"Show Me Strong Recovery Plan" Archives

Missouri’s governor releases $127 million; says state is in top ten in recovery efforts

January 7, 2021 By Brian Hauswirth

Citing the improving economy and Missouri’s 4.4 percent unemployment rate, Governor Mike Parson has released about $127 million in previously restricted funds.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on January 6, 2021 (photo courtesy of the governor’s Flickr page)

“Thanks to our Show-Me strong recovery plan, we continue to outpace our economic recovery forecast, which is why we are able to release these funds today,” Parson says.

The governor tells Capitol reporters that 67 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic have been recovered.

The funding released by Governor Parson on Wednesday includes $26 million for the Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development, $8.5 million for Missouri’s Division of Tourism, $120,000 for the meat and poultry inspection program and $50,000 for the food, beverage and forest products initiative.

Click here to see the full list of the funding that’s been released.

“Right now, the revenues look good in the state,” says Parson. “We’ve been so fortunate here in this state, I mean a 4.4 (percent) unemployment rate, I think we’re in the top ten in the recovery efforts.”

In October, Governor Parson released $40 million in general revenue and also allocated $95 million in CARES Act funding for critical services. When he made that October announcement, he also noted that Missouri’s unemployment rate had improved and that state revenues had outpaced expectations.

Missouri governor: 250 new jobs coming to “small town pretty close to Bolivar” (AUDIO)

June 16, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor says 250 new agricultural-related jobs are coming to southwest Missouri.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on June 16, 2020 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

Governor Mike Parson made the announcement during a briefing with Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on Tuesday. While the governor isn’t naming the town yet, he tells Missourinet that it’s a “small town pretty close to Bolivar.”

“I don’t know that I’m quite at liberty to say just exactly where that is down home, but it absolutely will be a great opportunity for people in a small town down there to do that,” Parson says.

The governor says he met this week with company executives from Oregon and Kansas, about this project. The meeting took place in Parson’s hometown of Bolivar.

Bolivar is about 30 miles northwest of Springfield.

Parson describes the 250 new jobs as a business expansion, adding that it’s good news for Missouri moving forward.

“It’s exciting news and it will have to do with agriculture, so it’s always a good thing for me when I see those new jobs coming in and especially with the situation that we’ve been in,” says Parson.

Agriculture is an $88 billion industry in Missouri, making it the state’s largest industry.

Missouri fully reopened for business on Tuesday morning and has entered phase two of its “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan.”

While there is no statewide health order during phase two, Parson emphasizes that COVID-19 is not gone. He continues to urge Missourians to practice social distancing and to continue with good hygiene.

Click here to listen to Missouri Governor Mike Parson respond to Brian Hauswirth’s question about the 250 new jobs coming to southwest Missouri. The governor spoke on June 16, 2020 at the Statehouse in Jefferson City:

Parson: Missouri is prepared and ready to reopen for business on Tuesday

June 15, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri will fully reopen for business on Tuesday morning, and will enter phase two of its “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan.”

Missouri Governor Mike Parson briefs Capitol reporters in Jefferson City on June 11, 2020 (photo courtesy of Governor Parson’s Flickr page)

Governor Mike Parson tells Capitol reporters in Jefferson City that the move comes just over 90 days since Missouri’s first COVID-19 case.

“It is truly incredible to think how far Missouri has come since March,” Parson says. “At that time, no one knew what to expect. There was a lot of uncertainty, worry and concern.”

While there will be no statewide health order during phase two, Parson emphasizes that COVID-19 is not gone.

“Local officials will still have the ability to further measure or regulate in places but from a statewide stance, all restrictions will be lifted,” says Parson.

Missourinet Kansas City television partner KMBC reports Kansas City remains under an emergency order until July 5. All Kansas City businesses cannot have more than half of their capacities, according to KMBC.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says Kansas City has seen more than 1,700 coronavirus cases.

“If you feel comfortable wearing a face covering, then wear a face covering. Be proactive, and take precautions to protect yourself, your families and your neighbors,” Parson says.

The governor says the decision to reopen was dependent on the four “Show Me Strong Recovery” pillars, including expanded testing capacity and expanding reserves of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Parson says weekly testing in Missouri has increased more than 220 percent since April, with about 16,000 tests during the week of April 20 to more than 53,000 tests during the week of May 25.

The governor has also signed an executive order that extends Missouri’s state of emergency through December, in order to utilize federal CARES Act funding.

Governor Parson’s next media briefing with Capitol reporters will take place on Tuesday afternoon at 3 at the Statehouse.

