Wentzville’s population skyrocketed from 6,896 in 2000 to 29,070 in the 2010 census.

Dixon says 300,000 Missourians work in the automotive industry.

Click here to listen to Brian Hauswirth’s full interview with Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon, which was recorded on August 15, 2019 at the State Fair in Sedalia:

Parson praises Bayer’s decision to bring 500 new jobs to Missouri

July 17, 2019 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor announced Tuesday that Bayer will be relocating its North American Crop Science Division to the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, bringing hundreds of new jobs.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson makes the Bayer announcement in Jefferson City on July 16, 2019, joined by Bayer’s Lisa Safarian (left), St. Louis County Executive Sam Page (right) and DED Director Rob Dixon (Brian Hauswirth photo)

Governor Mike Parson (R) briefed Capitol reporters at the Statehouse in Jefferson City, where he was joined by Bayer executives and other leaders.

“The salaries (for the new jobs) will average $110,000 a year, with a capital investment of over $164 million,” Parson says.

Parson also says Bayer has made a commitment to retain about 4,400 current jobs in Creve Coeur and Chesterfield, which are both in St. Louis County.

Bayer completed the acquisition of Monsanto in 2018.

The jobs announcement follows the governor’s recent trade mission to Europe. Parson says the new jobs will benefit the entire state, not just Creve Coeur.

“You know what it does, it benefits some kid in rural Missouri the opportunity to go to work for Bayer, gives them the opportunity to go to St. Louis County to be productive citizens up there,” says Parson.

Parson says it’s important for all of Missouri to do well, adding that this investment will enhance the state’s already successful ag-tech industry.

It’s unclear when the jobs will move to Creve Coeur. Bayer executives tell Missourinet some of the jobs will come from North Carolina, while others will be hired in Creve Coeur.

Parson was joined at the press conference by Bayer Commercial Operations North America President Lisa Safarian, State Department of Economic Development (DED) Director Rob Dixon and St. Louis County Executive Sam Page.

Director Dixon describes Bayer’s decision as a “monumental investment” in Missouri. Dixon tells reporters the decision also signifies Bayer’s confidence in Missouri as a place to do business.

“Missouri is the global ag-tech leader, undisputed global ag-tech leader,” Dixon says. “St. Louis County is the epicenter of our ag-tech economy.”

Dixon says Missouri is using about $37 million in incentives for the project.

Page, a former Democratic State Representative from Creve Coeur, also joined the GOP Governor, highlighting bipartisanship.

“Bayer’s investment here is a testament to St. Louis County’s talented workforce and our status as the global epicenter of plant science and agriculture technology,” says Page.

Ms. Safarian tells reporters Bayer also has a manufacturing plant in Kansas City, along with the headquarters in St. Louis.

Governor Parson says Missouri’s $88 billion agricultural industry employs more than 378,000 people.