Parson emphasizes safety and expanded COVID-19 testing, during stops at two mid-Missouri businesses

May 8, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s governor is praising employees and customers at two Jefferson City businesses, for taking the COVID-19 threat seriously.

Missouri Governor Mike Parson toured the Orscheln Farm and Home store in Jefferson City on May 7, 2020 (photo from Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth)

Governor Mike Parson visited HyVee and Orscheln Farm and Home on Thursday morning, meeting with managers and employees about the state’s re-opening.

“You see the screens, the barriers that are put up between the cashiers and the customers,” Parson says. “You know, the availability of the sanitizers there.”

The governor also praises the HyVee grocery store for its senior shopping hours of 6-8 a.m, as well as social distancing markers at checkout lanes.

After stopping at HyVee, the governor and a few staffers traveled a few miles away to the Orscheln store on Missouri Boulevard. It’s a newly-remodeled store, which sells items like farm supplies, livestock feed, lawn and garden equipment, farm toys, tools and sporting goods.

The president of Moberly-based Orscheln, Marc Johnson, drove to Jefferson City to join Parson at the event. Johnson tells Missourinet safety is his top priority, for employees and customers.

“I think our customers are understanding that they have to keep the social distancing and they’re self-regulating, if you will,” he says.

Orscheln operates 165 stores in 11 states, including 45 stores across Missouri. Its corporate office and distribution center are in Moberly, which is north of Columbia.

Parson also spent ten minutes at Orscheln, answering questions from Capitol reporters.

He says the state continues to try to do more coronavirus testing, emphasizing that expanding the testing is one of his top priorities. The governor notes it’s one of the four essential pillars of the “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan.”

“We need to do a much better job of stockpiling to be able to do tests, and with all the new things, the Abbott equipment and everything that’s coming out, you’re going to see a much better job of that,” says Parson.

The governor says the state now has the capability of performing about 50,000 tests each week.

He praises the response from the state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to what’s happened at Triumph Foods in northwest Missouri’s St. Joseph, and says DHSS will be in St. Louis soon for a larger random sampling of about five hundred residents.

Kehoe praises Missouri’s recovery plan; emphasizes importance of expanding COVID-19 testing capability (AUDIO)

May 6, 2020 By Brian Hauswirth

Missouri’s lieutenant governor is pleased with the state’s “Show Me Strong Recovery Plan,” and says residents are ready to return to work. Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe (R) says the state has safely re-opened.

Missouri Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe (right) applauds as Governor Mike Parson delivers his State of the State Address on January 15, 2020 in Jefferson City (file photo courtesy of Tim Bommel at House Communications)

“This is a gradual, phased-in opening, but it really does set the tone for us moving forward both economically, socially, etc.,” Kehoe says.

He notes that expanding the COVID-19 testing capacity is a top priority for Governor Mike Parson, and is one of the four essential pillars of the plan.

Kehoe says the state now has the capability of performing about 50,000 tests each week, between the state health lab in Jefferson City and at least 15 private labs and participating health care institutions.

The deadly coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on Missouri tourism, impacting attractions, hotels and restaurants across the state. It’s impacting Branson, the Lake of the Ozarks, St. Louis, Kansas City and many smaller communities.

Kehoe, who serves on the state’s Tourism Commission, says they have voted to form a special task force.

“We’ve put together 16 companies from around the state that are both private and public, so we have everything from state parks to the Aquarium in St. Louis to convention and visitors bureaus in Kansas City,” says Kehoe.

Other representatives include the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City and convention and visitors bureaus at the Lake of the Ozarks and Springfield. Kehoe says Missouri’s tourism industry is ready to highlight state tourism assets, and emphasizes the importance of keeping visitors and employees safe.

Governor Parson traveled to Bass Pro Shops in Springfield on Monday morning, to discuss the re-opening. Bass Pro is one of the biggest companies in Springfield.

Parson and Kehoe also note that another pillar in the recovery plan is the expansion of reserves of personal protective equipment (PPE), by opening public and private supply chains.

As of Friday evening, Parson says the state had ordered about $40 million worth of PPE and had already shipped two million pieces of PPE to local partners, including 300,000 N95 respirator masks, 450,000 face shields and 200,000 surgical masks.

The state Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) says there are now 8,916 confirmed coronavirus cases in Missouri, along with 377 deaths.

Click here to listen to the full interview between Missourinet’s Brian Hauswirth and Lt. Governor Mike Kehoe, which was recorded on May 4, 2020: